splash : Java Glossary

2007-08-15 by Roedy Green ©1996-2008 Canadian Mind Products
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splash

A splash is an image that comes up while a program is loading.

Why Use a Splash Screen	Command Line Splash
Applications	Learning More
JApplet Splash Logo	Links
Java Web Start Splash

Why Use a Splash Screen

A splash screen has several functions.

Reassure the user that the program is indeed working, though it may be a while before anything useful happens.
Entertain the user and distract him from noticing how slow program load is.
A first impression. It is a good place to put a snazzy graphic to make your product look sexy. It will soon disappear and will not interferce with the program itself.
Remind the user of the manufacturer’s name, and the version of the program he is using. The splash image can be considered advertising space for your own company.

Applications

You might implement a Splash logo in your own program by, very first thing, before any other classes are loaded, use some code like this:

JApplet Splash Logo

In Java 1.5+ there is a splash logo that comes up as your JApplet loads. It looks a radiant Sun. You can modify that with a magic <param image tag that provides an alternate scaleable image.

Java Web Start Splash

You can add a splash screen to an JApplet or application with Java Web Start just by adding a line to the JNLP file.

<!-- adding splash image to your Java Web Start app -->
<icon href="../splash.gif" kind="splash" />

Command Line Splash

Starting in Java 1.6 you can specify a splash image on the command line like this:

rem invoking a splash image
java.exe -splash:welcome.gif -jar mine.jar

Learning More

Sun’s Javadoc on the SplashScreen class : available:

on the web at java.Sun.com
in the JDK 1.6.0_06 or in JDK 1.5.0_15 on your local J: drive.

Image

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