How to Create Portable Applications for PCs in NTU

There is no magic here. At least you should know that most PCs in NTU:

1. run Windows XP
2. have Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed
   To check which Java version is used, google “check java version” [without the quotes] and visit the first page in the search result.
3. have FlashPlayer plugin installed

Most PCs in NTU run Windows XP

Since the PCs are running Windows XP, you can do the following.

1. Create some programs in C++/C#/anything that use Windows API or… sort of
2. Make the executable in Windows environment

Those tasks can be helped by IDEs such as have Ms Visual Studio [there is the free version for students, anyway] or Eclipse.

Advantage: In Windows, your program created using this method work faster than the program created using the other methods, if and only if the same algorithm is used. This is because native environment is used.

Disadvantage: The program will not work if non-Windows operating system is used. Some computers in ADM uses Mac, while some computers in Computing Labs uses Fedora (a Linux distribution).

Most PCs in NTU have Java Runtime Environment (JRE) Installed

Once you understand how to create an application using Swing GUI, the application will work in any computer that has JRE.

To implement Swing GUI, there are two ways.

1. Using JFrame
   JFrame looks like ordinary application.
2. Using JApplet
   JApplet runs on appletviewer and web browsers. The web browsers must have Java plugin enabled. JApplet has limited access to the client’s file. If it is to access the client’s file, jarsigner is needed.

I usually uses Netbeans to create JApplet form and add the JApplet into a JFrame. This makes the application can run on web browsers and desktop.

Computer Science students in NTU should be able to do this at least after Swing is taught in CSC203.

Advantage: As the SUN’s slogan says, “Write once, run anywhere.” Your program works on Mac, Windows, and Linux! Well, it’s not true if JRE is not installed…

Disadvantage: Sometimes noticeable slow performance………… Slow loading time for JApplet…

Most PCs in NTU have FlashPlayer Plugin Installed

This is true, because the NTU homepage contains Flash animation [which takes a long time to load in other countries...].

Advantage: Practically, same as SUN’s slogan. Loading time is faster than that of JApplet.

Disadvantage: This works in web browser and flash movie viewer or sort of. File access and desktop application are not supported [I've tried google but I found nothing about both]. The full Adobe Flash software is needed. However, there is the open source version.

Knowing NTU E-mail Account Owner’s Particular Using Microsoft Outlook 2007

I’m not quite sure whether everyone knows this.

If you use Microsoft Outlook 2007, you can see the address book search bar. Click on it, and type someone’s NTU e-mail address and press enter. And… Tada! You can see the account owner’s particulars, including:

• Year of admittance in NTU
• Expected Year of Graduation [EYOG]
• Year of graduation [if applicable]
• Programme
• Minor Programme which the account owner is taking [if applicable]
• Whether the account owner is taking ABP
• Whether the account owner is an international student
• Hall number and block

Another way to know those particulars is by typing #SOMEONE’S FULL NAME# in the address book search bar, and enter.

Another way [again?], right-click on #SOMEONE’S FULL NAME# you see in the application, and choose Outlook properties.

One important condition is that you have to use your NTU E-mail account in Microsoft Outlook 2007 so that all the information above can be viewed. [works for NTU students, doesn't work for NTU staffs]

I haven’t tried using 2003 and Evolution, or other software…

This information may be useful for ECA clubs to take note

Configuring Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 for NTU Webmail Account

I’ve just realized that usually…

• I type webmail.ntu.edu.sg in my browser’s address box almost every x-hours, where x in Z+ and 0 < x < 24, followed by clicking the link given;
• I open my homepage and click Webmail;
• I type stuff\blablabla and my password to check my NTU e-mail;
• I am afraid of Microsoft stuff;
• I see broken incorrect layout of NTU Mail as I use a non-IE browser;
• when I use Internet Explorer, I must wait for about:blank for a century.

Boring, you see. Now I don’t want to open that website frequently at least in my laptop, even though at last I should be brave to use Microsoft stuff. The only way to check the e-mail without abusing web browser and typing that thingy is by abusing Microsoft Office Outlook.

The guide from NTU CITS does not seem to be straightly applicable to Outlook 2007 version, but it actually works anyway if you try for the whole night hahaha. [I hope CITS will update the guide soon.]

So, I try to explain the guide in terms of Outlook 2007 [ and Windows Vista Business; because I use that ].

Those who don’t want to run through this guide, try another simpler guide from NTU CITS. I don’t know whether it will work though. The guide states that it is for Outlook 200x, but the steps mentioned in the guide says that that the profile is for Outlook 98/2000.

1. Open the Control Panel and switch to Classic View.
   
2. Look for the icon, and double-click it.
3. Click Show Profiles.
   
4. Add new profile.
   
5. Give the new profile a name. After that, click OK.
   
6. Check the box Manually configure server settings or additional server types, then click Next.
   
7. Choose Microsoft Exchange and click Next.
   
8. Type Mail21 for Microsoft Exchange server;
   Check the box below; and
   Fill the User Name box with the NTU network user name.
   
9. If you see some annoying pop-ups [saying that something fails or should be checked], don’t Cancel them! Instead, just Close them. [If you cancel them, they'll keep popping up.]
10. Click More Settings…
    
11. On the Connection tab, check the Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP box. Then click Exchange Proxy Settings…
    
12. Fill webmail.ntu.edu.sg for URL for Exchange;
    Check the box Only connect to…, then fill msstd:webmail.ntu.edu.sg;
    Use NTLM Authentication;
    Check On slow networks,… box;
    [Let the rest setting to you;] and
    Click OK.
    
13. Click Apply, then click OK.
14. Next and Finish.
15. Last but not least, choose the profile that you want to use, then click Apply and then OK.
    
16. Errr sorry. That wasn’t the last.
    Launch the Outlook 2007. You should see a familiar pop-up prompting for your password.
    

    Login Prompt

That’s all…

You may also be interested in this post [Don't Open NTU Webmail Page in Library Computers].