Abstract
This report presents some technical possibilities which could be applied to the development of a university's Postgraduate Admissions Support System (PASS). The discussion is centred on the design of the database, the design of a client/server architecture of such an application and the technical possibilities to implement such an architecture. Solutions proposed are using the new Java technologies such as JDBC, RMI and Javascript. However, some other possibilities are discussed such as CORBA and CGI.
The discussion about the database deals with the choice of a Data Base Management System (DBMS) and its design. The discussion on the implementation of PASS deals with the possible technical choices and the tasks to perform in the applications linked with the PASS. Three solutions have been implemented, one using a JDBC two-tier architecture and two using a three-tier architecture: the socket solution and the RMI solution. These implementations have permitted us to discuss advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solutions.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr Albert Burger for his work with me and the numerous people from the French Java mailing-list who help me many times. Moreover, I would like to thank Dr Mike Chantler for his welcome.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background Information
2.1 General Overview of the PASS
2.1.1 Principles of the actual system
2.1.2 Limitations of the actual system
2.1.3 Designs for a new system.
2.1.4 Description of the Applications
2.1.4.1 The On-line Form Applet
2.1.4.2 The General Application
2.2 Technical background information
2.2.1 CGI & Javascript
2.2.2 JDBC Two-tier Architecture
2.2.2.1 Pure JDBC approach
2.2.2.2 JDBC ODBC approach
2.2.3 JDBC Three-tier architecture
2.2.3.1 Socket solution.
2.2.3.2 Distributed Object approach
2.2.3.2.1 Java RMI approach
2.2.3.2.2 CORBA approach
2.2.3.2.3 Last Developments about RMI and CORBA
2.2.4 Other Possibilities
2.2.4.1 Microsoft DAO
2.2.4.2 Java Relational Binding
2.2.4.3 JSQL
3. Design and Implementation of the PASS
3.1 Design and Implementation of the Database
3.1.1 Design of the Database
3.1.2 Choice of the DBMS
3.2 Presentation of different implementations of the General Application
3.2.1 A short description of the user interface
3.2.2 JDBC-ODBC Bridge Solution
3.2.3 Socket Solution
3.2.4 Java RMI Solution
4. Conclusion
5. Appendix
5.1 Appendix 1: JDBC-ODBC Bridge implementation.
5.2 Appendix 2: dbclient.java
5.3 Appendix 3: essai.html
5.4 Index of Figures
6. Bibliography
6.1 Books
6.2 Internet References