Quake3World

If your looking at webpages etc that use java, do you have to have the java vm, or is there a web browser plug in that most non computer geek types would already have if they use IE or FF for web browsing?

The reason I ask:
I have software that requires the JAVA VM on an end users machine, currently teh download page expects the end user to know if they have JAVA VM or not then download the relevant installer.

I asked a web developer to redo the web page so it had a java image embedded where if the end user did not have java vm the image thing would not show - but he said that its not a 100% reliable system.

hence my question, any help appreciated!!

your webdev was correct

The reason it's not easy to test for Java is because Java can be and frequently is disabled on the browser, even though it may be installed and usable on the PC itself. There's no way around this, as its a valid security distinction that you're not going to be able to test reliably using a web interface.

Your best option is to have the software test for Java itself when the installer package initialises, and if not found download and install the JRE.

Alternatively you can offer a version of the software with a JRE bundled and one without and let the user choose (as you do now)

Or crappiest solution: Present a dialog when the installer runs to inform the user that they need to have the JRE installed.

awww, no such thing as a simple solution is there

so what Ill do then is have the next build test for Java, its just that our users wont know if they have java or not, nor will they know how to check for it.

thanks guys