About Java Web Start

When using this feature, Niagara provides an applet-like Workbench environment that runs completely outside of the browser. The web browser is needed only to download a JNLP file that is used to launch the application. The downloaded JNLP file can be used to launch the application on subsequent occasions (the browser is not needed again). The Niagara Web Start application then checks that a Java 8 JRE is installed, as a minimum. It does not check the update release version of the installed JRE.

In the figure shown here, you would launch the application by clicking the additional link under the login dialog that reads: “To connect using Java Web Start click here”. Of course, if you configure Web Start desktop or Start menu shortcuts, Workbench is launched from those. In that case, the link and login page in the web browser are not used. Once the application is downloaded and launched, you can close the browser or you can go to a different web page while the application continues running.

A significant advantage that Workbench launched by this method has over launching as a browser applet is that it overcomes typical compatibility problems with browsers' Java plugins. For example, many late version browsers have disabled support for NPAPI which prevents the Java WbApplet from running in the browser.

Optionally, the Java Web Start application can be branded. You may add brand icons for the window frame and shortcuts. For example, an OEM distributing a Niagara-based application can configure the brand.properties file with their brand defaults, and a Systems Integrator installing that product can optionally modify the default shortcut text to suit the end users via the configuration properties available in the station’s Web Services.

Enabled by default, to use Web Start simply decide whether or not you want to install application shortcuts. If you do, use the Web Start Config properties (in the station’s Web Services) to enable the shortcuts and modify default shortcut text as needed.