Troubleshooting/Java Problems

Java Control Panel

A few operations will need to use the Java Control Panel. This is installed in the computer separately from the browser or any programs. Here is how to reach it:

• Windows:

1. Click on the Start menu
2. Select Settings
3. Select Control Panel
4. Select Java or Java Plug-in (if you don't see it, go to Other options in the left panel or change to Classic View).

• Windows (another method):

1. With the web browser open, look for a Java icon in the taskbar (lower right of the screen; it will or not be there depending on your browser and whether you have opened a page using Java applets)
2. Right-click on that icon
3. Select Open Control Panel

• MacOS:

1. Go to the /Applications/Utilities/Java directory.
2. Open the Java x.xx Plugin Settings application (x.xx is your plugin version).

• Linux:

1. Run the Java Plug-In Control Panel executable:

(JRE installation directory)/bin/ControlPanel

or load the Control Panel applet page with a web browser:

(JRE installation directory)/ControlPanel.html

Java console

The Java console collects messages and errors during operation of Jmol. When something does not work (e.g. a file does not get loaded, or a script is not completed), that's a place to look for the source of trouble.

Note: the Java Console is different and separate from Jmol's script console.

Depending on your operating system and browser, the way to access the Java console varies. Here are some of the access routes:

• For the Jmol application, use the top menu: Help > Jmol Java Console
• For the applet:
  • Look in the browser menu Tools > Java Console (Firefox, Internet Explorer), or Tools > Advanced > Java Console (Opera).
  • Look for a Java icon (a cup of coffee) in Windows taskbar (lower right of the screen); right-click on it and choose Open Console (Firefox and Internet Explorer in Windows).

Java cache

Applets in web pages visited are cached by the browser into a Java cache space in local disk (different from the browser's cache). This allows a faster response when the same applet is used in another web page visited later.

However, on some occasions this may cause trouble. Namely, if you open a new web page that uses a different version of the Jmol applet, sometimes the browser will use the former applet version rather than the new one. In these cases, even closing and reopening the browser, or clearing the browser cache, may give no solution. Then, you will have to clear the Java cache manually:

• First, reach the Java Control Panel (see instructions above). Then, depending on your operating system:

1. Click on the Cache tab or menu section.
2. Click on the Clear button (or Clear JAR Cache).
3. Accept (OK / Yes).

or

1. Click on the General tab or menu section.
2. Under Temporary internet files, click on the Configuration or Settings button.
3. Click on the Delete files button.

Diagnosing Java - Javascript communication

This is a useful page for testing communication between Java applets and Javascript.

Google Chrome browser

This web browser (released Sept. 2008) is only compatible with Java version 6u10 (also named 1.6.0_10), or later. If the browser is up-to-date, it should direct you to the adequate download page automatically whenever you try a page with an applet. If not, search Sun's Java site for this version (currently in beta, or Release Candidate state), or go to full listing of Java downloads.

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References

Contributors

AngelHerraez, EricMartz, Cudo29, Michaelrandolph