Setting up the Graphical Toolbox

The Graphical Toolbox is delivered as a set of JAR files. To set up the Graphical Toolbox you must install the JAR files on your workstation and set your CLASSPATH environment variable.

You must also ensure that your workstation meets the requirements to run IBM^® Toolbox for Java™.

Installing the Graphical Toolbox on your workstation

To develop Java programs using the Graphical Toolbox, first install the Graphical Toolbox JAR files on your workstation. Use one of the following methods:

Transfer the JAR Files

Note: The following list represents some of the methods you can use to transfer the JAR files. The IBM Toolbox for Java licensed program must be installed on your iSeries™. Additionally, you need to download the JAR file for JavaHelp, jhall.jar, from the Sun JavaHelp Web site Link outside Information Center

Use FTP (ensure you transfer the files in binary mode) and copy the JAR files from the directory /QIBM/ProdData/HTTP/Public/jt400/lib to a local directory on your workstation
Use iSeries Access for Windows^® to map a network drive.

Install JAR files with iSeries Access for Windows: You can also install the Graphical Toolbox when you install iSeries Access for Windows. The IBM Toolbox for Java is now shipped as part of iSeries Access for Windows. If you are installing iSeries Access for Windows for the first time, choose Custom Install and select the IBM Toolbox for Java component on the install menu. If you have already installed iSeries Access for Windows, you can use the Selective Setup program to install this component if it is not already present.

Setting your classpath

To use the Graphical Toolbox, you must add these JAR files to your CLASSPATH environment variable (or specify them on the classpath option on the command line).

For example, if you have copied the files to the directory C:\gtbox\lib on your workstation, you must add the following path names to your classpath:

     C:\gtbox\lib\uitools.jar;
     C:\gtbox\lib\jui400.jar;
     C:\gtbox\lib\data400.jar;
     C:\gtbox\lib\util400.jar;
     C:\gtbox\lib\jhall.jar;

You also need to add an XML parser to your CLASSPATH. For more information, see the following page:

XML parser and XSLT processor

If you have installed the Graphical Toolbox using iSeries Access for Windows, the JAR files (except jhall.jar) will all reside in the directory \Program Files\Ibm\Client Access\jt400\lib on the drive where you have installed iSeries Access for Windows. iSeries Access for Windows installs jhall.jar in the \Program Files\Ibm\Client Access\jre\lib directory. The path names in your classpath reflect this.

JAR File Descriptions

uitools.jar: Contains the GUI Builder and Resource Script Converter tools.
jui400.jar: Contains the runtime API for the Graphical Toolbox. Java programs use this API to display the panels constructed using the tools. These classes may be redistributed with applications.
data400.jar: Contains the runtime API for the Program Call Markup Language (PCML). Java programs use this API to call iSeries programs whose parameters and return values are identified using PCML. These classes may be redistributed with applications.
util400.jar: Contains utility classes for formatting iSeries data and handling iSeries messages. These classes may be redistributed with applications.
jhall.jar: Contains the JavaHelp classes that displays the online help and context sensitive help for the panels you build with the GUI Builder.
XML parser: Contains the XML parser used by the API classes to interpret PDML and PCML documents.

Note: You can use internationalized versions of the GUI Builder and Resource Script Converter tools. To run a non-U.S. English version, you must add to your Graphical Toolbox installation the correct version of uitools.jar for your language and country or region. These JAR files are available on the iSeries server in /QIBM/ProdData/HTTP/Public/jt400/Mri29xx, where 29xx is the 4-digit i5/OS™ NLV code that corresponds to your language and country or region. (The names of the JAR files in the various Mri29xx directories include 2-character suffixes for the Java language code and the country or region code.) This additional JAR file is be added to your classpath ahead of uitools.jar in the search order.

Using the Graphical Toolbox

Once you have installed the Graphical Toolbox, follow these links to learn how to use the tools: