Building J2EE Applications With Forte for Java Table of ContentsPrevious ChapterNext ChapterBook Index


Before You Begin

Welcome to the Building J2EE Applications With Forte for Java book of the Forte for Java Programming series. In this book you will learn how to assemble, deploy, and execute J2EE applications with the Fortetrademark for Javatrademark 4 IDE.

You can create the examples in this book in the environments listed in the release notes on the following web site:

http://forte.sun.com/ffj/documentation/index.html

Screen shots vary slightly from one platform to another. You should have no trouble translating the slight differences to your platform. Although almost all procedures use the Forte for Java 4 user interface, occasionally you might be instructed to enter a command at the command line. Here too, there are slight differences from one platform to another. For example, a Microsoft Windows command might look like this: 

c:\>cd MyWorkDir\MyPackage

To translate for UNIX® or Linux environments, simply change the prompt and use forward slashes: 

% cd MyWorkDir/MyPackage

Before You Read This Book

This book is intended for anyone who assembles, deploys, or executes applications with the Forte for Java 4 IDE. The first chapter summarizes the J2EE concepts of assembly and deployment, and it should benefit anyone seeking a general understanding of assembly and deployment.

This book assumes a familiarity with the following subjects:

  • Java programming language

  • Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition concepts

  • Web and application server software

This book requires a knowledge of J2EE concepts, as described in the following resources:


Note - Sun is not responsible for the availability of third-party web sites mentioned in this document and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. Sun will not be responsible or liable for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods, or services available on or through any such sites or resources.


How This Book Is Organized

J2EE is a component-oriented approach to developing enterprise application development. Business logic is encapsulated in enterprise beans and web components. Components are assembled into modules, which become units of logic that perform recognizable business tasks. Modules are then assembled into applications, which perform entire business processes.

J2EE provides a number of ways for the pieces of an application to communicate with each other, including Java RMI and the Java Messaging Service. This book is about using the Forte for Java 4 development environment to assemble components into modules and modules into applications. The book relies on "scenarios" to present this information.

Chapter 1 summarizes the J2EE concepts of assembly and deployment. It also identifies the J2EE units of modules and applications, and examines module and application deployment descriptors. It also explains how to assemble modules and applications in the Forte for Java IDE. In particular, it explains how to use module and application property sheets to set up module and application deployment descriptors.

Chapter 2 is a scenario that shows how to assemble a web module. It presents a short example of how a web module can be used as the front end of a J2EE application and then shows how to program a web module that can be used in a J2EE application.

Chapter 3 is a scenario that shows how to assemble an EJB module. It presents a short example of how an EJB module can be used in a J2EE application and then shows how to program a module that contains several enterprise beans.

Chapter 4 is a scenario that shows how to assemble a J2EE application by combining a web module and an EJB module. It presents a short example of how the two kinds of modules can be used together in an application and then shows how to program a J2EE application. This scenario features synchronous interaction between the two modules, using Java RMI.

Chapter 5 is a scenario that shows how to set up asynchronous communications between modules using a message-driven enterprise bean, or MDB. It presents a short example of how asynchronous communication can be used in a business application and then shows how to program both the sending and receiving sides of the asynchronous communication. This scenario features a web module communicating with an EJB module, but the example can be applied to other combinations of modules.

Chapter 6 is a scenario that shows how to set up communications between a J2EE application client and a server-side J2EE application. It presents a short example of how an application client can be used in a business application and then shows how to program the application client. In this scenario, the application client uses Java RMI to invoke an enterprise bean's business method, but the example can be applied to application clients that use asynchronous communication as well.

Chapter 7 explains how to program container-managed transactions with the Forte for Java 4 IDE.

Chapter 8 explains how to secure the resources in a J2EE application using the Forte for Java 4 IDE. It shows how to set up security roles at the module level and how to use the roles to restrict access to web resources and enterprise bean methods. It also shows how to map the roles when the modules are combined into an application.

Chapter 9 explains how to deploy and execute assembled applications. In particular, it explains how to tailor an application for a specific server product and then deploy the application to that server.

Appendix A looks at the mechanism the Forte for Java 4 IDE uses to interact with web and application servers. It includes a detailed account of the deployment process.

Typographic Conventions

Typeface

Meaning

Examples

AaBbCc123

The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output

Edit your.login file.

Use ls -a to list all files.

% You have mail.

AaBbCc123

What you type, when contrasted with on-screen computer output

% su

Password:

AaBbCc123

Book titles, new words or terms, words to be emphasized

Read Chapter 6 in the User's Guide.

These are called class options.

You must be superuser to do this.

AaBbCc123

Command-line variable; replace with a real name or value

To delete a file, type rm filename.


Related Documentation

Forte for Java 4 documentation includes books delivered in Acrobat Reader (PDF) format, online help, readme files of example applications, and Javadoctrademark documentation.

Documentation Available Online

The documents in this section are available from the Forte for Java 4 portal and the docs.sun.comSM web site.

The documentation link of the Forte for Java Developer Resources portal is at http://forte.sun.com/ffj/documentation/. The docs.sun.com web site is at http://docs.sun.com.

  • Release notes (HTML format)

Available for each Forte for Java 4 edition. Describe last-minute release changes and technical notes.
  • Forte for Java 4 Getting Started Guide (PDF format) - Community Edition part no. 816-4062-10, Enterprise Edition part no. 816-4063-10

Available for each Forte for Java 4 edition. Describes how to install the Forte for Java 4 product on each supported platform and includes other pertinent information, such as system requirements, upgrade instructions, web server and application server installation instructions, command-line switches, installed subdirectories, Javadoc setup, database integration, and information on how to use the Update Center.
  • The Forte for Java Programming series (PDF format)

This series provides in-depth information on how to use various Forte for Java 4 features to develop well-formed J2EE applications.
    • Building Web Components - part no. 816-4337-10

Describes how to build a web application as a J2EE web module using JSP pages, servlets, tag libraries, and supporting classes and files.
    • Building J2EE Applications With Forte for Java - part no. 816-4061-10

Describes how to assemble EJB modules and web modules into a J2EE application, and how to deploy and run a J2EE application.
    • Building Enterprise JavaBeans Components - part no. 816-4060-10

Describes how to build EJB components--session beans and entity beans with container-managed or bean-managed persistence--using the Forte for Java 4 EJB Builder wizard and other components of the IDE.
    • Building Web Services - part no. 816-4059-10

Describes how to use the Forte for Java 4 IDE to build web services, to make web services available to others through a UDDI registry, and to generate web service clients from a local web service or a UDDI registry.
    • Using Java DataBase Connectivity - part no. 816-4685-10

Describes how to use the JDBC productivity enhancement tools of the Forte for Java 4 IDE, including how to use them to create a JDBC application.
  • Forte for Java 4 tutorials (PDF format)

You can also find the completed tutorial applications at http://forte.sun.com/ffj/documentation/
tutorialsandexamples.html
    • Forte for Java 4, Community Edition Tutorial - part no. 816-4058-10

Provides step-by-step instructions for building a simple J2EE web application using Forte for Java 4, Community Edition tools.
    • Forte for Java 4, Enterprise Edition Tutorial - part no. 816-4057-10

Provides step-by-step instructions for building an application using EJB components and Web Services technology.

The docs.sun.com web site (http://docs.sun.com) enables you to read, print, and buy Sun Microsystems manuals through the Internet. If you cannot find a manual, see the documentation index installed with the product on your local system or network.

Online Help

Online help is available inside the Forte for Java 4 development environment. You can access help by pressing the help key (Help in a Solaris environment, F1 on Microsoft Windows and Linux), or by choosing Help right arrow Contents. Either action displays a list of help topics and a search facility.

Examples

You can download several examples that illustrate a particular Forte for Java 4 feature, as well as the source files for the tutorial applications from the Developer Resources portal, at:

http://forte.sun.com/ffj/documentation/tutorialsandexamples.html

Javadoc Documentation

Javadoc documentation is available within the IDE for many Forte for Java 4 modules. Refer to the release notes for instructions on installing this documentation. When you start the IDE, you can access this Javadoc documentation within the Javadoc pane of the Explorer.

Sun Welcomes Your Comments

Sun is interested in improving its documentation and welcomes your comments and suggestions. Email your comments to Sun at this address:

docfeedback@sun.com

Please include the part number (816-4061-10) of your document in the subject line of your email.



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