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Setting up environment for programming plugins

In order to create a plugin for the Seamcat system, you will need to install the Java Development Kit (JDK) which can be downloaded for free from Sun, here you choose the JDK appropriate for your environment.

Note: Make sure you download the JDK and not just the JRE (Java Runtime Enviroment), the JRE is included in the JDK but not vice versa.

Once the JDK has been installed you need to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable and also add %JAVA_HOME%bin to your PATH envorinment variable.

In Windows XP you do this by right-clicking on My Computer and choose Properties, under the tab Advanced you will see a button marked Environment variables. Under Systemvariables there is a Path entry, edit this and append ;% JAVA_HOME%bin to the value. Next find or create a new variable called JAVA_HOME and point this to directory, where you installed the JDK.

Finally you need the file called seamcat_needed_for_plugin.jar. This file is automaticaly copied to the plugin subdirectory of your seamcat directory and is also available from the Seamcat website. Leave this file in the plugin directory, or copy it to a directory of your choice, eg. C:/Seamcatlib The tutorials in this help section assummes that this file is located in C:/Seamcatlib. It is also advisable to turn on the Java console if you have nott already done so.

Open the Control Panel and open the Java Control Panel.

Under the Advanced tab, you will find an item called Java console, under this one select the Show console and click OK.

Next time you start the Seamcat application, the Java console will open, allowing you to use System.out.println statements in your plugin for debugging purposes.