Consultor Eletrônico

Better Java security exception debugging info from Netscape

Sometimes it is useful to look at the Java console for debug
information about what Java is doing while loading an Apptivity
applet.

One way to get a higher level of debug information in the
Netscape Java console is to type the number 9 in the console
as soon as it comes up. This provides the highest level
of general debug information.

Another way to get more useful information in the java console,
specifically related to security-related exceptions, is to
enable verbose tracing for security exceptions as follows:

1. Enable signed.applets.verbose_security_exception in the
prefs.js file. This can be done by using the java applet
located at
http://developer.netscape.com/library/technote/prefwrangler.html
or by doing the following:

A. Close the Netscape browser.
B. Edit the file prefs.js (located in a directory below the
Netscape install directory) by adding the following line
to the beginning:

user_pref("signed.applets.verbose_security_exception",true);

C. Save the file.
D. Resart Netscape.

2. When enabled, this preference causes printStackTrace() in
security-related exceptions to print a complete stack trace
(rather than just the name of the exception.) In order to get
the most detailed stack traces, you will also need to disable
the JIT (Just In Time compiler).

To disable JIT:

A. Rename the JIT library to a different name (on Windows,
the JIT is named "jit3240.dll" and is located in the directory
<Netscape Directory>\Program\Java\Bin).
B. Shut down all copies of the Netscape Browser.
C. Start one copy of Netscape.
D. Open a Java Console to verify that the JIT is now disabled
(The JIT displays a message in the Java Console if it is
active.)
E. If the JIT is still active, you may need to reboot your
system.

Once this higher level of debugging is enabled, if a security
exception occurs, a full stack trace will be printed in addition
to the exception.

UTF
7/30/98