Notes for PFE and Java - Version Oct 2004

Installing Java

Before installing PFE you must download and install Java from Sun's web site at http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp
Be sure to choose J2SE 5.0 JDK and no other option.

Installing PFE

Only after Java has been successfully installed can you install PFE (the editor) and the remaining support software.

PFE is installed by downloading and executing PFEInstall.exe

De-installation

There is no automatic de-installation program; however, if you've finished with PFE and don't want to use it again then you may wish to delete the folder PFE_UWE which can be found in the Program Files folder. Personally, I don't recommend this!

Updating to a new Java version

If you download and install a new version of Java from Sun's web site, then you should run PFEInstall.exe again so that the new version will get used.

Updating to a new version of PFEInstall.exe

If a newer version of PFEInstall.exe becomes available, then you may use it to update an existing installation. Your lecturer will tell you if it's necesssary to update.

Repairing a Faulty Installation

NEW

Sometimes the install program doesn't correctly set up the Windows Registry. If this happens, then you can't compile within PFE. Fortunately, there's a simple fix:

Start up PFE
Select Options > Preferences > Configuration Sets
Ensure that "Java Configuration" is set as the default
Close down PFE (no need to close down the computer)
Start up PFE again. All should be well.

End of new section

If your version of PFE becomes faulty, rerunning PFEInstall.exe will probably fix it.

If rerunning PFEInstall.exe doesn't fix a faulty installation, then I recommend the following steps:

Look in the Program Files folder and rename PFE_UWE to something else
Look in your My Documents folder and rename My Java to something else
Re-run PFEInstall.exe

Programmer's File Editor PFE)

To run PFE, look in the Start Menu > All Programs > Programmer's File Editor

Commands

PFE is an extremely powerful editor which we have modified so that it uses similar key commands to emacs. However, be aware of the following minor differences:

^K Deletes a line of text, but does not put it into the paste buffer. Hence ^Y does not recall a sequence of lines deleted using ^K
^C^C does nothing. To compile a Java program use ^C C (control-C followed by C). For more on this, look at the next section
As with emacs, ^C and ^V do not cut and paste! Use ^W or ESC-W for cut/copy and ^Y for paste.

Compiling and Executing Java programs

You can compile and execute Java programs without leaving PFE.

Try this:

Start up PFE (from the Start Menu)
Select File > Open...
Navigate to the folder My Documents\My Java\TestPrograms
From the menu, select and open Test.java
Ensure that the window for Test.java is selected and press ^C C (Control-C followed by C)
A separate window opens for the compilation process. This window closes when the compilation is complete. The text that appeared in the compilation window is captured into a second window called CommandOutput1
IMPORTANT: Ensure that the Test.java window is selected by clicking on it.
From the menu, select Execute > Java Execute - Windows
The program now executes. When it finishes, the window CommandOutput1 contains all the messages it output.
Look at the end of CommandOutput1 and you should see the messages:
Your Basic Java system seems to be working
uwejava extras appear to be working

What's the difference between Excute-Windows and Execute-DOS?

Execute-Windows is used for programs which interact with the user using GUI components only.

Execute-DOS is used for programs which interact with the user using crude keyboard input classes (like TextInput). As a beginner, you'll probably use this option quite a lot.

Other PFE Operations

Java Compilation Options

Java Scan and Compilation: This is the usual mode for most students. PFE performs an error searching pre-scan before running the normal javac compiler. Most students find the error messages from the pre-scanner to be more useful than those produced by javac.
Java Compile: This performs a compilation without the error searching pre-scan. It is not recommended for students, but more advanced programmers might find it useful.

Java Reformat Layout

This option applies the usual indentation and other rules to the program to produce a more prettily formatted version. After the operation is complete, you must select YES to load the updated version back into PFE. The unchanged version can be found in the file whose name ends with .java-o

Java Instant Feedback

Instant Feedback is part of an automatic marking system. It looks at your program and makes rude comments about the way it's laid out and the lack of comments. Use Instant Feedback when you're preparing assessed work to be handed in for marking.

Bob Lang
Sept 2004