Application clients are the client applications that use a servlet to communicate with an enterprise bean, with the servlet residing on the same machine as an application server.
Before you begin
This article assumes that you have created and unit tested an application client program that you want to assemble in an enterprise application and deploy onto an application server.Why and when to perform this task
Application clients consist of several models. This article applies to application clients based on the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) model.A J2EE application client is a Java application program that accesses enterprise beans, Java DataBase Connectivity (JDBC) application programming interfaces, and Java Message Service (JMS) message queues. The J2EE application client program runs on networked client systems. The program follows the same Java programming model as other Java programs; however, the J2EE application client depends on the application client run time to configure its execution environment, and uses the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) name space to access resources.
You can use a J2EE application client to develop an application program, assemble the program into an application client project, deploy the project as a client application (JAR file), and launch the client application.
To create a deployable client application, use an Application Server Toolkit (AST) or Rational Web Developer assembly tool to create and add an application client project to a new or existing enterprise application project.
Steps for this task
Result
A new application client project is created, reflecting the J2EE folder structure that specifies the location of application client content files, class files, class paths, the deployment descriptor, and supporting metadata. Files for the application client project are shown in the Project Explorer view under Enterprise Applications and Application Client Projects.What to do next
After creating an application client project, you can edit the application client deployment descriptor if default properties are not sufficient. In the Client Deployment Descriptor editor, you can add enterprise bean, resource, or resource environment references as well as view and edit source code.For more information, see the online help for the assembly tool. Similar information is in the Application Server Toolkit information center available with this information center. Click Application Server Toolkit > J2EE applications > Defining J2EE application clients.
Related concepts
Application Client for WebSphere Application Server
Enterprise (J2EE) applications
Related tasks
Assembling application clients
Assembling applications
Creating enterprise applications
Related information
Importing client applications