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Appendix B
Using the CD-ROM

The Java 1.1 Certification Training Guide CD-ROM is a hybrid CD-ROM that will run on Windows 95/NT, UNIX, and Macintosh systems. To access the latest installation information and links to technical advice for this book, open the readME.htm file found at the root directory of the disk.

The following subdirectories are contained within a \WIN, \SOLARIS, and \MAC folder and each subdirectory contains:

  /TestApp The Java test engine and examination questions.
  /Code A listing of code discussed in the book, organized by chapters.

Using the Test Application

The Java Certification test engine on the CD-ROM is written entirely in Java, and was created specifically for this book. The test engine was specially designed to mimic the functionality found at the Certification testing centers, so by practicing with the test engine you not only test your Java knowledge, but you also become comfortable with the testing environment. Because Sun periodically changes the coverage of the test and the mix of certain types of questions, we have built a Web site to support this book. The Web site contains additional test questions. The test engine is designed to automatically gather questions from the Web site. In this way, we can keep you up-to-date and give you new questions with which to.

Because the test engine is a Java applet, you can use any Java-enabled computer that runs, at minimum, the JDK version 1.1.4 (Windows/Solaris) or MRJ 1.5.1 (Macintosh).


Note:  
Due to the “essay” nature of the developer examination, answers cannot be graded by a test engine. The test engine only presents simulated questions and programming tasks.

For installation instructions, please see the ReadMe.htm file in the root directory of the CD-ROM. As an example, here are the approximate steps you’ll go through to install the test engine on a Windows 95 system:

1.  Verify that your JDK is 1.1.4 or higher for Windows/Solaris or 1.5.1 for Macintosh—just as long as it is past JDK 1.1.
2.  Copy the /TestApp directory onto a local drive (for example, c:\) so that there exists a \TestApp Directory on your computer.
3.  Add the three files found in \TestApp\AddToClassPath to the JVM’s classpath.


Note:  
JDK uses the Environment variable named CLASSPATH.

For Windows 95/NT, add the following line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (note that XXXX is the directory where your JDK is installed):
CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%,;C:\XXXX\lib\classes.zip;
C:\TestApp\AddToClassPath\symclass.zip;C:\TestApp\
AddToClassPath\icebrowserbean.jar;C:\TestApp\
AddToClassPath\symbeans.jar

Make sure that the path statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file also points to the \bin subdirectory where your JDK is installed, and that it also points to:
c:\TestApp

Symantec Cafe and Visual Cafe users should modify their ../bin/sc.ni files as follows:
CLASSPATH=.;%@P%\..\JAVA\LIB\CLASSES.ZIP;C:\TestApp\
AddToClassPath\symclass.zip;C:\TestApp\AddToClassPath\
icebrowserbean.jar;C:\TestApp\AddToClassPath\symbeans.jar
4.  Modify the TestApp/test.ini file’s LocalPath property to point to the local drive location where you have the test engine installed. By default this is (note the trailing / ):
LocalPath=C:/TestApp/
5.  Modify the TestApp/test.ini file’s GetNetQuest property to true if you have net access and would like to use the most recent test data available from the Web site supporting this book.
GetNetQuest=true
6.  Open a DOS window, switch to the c:\TestApp directory, and type:
java MainTestFrame

When the test engine is started, it will randomly select 90 questions from the contents of the CD-ROM and the active question repository at http://www.xprime.com.

Once the test engine has been started, the clock is ticking. As you can see from Figure B.1, the test application is fairly straight forward. The current question is displayed in the large center screen text panel. The buttons on the bottom of the window allow you to skip or flag the current question so that you can answer it later. When you flag a question, a colored square will appear in the top righthand corner to remind you that you haven’t answered that question. A scrolling text bar on the top left corner of the screen displays the total number of completed questions, flagged questions, and the total time left for the quiz.


Figure B.1  Java Test Application.

Once the quiz has been completed, all flagged questions will be revisited one last time. Once you answer all questions, or time runs out, the test engine will give you your score.

The test engine is designed to provide the most up-to-date testing data possible. With a live question repository, the test composition will change as new information becomes available. Feel free to drop me a line, at Cjaridn@servnow.com, if you need help or have questions.

One last thing. The test application uses the amazing freeware HTML bean provided by Jeremy Cook available at http://www.bgnett.no/datatech/ICEBrowser/index.html. Thanks Jeremy for making a truly useful tool.


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