Client Framework 4.2.0Struts ConnectorStart Guide

Backbase is the leading provider of enterprise software for creating AJAX-based Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Medium tolarge enterprises and independent software vendors use Backbase to enhance the usability of their web applications,migrate fat client applications to the Web, deliver next generation online self-service applications, and create enterprisemash-ups.

The company’s award-winning software powers business-critical RIAs for many of the world’s leading companies. Backbasedelivers the reliability and robustness of commercial software products with guaranteed ongoing product innovation andmaintenance, and global technical support services. Backbase Enterprise AJAX software supplies everything needed forsuccessful development and deployment of AJAX-based RIAs.

Founded in 2003, Backbase is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and San Mateo, California, with internationaloffices in Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

Additional information is available at http://www.backbase.com

Backbase offers Backbase Server Connectors to connect the Backbase Enterprise Ajax 4.2.0 frameworks with popularserver-side presentation frameworks such as JSP or Facelets and Struts. The Struts Connector is a Connector thatintegrates the AJAX Client Runtime with the Struts application framework. It is an add-on module to the Client Framework.

The Struts Connector is targeted at Java developers who want to ajaxify existing Struts applications. With StrutsConnector, interface developers can quickly add individual AJAX client widgets and commands to make the web interfacemore compelling. They can also re-design larger parts of the interface to reduce full page reloads and make the interfacemore responsive to user interaction.

The Struts Connector provides a comprehensive AJAX development framework to ajaxify Struts interfaces. It combinesthe richness of AJAX on the client with the maturity of Struts on the server. Backbase takes care of all the AJAX plumbingwork and makes AJAX development fast and easy for Struts developers. By allowing companies to leverage existing Strutscode and skills, the Struts Connector extends the lifetime of a Struts based web application.

This Start Guide is your entry point to the Struts Connector package. For installation instructions, please consult theInstallation and Deployment Guide.

Be aware that the Client Framework package is a prerequisite for the Struts Connector package and that youshould download these separately. The web.xml configuration file may need to be adapted to reflect the properpath settings to the Client Framework package.

A list of Backbase Struts Connector documents and technical information about the Backbase Struts Connector can be foundin this document.

After installation, you can learn how to develop RAD applications with the Backbase Struts Connector either by deployingand examining the starter kits or by reading the Developer Guide.

About Backbase

About the Struts Connector

About This Start Guide

Backbase Struts Connector Document Suite

Introduction

Backbase Struts Connector 2

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The following table describes the documents for the Struts Connector:

Document Title Description Intended Audience

Installation and DeploymentGuide

Helps application developers todownload and install the StrutsConnector in a developmentenvironment and it helps serveradministrators to download anddeploy the Struts Connector in aproduction environment

Application Developers and SystemAdministrators

Developer Guide Helps developers getting startedwith programming Struts Connectorenabled Struts applications. Itincludes detailed explanations fromthe starter kits with sample sourcecode and a reference for theBackbase tag libraries.

Application Developers

Release Notes List of new features, change log,and known issues

Technical Decision Makers,Application Developers

Please be advised to also look at the Client Framework documentation located in the corresponding separatepackage.

• Eclipse IDE - The Eclipse IDE is an open source Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Using Eclipse IDE incombination with the Eclipse Web Tools Platform (WTP), you have access to tools for automated product installation,application creation, and code completion.

The JSF Framework Backbase Eclipse plugin plugin requires Web Tools Project (WTP) version WTP version1.5.x. This WTP is packaged with Eclipse for Java EE Developers Winter version, which is available fromhttp://www.eclipse.org/downloads.

• Firefox Developer Toolbar - Adds a menu and a toolbar with various web developer tools to the Firefox browser.

• Firebug - Gives you the ability to edit, debug, and monitor CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript live in any web page in theFirefox browser.

• Microsoft Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar - Provides a variety of tools for quickly creating, understanding, andtroubleshooting Web pages in the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.

• Fiddler - Logs all HTTP traffic between your computer and the Internet using an HTTP Debugging Proxy for MicrosoftInternet Explorer.

Here are a few Struts books that we use in the office:

• Programming Jakarta Struts - Chuck Cavaness

• Jakarta Struts Cookbook - Bill Siggelkow

• Starting with Struts2 - Ian Roughley

Developer Resources

Library

Backbase Struts Connector 3

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http://www.backbase.com Our homepage

http://bdn.backbase.com The homepage of all product information, includingdocumentation and examples

http://bdn.backbase.com/forum The URL of the (free) Backbase forum

To deploy a Struts application, you will need a suitable application container. You can find a list of the Backbase verifiedapplication containers in the Verified Application Servers [p. 4] section of this document.

Furthermore, in order to run an application, you should install the Java 2 (version 1.4.2 or later) Java Developer Kit (JDK)implementation for your operating system platform.

You can use the Struts 1.2.9, 1.3.5 or 2.0 versions for your Backbase enabled Struts application.

Struts version 2 requires configuration that is slightly different from Struts version 1. See the section ConfigureStruts 2 Applications in the Installation and Deployment Guide.

You can deploy the Struts Connector in any J2EE web container that is compatible with the Servlet API Specification(version 2.2 or later) and the JavaServer Pages (JSP) Specification (version 1.1 or later). The following web containers areverified by Backbase:

• Tomcat 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0

• Websphere 5.1.1 and 6.0.2

• WebLogic 8.1, 9.1, 9.2 and 10

• JBoss 4.0.3 SP-1, 4.0.4 and 4.0.5

• Oracle 10g 10.1.3

• Sun One 8.2

Consult the Client Framework documentation for a list of verified browsers.

The Installation and Deployment Guide will show you how to install the Struts Connector, both in a development and in aproduction environment.

Online Resources

Application Requirements

Verified Application Servers

Verified Browsers

Installation of the Struts Connector

Backbase Struts Connector 4

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The Backbase Developer Network http://bdn.backbase.com brings many developers resources such as the latestreleases, errata, updates, news and our free forum to your fingertips. Architects and evaluators will also benefit from theinsights and articles posted by Backbase and by the community.

Free community-based support is available through our Backbase Developer Network discussion forums. Commercialsupport is available through a Backbase yearly subscription, which includes product support and software licenses. Thissupport is useful for individuals and businesses requiring superior technical support, regular maintenance releases,notification and alerts on product issues, knowledge base access, email or phone support, hot fixes, and an accountmanager.

Learn more: http://www.backbase.com/support

Backbase training courses are designed for a whole range of developers, from AJAX beginners to enterprise developers.Courses are available online, on site, and in classroom settings. Our online classes are live with real-time instructors.Training attendees are encouraged to communicate in real time with the instructor. All of our instructors are AJAX expertswith extensive teaching experience.

Learn more: http://www.backbase.com/training

For sales-related questions and inquiries, contact your local or regional office. For up-to-date information on our global salesoffices check: http://www.backbase.com/contact

You can also submit questions to our general email address at: contact@backbase.com .

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Community

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Training

Sales

Contact Backbase

Backbase Struts Connector 5

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