Java J2EE Servlet Programming

Course Objectives
This Course provides students with the skills to write effective Java Servlets. During the Course the student will write many of these to ensure that the statements taught are fully understood and practical experience is gained. On completion of this Course the student will be able to:

• understand and use Java Database Connectivity
• use the JDBC API
• code JDBC dynamic and prepared statements
• process JDBC results sets
• process JDBC NULL values
• handle JDBC errors and warnings
• understand and use transaction control
• understand and use Isolation Levels
• use JDBC connection pooling techniques
• code servlets
• process HTTP requests and responses
• process GET and POST requests
• process HTML forms
• understand servlet multi-threading issues / pitfalls
• adopt single threading techniques where appropriate
• use standard server error codes
• understand servlet chaining
• use the Session Tracking API
• understand hidden fields / URL rewriting techniques
• set and read cookies
• use the request dispatcher
• write JavaBeans
• use the WebSphere testing environment (if applicable)

Course Details
INTRODUCTION TO SERVER-SIDE PROGRAMMING
Overview of Server side programming
Servlets, Java Server Pages, Web Servers, Java Beans
Model, View, Controller architecture
DATABASE ACCESS
What is JDBC?
What alternatives are there? JDBC vs SQLJ
How does JDBC work?
JDBC Drivers and the JDBC API, Statements & Prepared Statements
Working with data
Accessing data - Working with Result Sets
Handling Warnings, Errors and NULL Values
Scalability Issues
Transaction Control and Isolation Levels
Configuring and using DataSources (using JNDI)
SQLJ
SQLJ Programming - Development Cycle using DB2
SQLJ Cursor Techniques
SERVLETS
Servlet Overview
Servlet vs CGI Advantages
The Java Servlet API
Servlet Life Cycle
Multi-threading issues / pitfalls
What Servlets Are
Non-Http Servlets - Implementing the Servlet Interface
Non-Http Servlets - Extending the GenericServlet class
Http Servlets - Extending the HttpServlet class
What Servlets do
HTML Get and Post Requests & Catering for both
Getting data to Servlets - the HttpRequest Object
Sending HTML back to the client - the HttpResponse Object
Using the Data sent to a Servlet
Form Validation
Data Validation
Servlet Security
Restricting Servlet Access
Error Handling
Server Error Codes
Server Side Includes
Extra HTML tags
Servlets can invoke other servlets
Dispatching a Resource from within a Servlet
ACCESSING DATABASES VIA SERVLETS
Servlets, JDBC and Connection Pooling
DataSource Definitions and Getting Database Connections via a DataSource
DATA SCOPE / PERSISTENCE
Variable Scope & Protection
Instance variables are shared!
Thread Safety - Synchronized Code
What is Request Scope?
Storing Objects for the lifetime of the Request
What is Session Scope?
Storing Objects for the lifetime of the Session
Session Tracking using Cookies, URL Rewriting, HiddenFields
Session Tracking API
Session Creation and Lookup, Storing and Retrieving Session API Information, Lifecycle, session tracking without Cookie support
Session Binding
What is Application Scope?
Sharing Data between different Servlets
Course Environment Development will be performed using:

• the Java Development Kit (JDK) plus a text editor
• JBuilder
• NetBeans
• Rational Application Developer
• Websphere Studio Application Developer
• Eclipse

Course Format: Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given. Examples are used extensively, ranging from simple code 'snippets' to full applications with complete 'real world' functionality. These are supplied at the start of the course and it is encouraged that the delegates execute and 'experiment' with these under the instructor's guidance as they are introduced. These examples are available to take away, along with the delegate's own work. The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.