Overview
The idea behind this tool is to allow developers to browse, search, query huge amounts of Java Source files and third-party class libraries.
To get started launch Source Explorer for Java.
Commands
Under Import Menu you will find all necessary commands to import Java Source files, class files, zip or jar files (containing .class files) etc., You can load shared libraries and system libraries if your third party stuff uses native code.
If you have sets of JavaDoc HTML files corresponding to JDK, JFC, JGL etc., you can import those HTML files by specifying the top level directories.
For any reason, if you want to reload all the files that you imported due to version changes, you can just hit File->Re-Import All.
If you are not satisfied with the speed while running Find->* commands, you can use File->Load All Imported Data command to load all object descriptions into JVM runtime memory. I don't think anybody will really use this command.
If you want to wipe out every thing that you imported into Source Explorer, then use File->Remove All Data command.
All commands under Find Menu are very intuitive to use. User can launch these commands to find Packages, Types (classes, interfaces, exceptions), Methods, Fields and generic Strings.
Views
There are total seven views under Views menu.
1. Files View:
Displays list of all packages imported into the tool (in a list box). When a package is selected a table is displayed which contains details about the package. Under the table, a list box displays all types that import the selected package.
If user double-clicks a package, then the view will be switched to Packages View.
2. Packages View:
In this view all imported packages are displayed in a list box. When a package is selected, the contents of the packages are sorted into three categories to be displayed in a tabbed panel. When a type (=class or interface or exception) is selected the corresponding source is loaded in the source window at the bottom.
If user double clicks on a type, the view will be switched to I/C/E view.
3. I/C/E View
In this view user can select
and view a particular type (class or interface or exception ) in a selected
package. When user selects a type in the list box onto the left, the right
side view recomputes to display all details of the type in a tabbed panel.
Depending on the amount of information available following tabs will be
computed.
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Inheritance | |
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Constructors | |
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Methods | |
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Fields | |
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Implementers | |
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Extenders | |
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Inner Types |
Each pane in the tabbed panel displays information in a list box. When user selects an item in the list box, the source in the bottom panel will scroll to display the correct location of the selected item.
When user selects an inner type in the tabbed panel, a separate window displays the contents of the inner type using a similar tabbed panel. User can select items in that tabbed panel to browse the source code.
4. Inheritance View
In this view user can select a package and see what types in that package participate in inheritance hierarchy graph. The right side view recomputes to display a tree control that contains all the interfaces and classes that have implementers or extenders.
When user selects a type in the tree control, the bottom view recomputes to display the correct source code.
5. Dependencies View
Users can use this view to find the list of dependents for each package. The tree control on to the top displays all types that import a given package. When user selects a type the bottom view loads the corresponding source file.
6. JavaDoc View
Users can enter a keyword in the provided text field and find the matching HTML files that correspond to the imported JavaDoc HTML files. When user selects a HTML file the bottom view loads the selected file and supports further navigation capabilities similar to Internet Browsers.
This view might throw lots of warnings/errors to the console due to bugs in JFC.
7. Imports View
This view lists all the inputs of import commands that were executed after the installation. The nodes in the tree control expand to list all packages that were imported through each source/bytecodes import.