We need to build a tabbed interface framework for mastering CDs and DVDs containing HTML content. The content does not require server interaction but may contain video and/or animated presentation material. We have Java skills and a legacy Macromedia Director application we want to replace for delivering PC and Mac content on disk. What would you recommend?
I would look at building the framework on either the Eclipse rich client platform (RCP) or the Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT) that Eclipse is built on, because it provides a native look and feel on each platform and contains multiple tabbed interface widgets and a Web browser component that can utilize all the installed plug-ins that are available to the default Web browser(s) on either the Mac or the PC. In addition, you can compile SWT applications into native executables using the gnu compiler for Java. Constructing such a framework with Eclipse can be accomplished quite easily by making some straightforward modifications to the HelloWorld examples provided in the SWT or RCP packages. Simply add to the basic composite used in the example by adding a TabFolder or a CTabFolder to that composite, and then add a new [C]TabItemfor each tab you want and add a new browser to each tab you create. Once that is done you can load content into each browser tab using the Browser.setURL method to provide the location of the HTML content using relative or local file URLs. You can build the framework once and master multiple disks by simply modifying the included HTML content.
