Java Problem Solving
AFPEx is known to be compatible with the latest version of Java available from java.com (Version 6 Update 23 at the time of writing, January 2011).
This page provides guidelines on resolving the most common problems found on both Windows and Macintosh systems, please see the individual sections below for help:
Microsoft Windows Problems
In the first instance, most problems can be solved by simply re-installing Java on your system.
To reinstall Java:
- First uninstall any existing version using the Control Panel:
- Windows 7 or Windows Vista: Open the Control Panel from the Start Menu, search for "Uninstall" in the top right corner, select "Uninstall a program" and double-click on Java in the list.
- Windows XP: Open the Control Panel from My Computer on the desktop, select Install/remove programmes and find Java in the list.
- Note: an official uninstall procedure is available from the java.com site.
- Download the latest version of Java by clicking the "Free Java Download" button on java.com and follow the instructions.
If this fails to associate .xjnlp files with the Java Web Start application and your browser still prompts you to save the file, then depending on your version of windows, one of the following step-by-step guides should resolve the issue:
Windows Vista
- Open up the Control Panel from the Start Menu.
- In Control Panel, make sure that Classic View is selected - top left of the window. The Control Panel should look approximately the same as above.
- Select Default Programs
- Select "Associate a File Type or Protocol with a Program"
- A new window will open, please be patient, it can take a few minutes to populate. In the list, find the ".jnlp" file type and double click on it.
- If shown, select "Java(TM) Web Start Launcher" from the suggested programs.
- If not, then click Browse... and find the file javaws.exe. This is normally located at "C:\Program Files\Java\bin\javaws.exe" (Note that on some systems it may be found under "Program Files (x86)" ).
- Ensure the check box labelled "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" is ticked.
- Click OK.
- If the problem still exists, repeat these instructions for the ".xjnlp" file type
Windows 7
- Open up the Control Panel from the Start Menu
- In Control Panel, make sure that Large Icons is selected - top right of the window in the View by drop down. The Control Panel should be approximately the same as above.
- Select Default Programs
- Select "Associate a File Type or Protocol with a Program"
- A new window will open, please be patient, it can take a few minutes to populate. In the list, find the ".jnlp" file type and double click on it.
- If shown, select "Java(TM) Web Start Launcher" from the suggested programs.
- If not, then click Browse... and find the file javaws.exe. This is normally located at "C:\Program Files\Java\bin\javaws.exe" (Note that on some systems it may be found under "Program Files (x86)" ).
- Ensure the check box labelled "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" is ticked.
- Click OK.
- If the problem still exists, repeat these instructions for the ".xjnlp" file type.
Windows XP
- When your browser prompts you to save the ats.xjnlp file, save it to the Desktop.
- Find the saved ats.xjnlp file on the Desktop, right-click it and choose "Open with...".
- If shown, select "Java(TM) Web Start Launcher" from the suggested programs.
- If not, then click Browse... and find the file javaws.exe. This is normally located at "C:\Program Files\Java\bin\javaws.exe"
(Note that on some systems it may be found under "Program Files (x86)" ). - Ensure the check box labelled "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" is ticked.
- Click OK.
Apple Macintosh Problems
Apple supplies its own version of Java which is automatically updated using the Software Update tool. Ensure your system is fully up-to-date as AFPEx is known to be compatible with an up-to-date Snow Leopard installation.
If clicking on the AFPEx Login link prompts your browser to download the ats.xjnlp file rather than loading AFPEx, it is likely that this extension is not properly associated with the Java Web Start application. Follow the process below to solve this issue:
- Save the ats.xjnlp file and then open in Finder by right clicking the file in the Firefox Downloads window or clicking the magnifying glass icon in the Safari Downloads window.
- Right-click the ats.xjnlp file and select Get Info
- Under the Open With... section, select Other...
- Pull down the drop-down above the file listing and select your Mac's main hard drive (usually labeled Macintosh HD).
- Browse to the following path to find Java Web Start: System > Library > CoreServices > Java Web Start. You may need to select Enable: All Applications at the bottom of the window in order to select Java Web Start. Click the check-box labeled Always open with and then click the Add button.
Sometimes Firefox will continue to try and download the ats.xjnlp file and may also throw up an error. In this instance open the Applications pane of the Preferences panel and find .xjnlp in the list of applications. Here you can select a Default Action associated with this file type. Choose the Use other... option (even if "Java Web Start (default)" is already listed) and select Java Web Start from the same location as specified above. This should resolve the error and allow AFPEx to run directly from the browser again.