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Multi-Version Support

This chapter includes the following topics:

Every new or patch release of Java Plug-in uniquely identifies registry keys, CLSID, MIME type and other resources.This allows multiple JRE versions to be deployed in the same environment.

Unique CLSID

There is a unique CLSID for every new or patch version of Java Plug-in. (CLSID is used in the OBJECT tag with Internet Explorer running on Windows.) If you want a minimum version of Java Plug-in to be used, then specify this unique CLSID in the OBJECT tag. The CLSID is stored in the registry in: 

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\

In general the CLSID looks as follows:

CAFEEFAC-<major version>-<minor version>-<patch version>-ABCDEFFEDCBA

where major version, minor version and patch version are all 4-digit hexadecimal numbers.

Examples:

For example, the CLSID for Java Plug-in 6 is as follows:

clsid:CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0000-ABCDEFFEDCBA

and you would find this in the registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0000-ABCDEFFEDCBA

Note that CLSID is also stored in: 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Code Store Database\Distribution Units\

Unique MIME Type and dll

There is a unique MIME type and NP*.dll for every new or patch version of Java Plug-in. MIME type identifies the type or version of the Java executable to be loaded and initialized by Java Plug-in. It is specified with the element type in the EMBED tag with supported Mozilla browsers and with <PARAM name="type"> in the OBJECT tag for Internet Explorer. If you want to use a minimum version of Java Plug-in with supported Mozilla browsers, specify the unique MIME type in the EMBED tag.

Note

MIME type will be supported by an NP*.dll with a unique name for every new or patch version. Thus, installing different version of Java Plug-in does not overwrite other .dll files in supported Mozilla browsers Plugins directory.

In general MIME types look like this:

application/x-java-applet;jpi-version=<version>

where version includes the major, minor and patch version numbers.

MIME types are supported in the file

        NPJPI<modified version number>.dll

Example:

For Java Plug-in 1.6.0, the unique MIME type would be:

application/x-java-applet;jpi-version=1.6.0

and it would be supported in the file:

NPJPI160.dll

in supported Mozillas Plugins directory.

Unique Java Plug-in Registry Key

There is a unique Java Plug-in registry key for every new or patch version of Java Plug-in. The main Java Plug-in registry key is as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\JavaSoft\Java Plug-in\<version number>

where the <version number> includes the major, minor and the patch version numbers.

Example:

For Java Plug-in 1.6.0 you will find the following in your registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\JavaSoft\Java Plug-in\1.6.0

Unique Java Plug-in Property File

The property file is now named deployment.properties. It is located in the following directory:

<User Application Data Folder>\Sun\Java\Deployment

where <User Application Data Folder> is an application data folder specific to the user.

As an example, for a user testuser on a Windows XP system, the value of <User Application Data Folder> would be C:\Documents and Settings\testuser\Application Data

The deployment.properties file is used by version 1.6.0. The value of <User Application Data Folder> is obtained from the Win32 API function call SHGetFolderPath() with CSIDL_APPDATA.

Unique Java Plug-in Trace and Log Files

The default location for trace and log files is <User Application Data Folder>\Sun\Java\Deployment\log

where <User Application Data Folder> is as defined above.

The property javaplugin.outputfiles.path can be used to override the default location for the trace and log files. For more information refer to the tracing and logging section in the Deployment Guide .

Unique Java Control Panel

There is a unique Java Control Panel for every new or patch release. In 1.6.0, the filename for the Control Panel is javacpl.exe.

Only the latest installed version of the Java Control Panel is available from the Windows Control Panel.

Unique Registry Keys for JRE/JDK

There are unique registry keys for every new or patch release of the JRE/JDK. These registry keys are located as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment\<version number>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\JavaSoft\Java Development Kit\<version number>

where the <version number> includes the major, minor and the patch version numbers; e.g., 1.6.0

These keys allow Java Plug-in to locate the proper version of the JRE.

Multi Version Support in Browser Sessions

Mutliple JRE versions can be installed on Windows platform. With multiple JRE's applets using MIME type jpi-version will work with Mozilla browsers only if you enable the following options:

To invoke Java Control Panel for a specific version of the JRE browse to the <JRE_HOME>/bin directory of that version and run javacpl.exe.

Note

Multiple versions of the JRE can be run in different browser sessions. However, multiple versions cannot be run in the same browser session. Should this be attempted, the user is warned and the attempt will fail.