Microsoft VM for Macintosh Release Notes

ID: Q192269

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh

SUMMARY

This article contains a copy of the information in the Microsoft virtual machine (Microsoft VM) for Macintosh Release Notes file.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 Java support is based on the JManager 1.0 interface as defined by Apple Computer. Internet Explorer has an open architecture that supports multiple Java virtual machines such as the Apple MRJ and the Microsoft VM.

The Microsoft VM

The Microsoft virtual machine supports 68000 and PowerPC machines. The Microsoft VM also includes a PowerPC JIT (just-in-time compiler) for faster Java operation.

The Microsoft VM is installed when you install Internet Explorer with Java. The default Java installation enables the PowerPC JIT. Running applets with the JIT enabled requires more RAM than the standard configuration. If you have less memory you can choose to turn off the JIT. The JIT takes standard Java byte codes and turns them into native PowerPC instructions. For computational applets, you will see a dramatic increase in speed. The speed of graphics operations, however, will be largely unaffected.

New Features since 4.0 (PowerPC only)

Inclusion of Microsoft's Liquid Motion animation classes

PowerPC JIT enabled by default/

Increased Stability

If you upgrade from Internet Explorer 4.0 or 4.0a, your JIT preference will remain set to its previous value.

New Features Since 3.01

Inclusion of Microsoft's Application Foundation Classes (AFC) http://www.msdn.microsoft.com

Support for the JDK 1.1.4 specification

Decoding of Java applets in Cabinet (CAB) archives. CAB is Microsoft's technology for quickly and securely sending Java classes over the Internet. For more information on CAB technology go to http://www.msdn.microsoft.com.

Support for security zones for the Microsoft virtual machine

Known Issues with the Microsoft VM

Choosing a New VM
You must restart Internet Explorer when you choose a new virtual machine in the Java preferences panel.

Networking Failures
Cancelling or refreshing an applet while it's performing network operations can cause the applet to become temporarily unresponsive. Quitting and relaunching Internet Explorer will usually restore normal operation.

International character support for Microsoft virtual machine If you experience problems viewing international characters in Java applets, make sure that the Apple Text Encoding Converter is installed on your computer. To do so, check your Text Encoding folder in your System folder. You can also look for the Text Encoding Converter file in your Extensions folder (located in your System folder). The Apple Text Encoding Converter version 1.1 has been shipping with the Mac OS since version 7.6. The latest version as of the shipping of this product is 1.3.1. For more information, visit http://macos.apple.com.

Low Memory Issues
In some cases there may be no warning that a Java applet was unable to load because of low memory availability. Quitting Internet Explorer, choosing Get Info on the Application, and increasing the memory partition for IE may alleviate this problem. Additionally, disabling the PowerPC JIT (if enabled) may reduce memory usage.

Navigating While Loading an Applet Clicking the Refresh, Back, or Forward buttons repeatedly while some Java applets are actively loading may cause Internet Explorer to stop working properly. Quitting and relaunching Internet Explorer will usually restore normal operation.

Clipboard support
Using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands in a Java applet only works with the command keys.

Printing
Printing of applets is currently not supported in this version of the Microsoft virtual machine for Macintosh.

Installation Issues (PowerPC only)
Internet Explorer 4.01's Microsoft virtual machine for Power PC installs a folder in the "MS Library" folder called "Classes (4.01)". The file(s) in this folder replace those in IE 4.0's "Classes" folder. If you are not going to continue to use IE 4.0, you can delete the "Classes" folder to save space on your hard disk.

The Apple MRJ

To use this Apple virtual machine, you must first download and install it from http://www.apple.com/macos/java.

Authenticode

Authenticode is also not supported by Internet Explorer for Macintosh 4.01 and earlier. Internet Explorer for Macintosh can use signed cab files and the signing is ignored so the browser treats it as an unsigned cab file. The only solution is to add the server to your Trusted Sites list and then set permissions on that site to whatever is needed by the class files.

Java is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Microsoft virtual machine for Macintosh Copyright 1997-98 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kbreadme msiemac 
Version           : MACINTOSH:
Platform          : MACINTOSH 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: July 29, 1999