Installing and enabling Java: Difference between revisions

This page explains how to install [[Java]], and how to enable it in various web browsers. Using Java with Proteopedia or with [[FirstGlance in Jmol]] will improve performance significantly. Once you have Java working, you can make it the default in Proteopedia (see [[Using Java for Rendering Structures]]) or in [[FirstGlance in Jmol]] (with its ''Preferences'').  

We believe this page is up to date for '''December, 2018''' (Java 1.8.0_191, [https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/release_dates.xml Java Release Dates]). If you suspect any issues, please email [[Image:Contact-email.png]].

[https://www.java.com/en/download/help/firefox_java.xml The Mozilla Firefox browser does not support Java] (including the Java-dependent version of Jmol) since version 52 of the 32-bit browser; the 64-bit Firefox has never supported Java. [https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Problems-with-add-ons-plugins-or/Why-do-Java-Silverlight-Adobe-Acrobat-and-other-plugins-no/ta-p/31069 That change happened in March 2017] and had been announced well in advance.

'''Internet Explorer''' and '''Safari''' support Java as of November, 2017. See below for details for each of these browsers.

'''[https://www.waterfoxproject.org/ Waterfox]''' (available for Windows and OS X) is very similar to Firefox and supports Java (March, 2018). Waterfox is ''available only for 64-bit operating systems''. It is harmless to download it and try it -- if you have a 32 bit operating system, it won't run.

Older versions of Waterfox share bookmarks and preferences with Firefox, and both cannot be run at the same time (on OSX --and Windows?). More recent versions (2018) can import the Firefox settings (although some settings are reset) and use their own profile folder, so Waterfox and Firefox can be run now at the same time.

Waterfox support for NPAPI plugins will presumably end eventually, when the NPAPI code is removed also from the Firefox Extended Support Release (Firefox ESR). The Waterfox maintainers plan to develop a completely new browser with NPAPI plugin support. But even if they can realize it, it will presumably take quite some time until it will be usable.

'''[http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/ SeaMonkey]''' (available for Windows and OS X) is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaMonkey Mozilla-based browser] that supports Java, at least up to version 2.49.1 released November, 2017. It is unclear whether SeaMonkey will follow Firefox in removing support for Java.

'''Maxthon''' is a browser developed in China. The Windows version 5.0.4.3000 (current through at least November, 2017) supports Java, but concerns have been expressed about data that this browser sends back to China (see [http://www.securityweek.com/maxthon-browser-sends-sensitive-data-china Security Week, July 2016] and [http://www.techrepublic.com/article/maxthon-browser-is-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing/ Tech Republic, July 2016] among others). The OS X version 5.0.20 does not support Java.

<!--* Chrome (Windows or OS X): Click on the 3-bar icon at the upper right corner of the browser window, then on ''About Google Chrome''. ''About Chrome'' checks for updates automatically.-->

* Firefox (Windows): Click on the ''Firefox'' menu at the upper left (or the ''Help'' menu), then ''Help'', then ''About Firefox'', which checks for updates automatically.

* Firefox (OS X): Click on ''Firefox'' in the menubar (top left of screen), then ''About Firefox'', which checks for updates automatically.

* Safari (OS X): System Preferences, App Store. Click on the ''Check Now'' button. Install any available update for Safari or OS X.

Mac OS 10.13 High Sierra (and perhaps some earlier versions) use Safari 11. We do not have an OS 10.13 test system, but it appears that Java can be enabled in Safari 11 following [https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8361245 these instructions].