The Computer Group, recently used such a tool to convert a commercial application into a Java applet.
The original product, LeaseWizard, is written in Borland Delphi for Windows. It helps car shoppers decide whether leasing or purchasing is a better deal. Kranitz wanted to post a free, abbreviated vers
ion of LeaseWizard on his Web site, but he doesn't know how to program in Java. So, he constructed a working prototype in Excel and used a tool called SmartTable, by Visual Numerics, to automatically convert the spreadsheet into a Java applet. SmartTable creates Java class files that duplicate both the appearance and the function of the spreadsheet. Users can enter data and calculate results on-line.
Later, Kranitz hired a programmer to write an HTML/JavaScript version that non-Java browsers can use. However, it doesn't do as much interactive error-checking when users enter data, and it consumes a lot more screen space. "You have to scroll it, and that's a big deal," says Kranitz. "[The Java applet] looks a lot better on the screen."
screen_link (37 Kbytes)
LeaseWizard Jr. is an Excel spreadsheet converted into a fully functional Java applet.
Excelling at Java
