JOB - Java Objects Builder
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    • What is JOB?

    JOB is a Java 2 Application. It's purpose is to construct, edit and save Java Objects. It has full access to all the Java Classes and their constructors, methods and fields, providing a point and click interface through popup menus and trees. JOB makes a heavy use of the Reflection API, inspecting all the accessible members of core or unknown Java Classes, and it uses Serialization to save Java Objects in files ready for your applets or applications.

    The JOB user interface is simple and intuitive. All the Java Classes are organized in a hierarchy according to their packages and are accessible using few key strokes. All the Java Classes and the Objects constructed are displayed using icons. Constructors, methods and fields are organized in easy accessible trees.

    It's easier to done than explain. Navigate through the Class Hierarchy, choose the desired Java Class, build an instance, call its methods and save the work: a new Java Object is ready for use.

    Why Should I register JOB?

    JOB has no expiration date or limitation, but you can use JOB freely for non-commercial use only. If you use it to build Java Objects for commercial applications or applets, you must register and registering you'll support the development of JOB-Pro.

    What is JOB-Pro?

    JOB-Pro is an advanced release of JOB. The final release of JOB-Pro is not available yet. Send an email to tetractys@uno.it to be notified of Job-Pro availability.

    It's features are:

    • JOBScript A scripting language to control Java Objects and to automate repeated tasks. It can be used to link events to their listeners, without writing any adapter.
    • Serialization of non-serializable objects starting from the (serializable) objects used to construct them.
    • Java Class hierarchy according to inheritance.
    • Use of Javadoc tags in source code to retrieve information about the arguments and return value of the methods.
    • Enhanced and easier definition of the arguments of the methods.
    • Use of graphics to highlight relations among objects.
    • Configurable toolbars with JOBScript commands.
    • A complete MDI interface.

    Great! How can I register JOB?

    To register simply start the JOB application, open the Help Menu and click on Register. A register.exe file will be created and executed. It's a Windows 3.1 application that uses the Kagi registration service. Please, follow the instructions and fill all the required fields.

    Unfortunately, Kagi provides only register applications for Windows, Mac and PalmOS (not Java). If your OS is not a Microsoft Windows one, please, find a PC, copy register.exe and run it. Thank you!

    Registration fees are
    10 $USSingle license
    License for a single user
    200 $USSite license
    Single organization in an area of up to 100 miles in radius
    1000 $USWorld-wide license
    Everyone in a single organization

    Index

    JOB - Help

    The Class Tree

    Classes are organized in a tree according to their packages. You can select one of the classes or interfaces simply clicking on a leaf of the tree. An icon representing the class is created in the objects panel.

    Another way to select a class is to write its name in the text field above the class tree. This text field knows the legal combination of characters and suggests you a class name with only few key strokes. Class names must be complete of the package path.

    Index

    The Objects Panel

    In the objects panel you can find all the selected classes and objects constructed. All these are represented by icons. An icon is associated to every different kind of entity: classes, objects, primitive types and exceptions. Icons can be selected to perform any common task.

    The Icons

    Selecting, moving and context menus

    You can select a single icon with a mouse click holding the CTRL button down. You can also select multiple icons dragging the mouse on the objects panel. A rectangle is drawn and all the icons in the area are grouped in a selection. Selected icons are highlighted with a red border. Selection may be useful to move icons togheter or delete them all at once. You can add any icon to an existing selection using the mouse in combination with the CTRL key.

    Moving is performed simply dragging an icon or an entire selection with the mouse.

    With a click of the LEFT mouse button on the icon appears the class popup menu, while the RIGHT button calls the icon context menu. Primitive types have only the icon context menu.

    Classes

    Class IconClasses are represented by the image on the left. A class is not an object, but can be used to access constructors and static methods and fields.

    Objects

    Object IconObjects are represented by the image on the left. An object is simply a reference to a real Java Object and can be used to access its methods and fields.

    Primitive Types

    Primitive IconPrimitive types are represented by the image on the left. Such an icon simply displays a value obtained from methods that return a primitive type.

    Exceptions

    Exception IconExceptions are represented by the image on the left. Such an icon displays the exception thrown by a method.

    Index

    The Icon Popup Menu

    The icon popup menu is called with a click of the RIGHT button of the mouse on an icon. This menu collects actions you can perform on classes, objects and primitive types. Here follows a description of these actions:

    Value

    The value command shows the value of an object. This value is displayed in a popup using the string returned by the toString() method of the object.

    Length

    The length command appears if the object is an array. It displays the length of the array.

    Value At

    The value_at command appears if the object is an array. It returns an icon that represents a reference to one of the objects in the array. The object index is selected through a dialog box.

    Values

    The values command appears if the object is an array. It opens a dialog with the list of all the items in the array and returns an icon that represents a reference to the selected object in the array.

    Delete

    The delete command removes the icon or selected icons from the objects panel and assign null to the associated object references. However, objects are not garbage collected if they are referenced by other objects.

    Rename

    The rename command changes the name of the icon. May be useful to choose a significative label for the objects.

    Index

    The Class Popup Menu

    The class popup menu is called with a click of the LEFT button of the mouse on an icon. It shows the tree of available members of classes and objects. It's the powerful tool that accesses Java Objects capabilities. You can choose the modifiers of the methods and fields (public, package, protected and private) selecting one or more items in the menu on the top of the popup.

    Here follows a list of the leaves of this popup.

    Classes and Interfaces

    Class IconInterface IconWith these images are labelled superclasses or interfaces of the object or class. They are called with a single mouse click and this is the only way to access methods or fields declared in the superclass or the interfaces. The superclass may have a superclass its own and all them are included in a tree path and are easy accessible. Interfaces may extend other interfaces and all them are included in a tree path and are easy accessible.

    Constructors

    Constructor IconWith this image are labelled constructors. Constructors appear only if the icon represents a class. With a click you create an instance of the class (an object).

    If arguments are needed, JOB shows a dialog to input them. There are two kinds of such dialogs:

    • If a Property Editor is registered for the class of the argument, a dialog appears with a simple text field or a complex editor. Using this tool you can define the value of the argument.
    • If there is no Property Editor or you cancel the previous dialog, another dialog with a list of the objects currently available appears. They are chosen from the objects in the objects panel that are compatible with the type required by the argument.
    If the previous dialogs fail, an error is returned with the request to build an object of the required type.

    Methods

    Static IconMethod IconThese images label static and non-static methods. Methods may have arguments and all the considrations made for constructors apply.

    Methods may have a return value, too. When a method with a return value (other that void) is called, an icon that represents a reference to such an object is created. If the reference is null, no icon appears and JOB shows a warning dialog.

    Methods may throw exceptions. This exceptions create an icon in the objects panel. Other kinds of exceptions show only a warning dialog.

    Fields

    Field IconThis image labels fields. A click on it creates an icon that represents a reference to the field (objects) or displays its value (primitive types).

    Index

    The Menu Bar

    The File Menu

    In the file menu you can find the commands to open and save files containing a complete set of JOB icons.

    Open opens the specified file and creates the icons that represent references to the serialized objects contained in it in the places they were located during the last save operation.

    Save saves the icons created in a JOB working session. All the icons are saved, but icons representing non-serializable objects are replaced with icons representing NotSerializable exceptions.

    Exit quits the program (it doesn't ask to save the objects built).

    The Objects Menu

    In the objects menu you can find the commands to load and save the objetcs built with JOB.

    Load opens the specified file and creates the icons that represent references to the serialized objects contained in it. If more than one object is contained in the file, the real object serialized is a Vector that containes all those objects.

    Save stores selected or all the objects in a single file. If more than one object is selected, all them are collected in a Vector and this is serialized in the file.

    The Properties Menu

    In the properties menu you can find the commands to choose any option and save it in a properties file.

    Look & Feel changes the look of the user interface providing a list of available look & feels.

    JAR Files allows the selection of any JAR file outside the standard directories and the classpath. Using add you can add the classes contained in the selected JAR file even if it is not listed in the classpath.

    Save stores all the options in a properties file. It saves the look & feel, the JAR files selected, the location of the main and help window and, finally, the location of the divider betweeen the class tree and objects panel.

    The Help Menu

    The help menu provides information about the JOB application.

    Index opens a window that shows this text in HTML format.

    Register opens a dialog to register your copy of JOB.

    About show a dialog with some information about JOB.

    Index

    JOB Homepage Send any question to TETRACTYS Software
    JOB - Java Objects Builder

    Copyright Notice

    Copyright © 1999-2000 Leonardo Boselli. All Rights Reserved.

    Dr. Leonardo BOSELLI
    Via Paoletti 33
    18100 Imperia ITALY
    tel/fax +39 0183 63264
    tetractys@uno.it

    TETRACTYS Software, JOB - Java Objects Builder and the materials not copyrighted or registered by others are property of the author.

    Documents

    These documents are protected by copyright. You may make a reasonable number of copies of these documents for your own use, and you may distribute these documents, subject to the following conditions:
    1. all text (including this notice) must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; and
    2. these documents may not be distributed for commercial purposes.

    YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE ACCURACY AND USE OF THESE DOCUMENTS. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY KIND OF EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OR THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

    THESE DOCUMENTS COULD INCLUDE INACCURACIES AND/OR OTHER ERRORS. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY ADDED TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN; THESE CHANGES MAY BE INCORPORATED IN FUTURE EDITIONS OF THE PUBLICATION. I MAY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CHANGES IN THE PRODUCT(S) AND/OR THE PROGRAM(S) DESCRIBED IN THESE DOCUMENTS AT ANY TIME.

    Software

    Permission to use, copy, and distribute the software and its documentation for NON-COMMERCIAL purposes and without fee is hereby granted provided that all copyright notices appear and no modification is performed.

    I MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THE SOFTWARE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. I SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY LICENSEE AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS DERIVATIVES.

    THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED FOR USE OR RESALE AS ON-LINE CONTROL EQUIPMENT IN HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS REQUIRING FAIL-SAFE PERFORMANCE, SUCH AS IN THE OPERATION OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES, AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION OR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, DIRECT LIFE SUPPORT MACHINES, OR WEAPONS SYSTEMS, IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE COULD LEAD DIRECTLY TO DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ("HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES"). I SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES.

    Index

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    TETRACTYS Software         		Copyright © 1999 Leonardo Boselli
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