Java Access Bridge is a software that links the accessibility features in Java Swing applications to GNOME Accessibility framework. This facilitates use of assistive technologies by users with disabilities.
Java Access Bridge is a module for GNOME, designed to connect the built-in accessibility support in Java Swing apps to the GNOME Accessibility framework. This is done through the Assistive Technology Service Provider Interface (AT-SPI). The module is made up of several directories, including "bridge," "idlgen," and "impl," each with specific functions.
The "bridge" directory contains the Java Bridge component, which is automatically loaded into every JVM invocation thanks to an entry in the accessibility.properties file in $JRE_HOME/lib. This directory also holds the "idlgen" directory, where the auto-generated java wrappers for the org.gnome.Accessibility and org.gnome.Bonobo IDL are written by the Java IDL compiler, "idlj." The "impl" directory holds the implementation code for the Java Accessibility Bridge for GNOME, which wraps the JAAPI accessibility implementation and exports it to the bonobo-based GNOME Accessibility AT-SPI interfaces.
To install Java Access Bridge, you will need to follow a few steps. First, obtain the bridge via CVS checkout or distribution tarfile. If you obtained it from GNOME CVS, run "./autogen.sh" in the java-access-bridge directory, specifying the "prefix" where your GNOME 2 installation resides. Alternatively, if you obtained the java-access-bridge via a tarfile, run "./configure" in the directory. Then, run "make" to build gnome-java-access.tar.
Before running a Java program with the Java Access Bridge, you'll need to make sure that your GNOME 2 installation enables CORBA traffic over IP from the ORBit2 ORB. Add the following line to a file called ".orbitrc" in your home directory: ORBIIOPIPv4=1. You'll also need to modify your Java runtime environment to include gnome-java-bridge.jar in $JRE_HOME/lib/ext and accessibility.properties in $JRE_HOME/lib. This is best done by creating symbolic links from the prefix directory to the appropriate JRE directory.
Overall, Java Access Bridge is a useful module for connecting Java Swing apps to the GNOME Accessibility framework. Though installation can be a bit complex, the core functionality is well worth the effort.
The "bridge" directory contains the Java Bridge component, which is automatically loaded into every JVM invocation thanks to an entry in the accessibility.properties file in $JRE_HOME/lib. This directory also holds the "idlgen" directory, where the auto-generated java wrappers for the org.gnome.Accessibility and org.gnome.Bonobo IDL are written by the Java IDL compiler, "idlj." The "impl" directory holds the implementation code for the Java Accessibility Bridge for GNOME, which wraps the JAAPI accessibility implementation and exports it to the bonobo-based GNOME Accessibility AT-SPI interfaces.
To install Java Access Bridge, you will need to follow a few steps. First, obtain the bridge via CVS checkout or distribution tarfile. If you obtained it from GNOME CVS, run "./autogen.sh" in the java-access-bridge directory, specifying the "prefix" where your GNOME 2 installation resides. Alternatively, if you obtained the java-access-bridge via a tarfile, run "./configure" in the directory. Then, run "make" to build gnome-java-access.tar.
Before running a Java program with the Java Access Bridge, you'll need to make sure that your GNOME 2 installation enables CORBA traffic over IP from the ORBit2 ORB. Add the following line to a file called ".orbitrc" in your home directory: ORBIIOPIPv4=1. You'll also need to modify your Java runtime environment to include gnome-java-bridge.jar in $JRE_HOME/lib/ext and accessibility.properties in $JRE_HOME/lib. This is best done by creating symbolic links from the prefix directory to the appropriate JRE directory.
Overall, Java Access Bridge is a useful module for connecting Java Swing apps to the GNOME Accessibility framework. Though installation can be a bit complex, the core functionality is well worth the effort.
What's New
Version 1.26.1: N/A