The short version: Java 7 from Sun/Oracle doesn't work with Pocket-Monkey, stick with Java 6 for now. Although the games will mostly work, if the game has to ask you a pop-up question (are you sure you want to do ___, or in Backgammon the question about passing until you can move when you're blocked), it just won't show the question and won't let you make your move.
The long version:
As you may know, I've been trying for a long time to build a replacement for our DHTML (non-Java) games so that they're at least as good as the Java games, but without requiring that you have Java on your computer. This is because some computers don't have Java, and frankly Java on the end-user's computer has always been a bit of a hassle. My real job and some other factors have made progress on that really amazingly slow, but I have been making progress and I've been hoping to have them in beta by the end of the year.
Well, that just got more urgent, because Java 7 doesn't work with Pocket-Monkey. In particular, as petr.pavel discovered, any of the things that triggers a pop-up message (so, offering a double in BG, passing your turn, things like that) fails to do so. I've now had that confirmed by another player.
While I will look into why Java 7 and Pocket-Monkey don't get along in hopes that there's an easy fix, my focus will be on great DHTML games instead. Java on the end-user's computer is just a pain and I don't want to require it anymore.
So if Java 7 doesn't work with Pocket-Monkey, what are your options?
Don't upgrade to Java 7, stick with Java 6. Java 6 is still being maintained for the moment and still has security and bugfixes released. We'll have our new DHTML games long before they stop doing security updates for Java 6. You can download the more recent Java 6 here. You want Java SE 6 Update NN (NN = 29 right now), and you want the JRE, not the JDK (unless you're a programmer).
Use our "experimental" DHTML games. If you absolutely, positively must upgrade to Java 7, you'll need to use our current DHTML games rather than Java with PM (until or unless I get the issue sorted out). But beware that they have issues, there are reasons I recommend people use Java for now and reasons I'm replacing the DHTML games.
Use Java 7, but switch to DHTML when necessary. If you absolutely, positively must have Java 7 on your computer, you can keep using the Java games but then switch to the experimental DHTML games temporarily whenever you get stuck in a game because of the pop-up message thing. This is a pain, but it's possible.
Apologies for what I hope will be a brief bump in the road.
Exactly true, and thanks T.J. I UNloaded Java 7 a few months back, when it was impossible to use for my Pocket_Monkey games- Went back to Java 6, and all was well again! :)
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #21593 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 11/15 at 17:50
In the resulting dialog box, on the General tab (which is the default tab), click the "About" button.
That should show you what version you're using.
Or (and this should work on just about all operating systems):
Just open a command prompt / terminal window
Type
java -version
and press Enter
(Note: If you see version "1.6", that's Java6, not a very old version of Java1. One of the 18,751 ways Sun/Oracle gets it Just Plain Wrong(tm) is their messed up version numbering, which is a point of endless, pointless confusion.) -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #21604 Replies: 1
posted by Purrson (Cheryl A'Purrson) on 11/17 at 21:20
Not sure which java i have on pc but as its new probably 7 as just updated things. Do pm mostly nonjava on ipad. ((((((hugs to TJ))))))) for helping me with that. Tj how would the new format of html coding work for nonflash devices by the way, kinda off topic but knw there are other sites (nongame) that use flash, and cant do on ipad, but know looks like java is gradually being outmoded.
Our DHTML games are (will be) really DHTML games, which means they don't use Flash. They'll work great on iPads, iPhones, Android devices, etc. -- it's a key design criterion, in fact. :-)
T.J., I have changed NOTHING and I suddenly can't see my games! :( (Unless someone else upgraded me to Java 7 or removed Java from my computer entirely...) What should I do?
I'd follow the steps here to clear your Java cache. If that doesn't work, uninstall Java completely and then install the most recent update to Java 6 (not 7) from this page (you want the JRE, not the JDK).
I am using a Mac and firefox...I can only make one move on a game and then when I press next or in fact anything else...firefox crashes. I dont have a problem anywhere else..just this site,and only the pass week. HELP
We haven't changed anything at our end in the past week, sounds like some kind of Mac-specific Java applet problem. Not being a Mac person, all I can suggest is removing Java entirely and then installing it fresh (being sure to install Java 6 and not Java 7, but I don't think that's what you're running into). -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
I think i put the mac and cheese in the java microwave to long,. now it is all stuck to the bowl,.. so stick with 6 seconds instead of 7, and it comes out nicely with a spork.. just kidding here ... if my puter don't work for PM i just kick it and, it works, most times..
Well, I dont know what the problem is. So anyone that I am playing I am sorry I am only going to making the moves that I have to as not to expire games....because it is a real pain to reload firefox after each move.
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #21621 Replies: 1
posted by heartsvertigo (Bob Bowman) on 11/22 at 03:40
I have had Java 7 for a time just experienced 1st problem with being able to move . I followed TJ's direction about checking on control panel to see which Java is listed. I clicked on the file tagged java and it showed 2 lines with checked boxes , one for Java 7 and one for Java 6, I just unchecked the Java 7 box, went back to games and it seems to be working fine again. Did not have to remove Java 7 from puter or try the other fix.
Just sharing what I did and it appears to correct the issue. I have windows xp
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #22273 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 11:46
I cant play because it tells me my java is out of date!? What do i need to do please?
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #22274 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 11:48
Its telling me to update to java 7. Cant move. helpppp
It's working now, right? I see you've posted moves since the above, I'm guessing after receiving my private message?
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #22277 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 11:58
nope its not i posted a reply in another forum
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #22279 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 11:58
This is a copy of it..
i keep getting told i need to update too. i keep getting >>>>>>>JAVA has been blocked because it is out of date..Update plug in....or run this time..i can run this time and play one move but then have to go through it again to play the next move..Looks like you cant play with java on here any more unless you update and then we know that it wont work either!! Help before i lose my games please
I've found and worked around the issue that Java 7 had with the Pocket-Monkey games, so Java 7 should work correctly with Pocket-Monkey as of a few minutes ago. (And you should be seeing "version 1.6.6" at the bottom right-hand side of the game board, just below the "Resign" button.)
That's a different problem. That's your web browser complaining that your copy of Java is out of date (which it is, if you're using Java 6). Browsers are getting more aggressive about not running out-of-date plug-ins. I figure it started happening to you when we updated our applet because previously you'd successfully told the browser to go ahead and allow the old copy of Java for our (old) applet, and now it's not applying that rule to our (new) applet because it has a different path (common166.jar instead of common165.jar).
So you'll need to repeat whatever you did before that told your browser to use the old plug-in -- or, of course, update to Java 7. :-)
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 12:07
How do i know what i did? (So you'll need to repeat whatever you did before that told your browser to use the old plug-in -- or, of course, update to Java 7. :-)) If i update wont i loose to be able to play anyway?
Well, presumably you or someone who works on your computer for you did it. If you search for "allowing old plug-ins" and the name of your browser, you should be able to find out how to make it allow them. But see below.
If i update wont i loose to be able to play anyway?
Note that any time your Java installation isn't working for some reason, we do have a help topic for how to play your games without it while you get the problem resolved. You aren't in danger of timing out (a concern you expressed in GinnyB's thread).
Hope this helps, sorry for any hassle, -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #22288 Replies: 2
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 12:16
No one works on my pc but me and im not techie so what ever was done was done by accident or by itself....lol...Si i should update to Javav 7 now then? And i will be able to play my games properly? Thanks
Re: Java 7 is incompatible with Pocket-Monkey
Message #22289 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 07/01 at 12:21
ok panic over. ive downloaded Java 7 and so far so good. i can go back to enjoying my sunday afternoon games.. Thanks T.j x
Updating would probably be the easiest thing, yes. And as far as I know, Java 7 should now work with PM. But if you want to hedge your bets, track down whatever way it is to tell your browser to allow outdated plug-ins. -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
posted by ladycatt (Donna Garver) on 07/02 at 22:10
I switched to Java 7 since the issue here was supposed to be fixed, and it did work...sometimes.... Problem is, when I went to restart my computer, it wouldn't retart. I ended up having to restore my computer to before I installed java 7. I'm not going to risk downloading java7 again
Sorry to hear about the trouble. Obviously it's up to you, but I very much doubt that Java 7 was the cause of the restart problem, not if you downloaded and installed it from http://www.java.com. Still, though, Java 6 works here! Your browser may start getting difficult about running an old plug-in (they're getting more aggressive about that)...
-- T.J. :-)
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