The Microsoft SDK for Java provides a rich set of class libraries. Please read the SDK documents related to Package Management and the SDK Tools documentation on DUBuild and Signcode. For converting AWT-based source code to use AFC, please read the documentation provided in the \bin\awt2afc directory.

Most new JDK 1.1 classes - java.net.* enhancements are integrated into this release.

AWT

We have completely reimplemented AWT for the Win32 platform. During this process we have removed AWT's dependency on the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), and worked to eliminate overhead, bugs and performance problems. ActiveX Controls can now also be hosted as JavaBeans.

Application Foundation Classes (AFC)

• com.ms.ui: A rich suite of UI controls, written in Java. UI controls will run in a number of popular browsers.
• com.ms.fx: A suite of classes for graphics and effects, written in Java. Fx classes will run in a number of popular browsers.
• Active Accessibility for Java: a compact suite of standard interfaces that gives Java developers access to accessibility aids for the disabled where appropriate platform services exist.
• CAB: A suite of Java APIs for creating and extracting cabinet files on any virtual machine.
• An updated list of class name changes is provided on http://www.microsoft.com/java/afc.
• AFC is written in Java and is both JDK 1.1 and 1.0.2-compatible. This SDK contains JDK 1.1-compatible AFC and a JDK 1.0.2-compatible, redistributable version of AFC, along with samples, release notes, and additional documents.

Win32 API Classes for J/Direct

The Win32 API Classes for Microsoft® J/Direct™ provide access to core Win32 API using the J/Direct technology. For more information on J/Direct and the Win32 API classes for J/Direct, please see the J/Direct release notes.

JDBC

The JDBC-ODBC bridge is part of the core set of classes shipped with the Microsoft VM for Java. Please see the JDBC release notes for more information.

DirectX 3 for Java

Included are Java classes for the following DirectX multimedia APIs:

• DirectDraw(r) - provides 2-D graphics services and bitmap composition.
• Direct3D(tm) Retained Mode and Immediate Mode - high and low-level 3D graphics APIs, providing comprehensive 3-D graphics services.
• DirectSound(r) - provides sound-mixing and playback services.
• DirectPlay(r) - provides multiplayer game connectivity over the Internet.
• DirectInput(tm) - provides services for joysticks and other input devices.

Please see DirectX3 release notes for known issues and further information.

DirectAnimation

DirectAnimation is a new Java API that enables different types of multimedia content to be tightly integrated and deployed, associating the media pieces with a timeline and user events. See the DirectAnimation release notes for further information.

Java Internationalization Support

Unicode

Unlike most other virtual machines, Unicode support was implemented correctly in previous releases of the Microsoft VM and SDK. getLocalizedInput and getOutputStream calls are still valid. All UI methods and paths are Unicode-enabled. Due to size of the JDK1.1 Unicode code pages (over 4 megabytes), only the Windows local code pages data (classes) have been included for this release.

Resource format

AFC includes a set of resource decoder classes that enable users to load Win32 resources. These resources are used to:

• Leverage existing Win32 resources in Java in a cross-platform manner.
• Allow easy, safe business application non-compile localization.
• Offer a solution for software gloablization on the web without reinventing the internationalization process.
• Support multilingual resource handling for Java development using existing Win32 programming tools.

The Win32 Resource Loading sample in the \Samples\AFC\Win32ResSupport directory of the SDK for Java demonstrates the use of the supported Win32 resource styles and controls included with the com.ms.ui.resource.Win32ResourceDecoder class.

Note that in that directory, the Sample.html file that describes this sample mentions that you can see an example of how to merge files by looking at the merge.bat file. This file is not present in the SDK. However, merge.bat only contains the following single line, which shows using the resmerge utility:

resmerge strtable.res strtable_en.res strtable_ja.res strtable_de.res

Multilingual Input Method APIs

Java IME support is provided for use with Java applications and applets written for Chinese, Japanese and Korean users. APIs and sample code are included in the SDK to allow developers to:

• Create pure Java IMEs with self-defined UI.
• Enable a Java applet or application to access any system IMEs as a Java IME on any Chinese/Japanese/Korean (CJK) systems. Please note, you should switch system IME to direct input mode or disable your system IME before you use Java IMEs.

Multilingual VM

Microsoft provides the first multilingual VM on the market today, including 26 languages for both runtime messages and system class library resources, to meet the global demand. Dialogs, strings and other resources are loaded and displayed based on the default system locale, using system default fonts.

Vertical Writing Support

Vertical writing is supported as part of the continuing effort to meet the special requirements of international developers and web publishers. For those who like to use vertical writing for text displays, Microsoft AFC includes vertical writing APIs that can be used in Java applet/application development. This feature enhances programming for CJK languages that uses vertical writing in text, in addition to all degree text rotation features in AFC.