Open2Dprot Files

File: README-FlickerNoJavaInstallerNeeded.txt
Date: May 24, 2004
P. Lemkin

Alternate way of installing Flicker without using the Java installers
=====================================================================

This method was developed for users who are having problems with 
the installer or don't want to use it or have long download times.
However, if possible we encourage users to use the Java installers 
with the full Java JVM download as in general it will be much easier 
to install.

This installation method for Flicker repackages the three Java .jar 
files required (Flicker.jar, jai_coded.jar, and jai_core.jar) into 
a new .jar file called F.jar. This is then the file that you use to
run Flicker. 

Note: this method may be used with either Windows or Unix (including
MacOS-X). There are two different conversion scripts available 

For windows:               create-F.jar-file.bat
For Unix and MacOS-X:      create-F.jar-file.sh

Get the FlickerNoJavaInstallerNeeded.tar.gz file from the Web server

     http://open2dprot.sourceforge.net/Flicker

Click on "Files mirror" in the Table of contents on the left side
of the Flicker home pag and download the file.


1. Where you install it on your computer
----------------------------------------

This describes an alternate way of installing Flicker in an
installation directory of your choosing. For example you might use

   C:\Program Files\Flicker

but it does not matter.


2. Instructions for building F.jar
----------------------------------

2.1 You should copy all of the files in this distribution into your
installation directory

2.2 This method REQUIRES that you have installed a recent Java JDK
version 1.4.1 or later. If you do not have it installed on your
computer, you can download it from java.sun.com (it is free).  Make
sure that the executables (java, jar, etc) are on your Windows PATH
variable. See Windows documentation for that. You can test if the Java
is installed correctly by trying to run java in a CMD window. From the
Start toolbar, click on Run. Then open CMD (press OK after you have
typed it into the prompt for a program to run). Then when the CMD
window pops up, type

   C:\>java -version (followed by the Enter key).

If Java is installed, it will print out the version number (something
like the following when we do it on our computer)

   java version "1.4.2_04"
   Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_04-b05)
   Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_04-b05, mixed mode)
 
If it returns 
   'java' is not recognized as an internal or external command ...  

you need to install the java JDK and set the PATH variable.

2.3 At this point you can run the batch script create the F.jar
file. There are two different scripts: one for Windows PCs and 
one for Unix.

2.3.1 For Windows PCs, click on

   create-F.jar-file.bat

This will popup a Windows CMD window and process the script. At the
end there should be a file F.jar in the directory.

2.3.2 For Unix and MacOS-X. The the following script under a command shell:

   create-F.jar-file.sh

This will process the script. At the end there should be a file F.jar 
in the directory.


3. To start Flicker
-------------------

Once The F.jar file si created, you start Flicker by running

  Fstartup.bat

If your system can't find it, you may have to specify the full
directory path. The Fstartup.bat batch script starts Flicker by
running ("open" in Windows language) the F.jar file with the 
java interpreter as
   
    java -Xmx256M -jar F.jar

It will start Flciker with 256 Mbytes of memory. To increase or
decrease the amount of startup memory, then edit this number in the
Fstartup.bat file.

Alternatively, you can start Flicker on a specific .flk startup file
file running
  
  FstartupFlkArg.bat mydata.flk

where mydata.flk is any .flk startup file you have created using the

   (File menu | StateAs state file) 

you have created. (See the Reference manual for details).  

Hint: make a shortcut to FstartupFlkArg.bat and add the argument
mydata.flk after the .bat command.

4. Updates for the flicker program
----------------------------------

Since this installation method does NOT use the Flicker.jar file when
you start Flicker, you must rebuild the F.jar each time you do an

   (File menu | Update Flicker program)

which simply downloads the Flicker.jar file from the Web server.