Any way to get Java Web Start to automatically set shortcuts?

Question

We are deploying the Web Start application, which I and other developers know how to set shortcuts for (Control Panel → Java on Windows, / Applications / Utilities / Java Preferences on OS X), but we have no reason to believe that end users know how do it (or even know that it can be done).

Is there a way to set shortcuts automatically on first start or (preferably) ask the user if they want to set shortcuts? I looked all over, but Sun / Oracle docs all say to go through the Java cache viewer, which I find completely ridiculous to ask end users.

Answer 1

The JNLP specification allows you to specify that short abbreviations should be created when running the JNLP file.

Check out the <jnlp><information><shortcut> .

Answer 2

The javaws says:

 Usage: javaws [control-options] control-options include: .... -import [import-options] <jnlp-file> import the application to the cache import-options include: .... -shortcut install shortcuts as if user allowed prompt 

so that you can do this with a javaws call.

Answer 3

Starting from 1.6.0_18 +, the JWS offers an IntegrationService .

IS can not only install / remove desktop shortcuts and menu items, but also report success or failure of attempts to create / delete them.

Some minor issues with standard shortcut usage (via JNLP file) using Windows and Linux. JWS will only ask the user if the application. with sand. If the application. reliable, he will continue to work and try to create a shortcut.

On Ubuntu Linux, menu items will fail, but the desktop shortcut works. I mean to investigate whether Ubuntu menu items will work better using IS by targeting a submenu to one of the standard submenus offered. If so, the menu items can be set by an application aimed at various menu structures on different operating systems.