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JavaBeans: Components for the Java Platform

by Andy Quinn

JavaBeans brings component technology to the Java platform. You can use the JavaBeans API to write Java classes, known as Beans, that you can visually manipulate within application builder tools.

JavaBeans is a core JDK1.1 capability. Any JDK1.1-compliant browser or tool implicitly supports JavaBeans.

This document is a hands-on guide to learning JavaBeans and the Beans Development Kit (BDK). The JavaBeans API Specification provides a complete JavaBeans description. Print out a copy of the JavaBeans specification, and keep it handy when going through this document.

The software you'll need to learn about JavaBeans is available free on the web. In addition to the Beans Development Kit (BDK), you will need the Java Development Kit (JDK).

JavaBeans Concepts and the Beans Development Kit describes what makes a Bean, and describes the Beans Development Kit (BDK).

Using the BeanBox describes basic BeanBox operation, and explains the BeanBox menus.

Writing a Simple Bean walks you through creating a rudimentary Bean, saving the Bean, adding the Bean to the ToolBox, placing the Bean in the BeanBox, inspecting the Bean's properties and events, and generating a Bean introspection report.

Properties explains how to give your Beans properties: Bean appearance and behavior characteristics customizable at design time.

Manipulating Events in the BeanBox describes the BeanBox's event manipulating capabilities. If you are not familiar with event handling, you might want to read up on JDK 1.1 event mechanism to prepare for this material.

The BeanInfo Interface describes how to write Bean information classes: Separate classes you can use to explicitly advertise your Bean's properties, methods, and events to builder tools.

Bean Customization introduces you to property editors, and the Customizer interface.

Bean Persistence explains how to save and retore your Beans, and their customized state.

New Features describes the Java Activation Framework, BeanContext, and native drag and drop.

Additional Documentation

The BDK's beans/docs directory contains documentation for

• The Beans API
• The BeanBox API
• The demo Beans
• The java.util API
• Java Archive (JAR) files and manifests
• Makefiles for gnumake (Unix) and nmake (Windows)

A good starting point is the file beans/README.html.

The JavaBeans Documentation page contains current JavaBeans API definitions, upcoming JavaBeans feature descriptions, and related Java documentation such as the Java Core Reflection API, Object Serialization, Remote Method Invocation (RMI), and a third-party JavaBeans book list.

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