Java Fat Client Base Knowledge - Directory Architecture

Directory architecture

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Last revision of this document:
2005-06-31

In the tutorial for developing a fat-client with Java, icons and text (for labeling fields or buttons of the GUI) are not defined within the application but are stored in external files.
This allows to define text-elements for different languages outside the application code (externalized text).
The biggest advantage of this decision is, that the application can be adapted for any language without making changes to the code.
Also language-specific icons can be created outside the code.

To separate files containing the application program from icons and text-elements for different languages, different directories are created relative to the directory containing the files with the application (usually in *.JAR format).

Prerequisites:

None;
this document accompanies the development of a fat-client with Java (Develop a Fat-Client in Java) and explains the content of directories underneath the directory with the JAR-files containing the application.

Directories:

Directory containing the files with the application.
This directory can be located anywhere in the directory-structure of the computer.

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CONNECTIONS

Directory containing the files with parameters for connections to database or Application-Server.
==> List and description of files

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GRAPHICS

Directory containing the files with the graphical elements.
==> List and description of files

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TEXT

Directory containing files with text-elements for the default language.
==> List and description of files

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TEXT.ls

Directory containing files with text-elements for another language.
ls has to be replaced by the ISO-code of the language.
==> List and description of files

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TEXT.ls

Directory containing files with text-elements for a third language.
==> List and description of files

-----------

Content (Files) of the individual directories:

CONNECTIONS

File	Format and Content of file
Connections.xml	Parameters necessary to connect to the database and/or the Java Application Server (JAS). This file exists only if the application needs an access to a database. ==> Structure of file. ==> Code for reading this xml-file.

GRAPHICS

There are no naming conventions for files within this directory.
The number of files for graphic-elements (mostly Icons) and their file-name will depend on the application to be developed.

TEXT or TEXT.ls

File	Format and Content of file
Errors.xml	Language-specific text-elements associated with warnings or errors that can occur within the application. ==> Structure of file. ==> Code for reading this xml-file.
DisplayStrings.xml	Language-specific text-elements for GUI-elements. ==> Structure of file. ==> Code for reading this xml-file.
Tasks.xml	Language-specific list of selectable Tasks to perform Business-Applications. ==> Structure of file. ==> Code for reading this xml-file.
Buttons.xml	Language-specific text-elements, Icons and default function-keys assigned to buttons. ==> Structure of file. ==> Code for reading this xml-file.

Related
Documents:

Directory architecture

Prerequisites:

`Directories:`

Content (Files) of the individual directories:

`Related Documents:`