Recently I had the chance to start working with Softgrid, a Microsoft's application virtualization and I'm really stunned about the potential of virtualization in future. But let's stop the chit-chat and go to the fundamental point.
The goal was to sequence Internet Explorer 7 with JInitiator's plug-in in Windows Vista. It doesn't matter the version of JInitiator but what matters is that has to work. Well it's known that Oracle is not supporting JInitiator on Vista, so Softgrid is coming handy on this. So the steps are quite simple and if you follow them, you should get the job done.
1.Create a folder in "Q:" with the name you want. I've called it "JavaJInitiator". Inside create two folders. I've called them "Java" and "JInitiator".
2.Install Sofgrid's Sequencer on a Windows Vista with Internet Explorer 7.
3.Open the Sequencer and start a sequence task and give the name you want to give to each points. Remember: in the Path textbox you have to enter the same name on which later you will save the package. I've entered as "JavaJInitiator".
4.Start Begin Monitoring. Then install JRE (well I managed to work with the 1.5 version, but I guess any version should work) on "Q:\JavaJInitiator\Java". When it finishes install JInitiator on "Q:\JavaJInitiator\JInitiator".
5.What we're gonna do now is part of what does the trick so we can manage it to work on Vista. It's pretty simple. Only what you have to do is to open the folder: "Q:\JavaJInitiator\Java\bin\client\" and copy the file "jvm.dll" to the folder "Q:\JavaJInitiator\JInitiator\bin\hotspot\" and replace with the one that is there.
6.Now if needed, you should go to Control Panel and click on the JInitiator's icon to increase the cache size in order to guarantee your application doesn't fail. By default is 50mb.
7.So, now we're gonna test the application. Go and link to your Oracle Forms Application site and wait for the application to open. It may ask to register a .dll, do it and the application should open. Now, in order to guarantee that will work as virtualized you should go to Internet Explorer Tools, Internet Options, Programs and click Manage Add-Ons. There, choose Download ActiveX Controls (32 bit) and certify that JInitiator's plugin is Enabled, if not, enable it. Restart your Internet Explorer and test the application again. After, Stop Monitoring.
8.The next step is to choose the path, so select "Q:\JavaJInitiator" . After that, when choosing what goes in the package, remove Java and JInitiator and just leave Internet Explorer on the list. Edit Internet Explorer and give the name "Internet Explorer with JInitiator", the Version "7" and give the OSD file name as "JavaJInitiator.osd".
9.Launch the application in order to test it and now you're ready to save it. Save your package as "JavaJInitiator" in the directory "C:\JavaJInitiator".
10.Copy the package to "Content" folder of your Softgrid server, import it and you're ready to stream it.
Well, I hope it helps you understanding how softgrid can help you with the various versions of JInitiator and how to run multiple applications in Windows Vista with Internet Explorer 7.