Target Audience

This course is targeted at the developer, already familiar with Java, looking to gain an in-depth knowledge of Server-side Java Programming. During the course the student will write many Servlets, JavaBeans and JavaServer Pages that interact with HTTP clients and databases.

Pre-requisites

The student should be familiar with Java Programming. They should have a good understanding of the basic Java language and the more commonly used Java API classes. This knowledge can be gained by attending courses EC21 and EC22.

Course Objectives

This course provides students with the skills to write effective Servlets, JavaServer Pages and JavaBeans. While covering these in detail, the course retains a ‘high level’ overview of the Design Patterns used for such development. During the course the student will write many of these to ensure that the statements taught are fully understood and practical experience is gained. On completion of this course the student will be able to:

•     understand and use Java Database Connectivity
•     use the JDBC API
•     code JDBC dynamic and prepared statements
•     process JDBC results sets
•     process JDBC NULL values
•     handle JDBC errors and warnings
•     understand and use transaction control
•     understand and use Isolation Levels
•     use JDBC connection pooling techniques
•     code servlets
•     process HTTP requests and responses
•     process GET and POST requests
•     process HTML forms
•     understand servlet multi-threading issues / pitfalls
•     adopt single threading techniques where appropriate
•     use standard server error codes
•     understand servlet chaining
•     use the Session Tracking API
•     understand hidden fields / URL rewriting techniques
•     set and read cookies
•     use the request dispatcher
•     write JavaBeans
•     code JavaServer Pages
•     access JavaBeans from servlets / JSPs
•     use JSP tags
•     understand JSP JavaBean scopes
•     use JSP forwarding
•     use Model, View, Controller methodologies
•     use JSP error pages
•     use the WebSphere / RAD testing environment (if applicable)

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 SERVER-SIDE PROGRAMMING

Overview of Server side programming

Servlets, Java Server Pages, Web Servers, Java Beans

Model, View, Controller architecture

DATABASE ACCESS

What is JDBC?

What alternatives are there? JDBC vs SQLJ

How does JDBC work?

JDBC Drivers and the JDBC API, Statements & Prepared Statements

Working with data

Accessing data - Working with Result Sets

Handling Warnings, Errors and NULL Values

Scalability Issues

Transaction Control and Isolation Levels

Configuring and using DataSources (using JNDI)

SQLJ

SQLJ Programming - Development Cycle using DB2

SQLJ Cursor Techniques

SERVLETS

Servlet Overview

Servlet vs CGI Advantages

The Java Servlet API

Servlet Life Cycle

Multi-threading issues / pitfalls

What Servlets Are

Non-Http Servlets - Implementing the Servlet Interface

Non-Http Servlets - Extending the GenericServlet class

Http Servlets - Extending the HttpServlet class

What Servlets do

HTML Get and Post Requests & Catering for both

Getting data to Servlets - the HttpRequest Object

Sending HTML back to the client - the HttpResponse Object

Using the Data sent to a Servlet

Form Validation

Data Validation

Servlet Security

Restricting Servlet Access

Error Handling

Server Error Codes

Server Side Includes

Extra HTML tags

Servlets can invoke other servlets

Dispatching a Resource from within a Servlet

USING WSAD TO CODE SERVLETS (if applicable)

The J2EE Heirarchy

Web Projects, Where Servlets should go

Creating Servlets

Testing Web Applications

Server Perspective, Servers, Server Configurations and Instances

Debugging Servlets

USING RAD 6.0 TO CODE SERVLETS (if applicable)

The J2EE Heirarchy

Web Projects, Where Servlets should go

Creating Servlets

Testing Web Applications

Server Perspective, Servers, Server Configurations and Instances

Debugging Servlets

ACCESSING DATABASES VIA SERVLETS

Servlets, JDBC and Connection Pooling

DataSource Definitions and Getting Database Connections via a DataSource

DATA SCOPE / PERSISTENCE

Variable Scope & Protection

Instance variables are shared!

Thread Safety - Synchronized Code

What is Request Scope?

Storing Objects for the lifetime of the Request

What is Session Scope?

Storing Objects for the lifetime of the Session

Session Tracking using Cookies, URL Rewriting, HiddenFields

Session Tracking API

Session Creation and Lookup, Storing and Retrieving Session API Information, Lifecycle, session tracking without Cookie support

Session Binding

What is Application Scope?

Sharing Data between different Servlets

JAVASERVER PAGES

JSP Overview

The Problem with Servlets - Why use JSPs?

How JSP Pages Are Executed

Writing a JavaServer Page

JSP Tags, Directive Tags, Scripting Tags & Scriptlets, Action Tags

JSP Pre-Defined Objects

Including Static and Dynamic Content

Forwarding execution to Servlets, JSP’s or HTML pages.

JSP Initialisation and Cleanup

USING WSAD FOR JSP DEVELOPMENT (if applicable)

Overview

HTML Page Designer, Creating and editing HTML files

Testing JSPs

Testing and Debugging JSPs

USING RAD 6.0 FOR JSP DEVELOPMENT (if applicable)

Overview

HTML Page Designer, Creating and editing HTML files

Testing JSPs

Testing and Debugging JSPs

JSP DESIGN PATTERNS

MVC Architecture

Where are JSPs used?

JSP Design Patterns

Stand alone JSPs, JSPs calling Servlets, JSPs accessing JavaBeans

Getting data from HTML Forms to JSPs

Handling HTML Forms

JavaBeans

Using JavaBeans

Form / Bean / JSP Interaction

Accessing JavaBeans from JSPs - JavaBean Tags

Getting Data from the Bean to the JSP Page

Variable and JavaBean Scopes

JSP Variable Scopes

JavaBean Scopes

Moving around!

Invoking a JSP from a Servlet

Passing Objects from Servlet to JSP

Passing JavaBeans from Servlet to JSP

Error Handling

The JSP Error Page

Full Shopping Cart Example

CUSTOM TAG OVERVIEW

Why use Custom Tags?

How are Custom Tags implemented?

Custom Tag Elements, the Tag Library Descriptor (TLD)

The Tag Handler Class, using JavaBeans to Implement Tags

Course Format

Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given. 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.