This document summarizes our experiences with different browsers under Mac OS X and OS 9.
Under Mac OS X 10.3, Safari 1.2 is recommended for Marvin Applets. In the earlier versions of OS X, the recommended browser is Netscape 6.2.x or 7.0x.
Each Mac OS X system contains a built-in Java (version 1.3.1 or later). This built-in Java is also called MRJ 3.x. Under this platform, most browsers use it for running applets. The following links provide more info about the features of these Java releases:
From OS X 10.2.3, Java 1.4.1 is available. After you upgrade from Java 1.3.1 to 1.4.1 the previous Java version is also available. Among the Java enabled browsers on this platform, only Safari supports 1.4.1. and above versions of Java. The others use either built-in Java or an MRJ plugin that only supports Java 1.3.1.
Note: There is a Java plugin: JEP (Java Embedding Plugin) that also supports 1.4.1 and above versions of Java. But it is not compatible with all browsers. It is still a beta quality software, and may have bugs and cause problems. You can download it from the JEP project site. To install it, follow its installation instructions.
Netscape 6.2.1 - 7.02
The Netscape 6 family applies Apple's Java 1.3.1, which is built into
OS X, for running applets. The
latest version
of this environment can also be downloaded.
Different OS X versions may be distributed with different Java updates.
There may be different shortcomings
in the listed browsers depending on Apple's Java updates.
Mac OS X 10.1.x is distributed with a Java version which is compatible with Sun's 1.3.1_02 Java. If your applet runs with this Java version, calling JavaScript from Java is not fully supported. The MarvinView applet may not be able to run JavaScript commands in the following cases:
*: Upgrade plugin with MRJ Carbon Plugin 1.0.1
to be able to use this feature in unsigned applet in Netscape 6.x.
**: In Swing mode running JavaScript command may cause freezing.
In Mac OS X 10.2, processing JavaScript code from a Java applet does not work.*
* In a few configurations, applets can call JavaScript code but it may cause freezing.
If the browser requests that you download the plugin for the applet, then
Stuffit Expander and extract the archive manually.MRJPluginCarbon file
from the created MRJPluginCarbon-1.0 directory into Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder.
Netscape 7.1 / Mozilla 1.4 and above
Version 7.1 is the latest release of Netscape which is based on Mozilla 1.4. These browsers do not contain any built-in Java and not easy to find a suitable Java plugin for them.
Netscape 7.1 and newer Mozilla packages contain an built-in Java plugin that can automatically detect the built-in Java of OS X (only Java 1.3.1) for running applets. The other dissadvantage of the built-in Java plugin that does not support Java - JavaScript communication.
If you would like to use new Java versions (1.4.1 and aboves) with these browsers, you need JEP (Java Embedding Plugin). JEP also supports Java - JavaScript communication.
Safari 1.2 requires 10.3 or above versions of OS X. Java 1.4.2 is recommended for running Marvin applets.
Note: Safari 1.2 supports Java - JavaScript communication if Java 1.4.2 is installed.
Safari 1.0 recommends Java 1.4.1 for running applets.
If the current Java version is 1.3.1, the browser may freeze up durring the loading of a signed applet. In this case, upgrade your Java (1.4.1 or later).
Although Marvin applets run with IE5, we do not suggest using them with it.
Under Mac OS 9 Netscape 4.7x with built-in Java (without the MRJ plugin) is the recommended browser for Marvin. This browser includes a built-in Java (which uses AWT 1.0).
Although you can install a Java plugin (the MRJ plugin) for Netscape 4.7x, we do not suggest using the MRJ plugin on this platform because the MRJ plugin has some limitations (Limitations of the MRJ plugin under Netscape 4.7x) which can cause problems with running applets. If the MRJ plugin is already installed on your browser, we suggest that you remove it.
Check the plugin list by choosing Help/About Plug-ins menu options in the browser. If you find the
MRJ plugin in the list, remove the MRJPlugin and MRJPlugin.jar files from the
Applications/Netscape Communicator Folder/Plug-ins folder.
Mac OS 9 does not include a Java by default. Netscape 6.2.1 - 7, Mozilla 1:
Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ) is required
for running applets. Though these browsers have no built-in JVM; they can use the Java plugin.
When you install one of these browsers,
the installer automatically detects MRJ under OS and the browser uses it for running applets.
Shortcomings