Further Investigations

Further Investigations

This book serves as a starting point. It surveys the technologies of WebObjects without providing the details. This section lists sources of WebObjects information for software developers. It is by no means an exhaustive list, and Apple's contribution to this list will grow.

Other Apple Publications

Apple is planning a series of documents, of which this document is the first in the series. The rest of the documents are

Discovering WebObjects HTML

Discovering Java Client

Discovering Direct to Web

Discovering Direct to Java Client

Creating Enterprise Objects

After you choose an approach, you should read the appropriate document (when it becomes available). Regardless of the approach you use, you should read Creating Enterprise Objects as the material pertains to all approaches.

With the exception of Discovering WebObjects HTML, which is available now, these documents are in preparation at the time of this writing. You can obtain other documents in this series (as they become available) using the publish-on-demand arrangement Apple has with Fatbrain.com.

To obtain a printed copy of one of these documents, use your Web browser to access the page at www1.fatbrain.com/documentation/apple. Then follow the directions. The document should be delivered to you within a few business days.

Installed Developer Documentation

When you install the WebObjects Developer on your computer, the Installer puts developer documentation into the following locations:

Frameworks. Information inextricably associated with a framework is usually installed in a localized subdirectory of the framework. This method of packaging ensures that the documentation moves with the framework when and if it moves (or is copied) to another location. It also makes it possible to have localized versions of the documentation (although English currently is the only supported localization).

Development applications. Help information for applications such as Project Builder and Interface Builder is installed with the application. When users request it from the Help menu, the application launches Help Viewer to display it.

Example code. A variety of sample programs are installed in /Developer/Examples/JavaWebObjects ($NEXT_ROOT/Developer/Examples/JavaWebObjects on Windows 2000) showing you how to perform common tasks using WebObjects.

All information that is not specific to frameworks or development applications is installed in /Developer/Documentation ($NEXT_ROOT/Documentation/Developer on Windows 2000). On Mac OS X, the Installer also creates symbolic links to the framework documentation in this location.

To access the developer documentation on Mac OS X, you use a special interface of the Help Viewer called the Developer Help Center. Use the following steps to access the Developer Help Center:

Choose Help Center from the Help menu in the Finder.

Click the Developer Center link on the first (home) page of the Help Center.

To return to the Help Center, click the Help Center link on the home page of the Developer Help Center.

To access the developer documentation on Windows 2000, you use the WOInfoCenter application. To access the WOInfoCenter, go to the Start menu and select Program > WebObjects > WOInfoCenter.

Information on the Web

Apple maintains several websites where developers can go for general and technical information on WebObjects.

Apple Product Information (www.apple.com/webobjects). Provides general information on WebObjects.

Apple Developer Connection-Developer Documentation (developer.apple.com/techpubs/webobjects). Features the same documentation that is installed with WebObjects, except that often the documentation is more up-to-date. This location also includes legacy documentation.

Apple Developer Connection-Technical Notes (developer.apple.com/technotes). Collects late breaking information and supplementary documentation.

AppleCare Tech Info Library (til.info.apple.com). Contains technical articles, tutorials, FAQs, technical notes, and other information.