Java
- Tomcat installation
- Configuring the Java web application
- Setting up an Eclipse project
- Installing the Connector-J JDBC JAR file for MySQL support
- Installing the JavaMail and JAF JAR files for Email support
Jasper is implemented in Java using servlets although there is no reason why it cannot be adapted to run using JSP files if you prefer. Make sure you know exactly what Jasper is about before resorting to JSP, however, or you may be breaking the very few rules that are considered inviolable within Jasper's framework.
Java's comprehensive API means that some classes in Jasper's API, the StringUtils class, for example, may seem pointless. You are free to use the native functions instead, of course. Amongst others I stand by the File and FileUtils classes. They are useful ways of abstracting away from buffered readers and such like, the details of which are not needed for most applications.
You should read the section 'Configuring the Java web application' if you are at all unfamiliar with this subject and regardless of your choice of servlet runner.
I used Eclipse and Tomcat during development, both of which I heartily recommend.
External links
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The Java SE Development Kit (JDK)
The required link is in the 'JDK 6 Update 7' section near the top of the page. The update number may have changed as of writing. -
Apache Tomcat
Click on one of the links in the 'Download' section on the left. Version 5.5 will do, and is the one discussed in the pages that follow. Once on a specific version's page, the required links are in the 'Binary Distributions' section. The 'Core' distribution will do. The remaining distributions such as 'Deployer', 'Embedded', etc are not needed. Tomcat's documentation is included in the release and is available as the default web application once Tomcat is up and running. -
Eclipse downloads home
The 'Eclipse IDE for Java Developers' is all that is required. Platform specific links are immediately to the right of this title. -
Connector/J 5.1
Download links can be found at the bottom of the page. Links to earlier versions are easily located in the left hand menu. -
JavaMail downloads
The required 'Download' button is near the top of the page. -
JAF downloads
The required 'Download' button sits near the bottom of the page.
Last updated: Sunday, 23rd October 2011, 06:19 PM
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