Sun Java System Messenger Express 6 2005Q4 Customization Guide

Understanding Messenger Express Customization

Sun Java System Messenger Express lets you rewrite the “static” portion of the pages served by the Sun Java System Messenger Express HTTP daemon to produce a fully customized webmail service. Messenger Express supports both JavaScript and HTML in implementing customization schemes.

Understanding Messenger Express Components

Sun Java System Messenger Express consists of two components, the client and the server. The client reads and interprets the JavaScript language. The HTTP server understands proprietary protocols that communicate with Messenger Express. The JavaScript files reside on the server and are downloaded to the client. The client extracts data from the JavaScript code to customize Messenger Express functions. All modifications and customizations are done on the server.

HTML files contain both text and markup describing how the text is formatted and handled. Markup is implemented through a set of tags, which specify things like headers, indents, font size, italics and so on. These are largely static tags that deal exclusively with text within the HTML file on the client. However, the HTML also contains dynamic tags, such as JavaScript embedded in the client file, that point to files and functions on the server. The dynamic tags enable the HTML file client to pull in data processed on the server for use in otherwise static Web pages.

HTML files provide the skeleton structure of each of the interfaces, whereas JavaScript files give the specific attributes. Each of the JavaScript main functions are contained within an HTML parent function. There are differentiations within the JavaScript files themselves. The file main.js primarily controls the layout of the interfaces, whereas the file i18n.js controls the text. The i18n.js file also can be localized to fit the language of many regions in the world.

The HTML files are the parent functions that call the main functions in the JavaScript files to initiate actions.

Locating the Customizable Files in Messenger Express

The Messenger Express JavaScript and HTML files that can be customized reside in the msg_svr_base/html directory, where msg_svr_base represents the directory path in which you install the Messaging Server software. The server needs to be restarted for any changes in the HTML and JavaScript files to take effect.

Locating the Customizable Files in Messenger ExpressLocating the Customizable Files in Messenger Express lists the files to be edited to customize Messenger Express, and which part of Messenger Express each file controls.

Table 1–1 Messenger Express Customizable Files

Files  

What the File Controls in Sun Java System Messenger Express  

main.js

Layout of the UI 

lang/i18n.js

Text on the UI 

mbox_fs.html

Mailbox management portion of the UI 

msg_fs.html

Message management portion of the UI 

fldr_fs.html

Folder management portion of the UI 

opts_fs.html

Option management portion of the UI 

comp_fs.html

Message composition 

lang/default.html

Login screen 

lookup_fs.html

Address search 

attach_fs.html

Attachments 

collect_fs.html

Collection of mail from another server 

receipt_fs.html

Return receipt 

subscribe_fs.html

Subscribe Folders 

emoticons.html

Alter emoticons