Chapter 10 Netscape 6

This section describes the primary features of the Java runtime in Netscape 6, which is enabled by Java Plug-in.

APPLET, EMBED AND OBJECT Tag Support

Applets are loaded by Java Plug-in if these tags are used. For information on how to use the OBJECT or EMBED tag to launch an applet, see Chapter 3, Using OBJECT, EMBED and APPLET Tags in Java Plug-in.

Java-JavaScript Bi-directional Communication

JavaScript can access the methods of applets, and applets can access the Document Object Model (DOM) through JavaScript. Thus an HTML author can access applet methods and applet developers can access the DOM.

See online documentation on Java-to-JavaScript and JavaScript-to-Java at http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/guide/plugin/developer_guide/java_js.html and http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/guide/plugin/developer_guide/js_java.html respectively. Be sure to read the sections on security.

RSA Signed Applet Verification

RSA signed applet verification is supported.

Display of Java Console

You may display the Java Console through the Netscape 6 browser menu: Tasks->Tools->Java Console.

Enable/Disable the Java Platform

You may enable/disable the Java platform through the Netscape 6 browser menu: Edit->Preferences->Advanced. Note that to take effect, the browser must be restarted.

Applet Lifecycle Change

Whenever a page is visited, theinit() and start() methods of the applet are called; and whenever the page is left, the stop() and destroy() methods may be called.

Proxy and Cookie Support

Java Plug-in previously handled proxy and cookie support alone. In Netscape 6 this support is moved to the browser.

HTTPS

HTTPS is supported through the Java Secure Socket Extension (JSSE) in the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition.

Automatic Download

Via its XPInstall mechanism, Netscape 6 will support automatic download of Java Plug-in (JRE) if it is not present.

Backward Compatibility Issue

Although backward compatibility between the Java 2 Platform and the Netscape VM has been the goal, it may not be 100%. Some applets may run as is; other may only need recompilation; others, however, may need to be ported to the Java 2 platform.