Target Audience

This course is designed for the novice developer or those with little or no experience of Java who require an introduction to the Java language using a choice of IDE.

Pre-requisites

The student should be familiar with the Windows host environment. Knowledge of any programming language is advantageous but not essential.

Course Objectives

This course provides students with the skills to write simple Java programs. The syntax of the language is covered in detail and also Object Oriented coding techniques are discussed. During the course the student will write many applications to ensure that the concepts and statements taught are fully understood and practical experience is gained. The course is taught using a choice of IDE. The skills needed to use this software are presented as part of the course. On completion of this course the student will be able to:

•    use the major concepts of a modern, block-structured, high-level language, such as control flow, function calls and modular             programming
•    structure programs using classes and other essential object-oriented features
•    create, test and debug simple Java code using the chosen Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Course Environment

Development will be performed using:

•     the Java Development Kit (JDK) plus a text editor
•     JBuilder
•     NetBeans
•     Websphere Studio Application Developer
•     Rational Application Developer
•     Eclipse

Course Details

INTRODUCTION TO JAVA

What is Java?

The Java Programming Language

The Java Platform, Java installation - Path requirements

What Can Java Do?

Overview of the many subjects covered by Java

Advantages of using Java

Creating a java class

Running Simple Applications

A simple first example - The "Hello World" Application

OBJECT-ORIENTED CONCEPTS

An introduction to Objects

What is an Object?, Encapsulation

Communicating between objects

What are Messages?, the benefits of Messages

Classes

What are Classes?, Objects vs. Classes, instantiation, the benefits of Classes

Inheritance

What is Inheritance?, the benefits of Inheritance

THE JAVA LANGUAGE

Variables

Usage Types, Data Types, Literal Values, Naming Standards, Scope, Initialisation, Constants, Escape Characters

Arrays & Multi-Dimentional Arrays

Strings

Strings are objects!, Concatenation, Testing for String equality, Manipulation

Operators

Arithmetic, Unary, Relational, Conditional, Bitwise, Assignment, Expressions

Primitive Casting & Data Type Conversion

Control Flow Statements

if-else, switch, For, While, Do-while, break and continue, Labeled Loops

The return Statement

Passing Arguments to JAVA Programs

OBJECTS, METHODS AND CLASSES

Introduction to Classes and Objects

Methods, Applications & Object Code

Creating & Manipulating Objects, Calling Methods, Passing Arguments and Method Overloading, Returning Values from Methods

Constructors, Static Code

Inheritance - Extending a Class

What does a Subclass Inherit?

PACKAGES

Packages, Using Package Members, Importing

ACCESSIBILITY MODIFIERS

Public or Private?!

Declaration Parameters

Class, Variable , Method

CASTING

Literal Values, Implicit & Explicit Casting, Casting With Operators

Casting Objects, Narrowing & Widening

CONVERSION, FORMATTING AND PRECISION

Data Type Conversion, Wrapper Classes

Decimal Precision

Numeric Formatting, Date Formatting

THE WSAD DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT (if applicable)

The Workbench

Perspectives, Views, Toolbars, Editors

Importing and exporting, Searching

Rearranging Views, Fast Views

Working With Java

Working with buildpaths and classpaths

Fixing Problems, Creating new Classes and Interfaces

The Java Editor

Editing code and elements, Content/Code Assist, Code Formatter

Managing Imports, Local History, Refactoring

Other Views

The Type Hierarchy, Using the Outline View

Running and Debugging apps

THE RAD 6.0 DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT (if applicable)

The Workbench

Perspectives, Views, Toolbars, Editors

Importing and exporting, Searching

Rearranging Views, Fast Views

Working With Java

Working with buildpaths and classpaths

Fixing Problems, Creating new Classes and Interfaces

The Java Editor

Editing code and elements, Content/Code Assist, Code Formatter

Managing Imports, Local History, Refactoring

Other Views

The Type Hierarchy, Using the Outline View

Running and Debugging apps

Course Format

Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given. During these sessions the delegate will build a simple but complete application. Examples are used extensively, ranging from simple code 'snippets' to full applications with complete ‘real world’ functionality. These are supplied at the start of the course and it is encouraged that the delegates execute and ‘experiment’ with these under the instructor’s guidance as they are introduced. These examples are available to take away, along with the delegate’s own work. The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.