Menu Integration with Java Console - Engineering Specification

RFE: 4523241 Menu Integration with Java Console

Author: Stanley Ho
Date: 3/10/2002


1 Project Description

1.1 Overview

Java Console is an important tool in the Java Plug-in product for monitoring and debugging applets. Prior to Java Plug-in 1.4.1, there are different ways to launch the Java Console - through browser menu, through iconified icon on the desktop, or through Java icon on taskbar on Win32, etc. The Java Console behavior may also be configured through the Java Plug-in Control Panel. The effect of various configuration combination and different ways to access from different browsers has been a confusing subject to the users and even to the engineering team itself.

There are several goals of this project:


1.2 Project Dependencies

N/A

1.3 OS and Browser Compatibility and Interoperability

This feature will be available on all platforms and browsers.

1.4 Performance and Scalability

N/A

1.5 Security

N/A

1.6 Internationalization (I18N) / Localization (L10N)

N/A

1.7 Packaging

N/A

1.8 Usability

This feature is aimed to improve the usability of the Java Plug-in product.

1.9 Quality

All existing tests with Java Console should apply. Additional test cases may be needed for supporting consumer friendly behavior of Java Console in Internet Explorer for Windows XP.

1.9.1 Unit or Functional Tests to be Delivered

N/A

1.9.2 Additional Testing Notes

N/A

2 Technical Description

2.1 Architecture        

Several options are available for configuring Java Console startup behavior:

Notice that these options only affect the behavior of the Java Console during Java Plug-in startup, and they don't affect the console behavior afterwards. For example, even if "Do not start" is selected and the console doesn't start at startup, Java Console will still be started if the user launches the console manually through the browser menu afterwards.

Although trace file is currently hooked with Java Console in the implementation, trace file should always be created no matter what Java Console option is selected.

        Several aspects of Java Console behavior are summarized as follows:

Browser Internet Explorer Netscape 6 Netscape 4
Option/Action Startup Launch From Menu Close Console Startup Launch From Menu Close Console Startup Launch From Menu Close Console
Start console Show Show Hidden Show Show Hidden Show N/A Iconified
Hide console Hidden Show Hidden Hidden Show Hidden Iconified N/A Iconified
Do not start Not started Show Hidden Not started Show Hidden Not started N/A N/A

 

2.2 Exported Interfaces/API

N/A

2.3 Imported Interfaces/API

N/A

2.4 User Interface

N/A

3 Marketing

3.1 Justification

N/A

3.2 Customer Request

Yahoo, Pogo, ....

3.3 Competitive Analysis



4 Management and Planning

4.1 Scope/Priority

4.2 Target Release

Hopper/XP Consumer

4.3 Resources

4.3.1 Development

Stanley Man-Kit Ho

4.3.2 Quality Assurance/Testing

4.3.3 Documentation

Louis Martin

4.3.4 Technical Support

4.3.4 Special Hardware/Software

4.4 Schedule

Start Date End Date Activity Owner Status
3/8/2002 3/10/2002 Initial Engineering Spec Stanley Completed
3/8/2002 3/12/2002 Initial implementation Stanley Completed
         
         
Complete Started Not Started Difficulties Trouble


Appendices (as needed, suggestions below)

A. Background Information

        There are several problems with the existing Java Console behavior:

B. Interface Specifications

C. Notes and Additional Details

D. Miscellaneous

E. Tracking

E.1 Final Webrev

E.2 Bugtraq
Bugid P S Subcategory Type Engineer Synopsis
4523241 4 3 plugin rfe Stanley Ho RFE: Menu integration with Java Console
4523286 4 3 ocx rfe Stanley Ho RFE: System tray behavior changes for consumer
4637994 4 5 misc bug Rita Fisher No starting Java Console disables file trace
4641695 4 4 l10n bug Stanley Ho IE Control Panel options for plugin is not localized.
             



Revision History


 

Date Version Author Description
3/10/2002 0.1 Stanley Man-Kit Ho Initial Engineering Spec
3/11/2002 0.2 Stanley Man-Kit Ho Clarify Java Console configuration options
3/11/2002 0.3 Stanley Man-Kit Ho Change Netscape 4 Console behavior on Win32 to iconified in close/hidden state,
according to suggestion from Mike Albers.
3/12/2002 0.4 Stanley Man-Kit Ho Updated menu integration extension to use MSVM Web Browser Applet Control
CLSID. Clarify problematic icon as system tray icon instead of taskbar icon.