Nov 12
Meetings


Dec 10

Jeff Martin -- Founder ReportMill Software, Inc. ReportMill is a Java developer tool for dynamically generating web pages and reports from Java applications in formats such as PDF and Flash.

Sponsor:
This months meeting will be sponsored by Genuitec. Genuitec provides innovative information technology consulting services specializing in the delivery of highest quality JAVA/J2EE development and practical e-business solutions.

Abstract:
This meeting will cover two very interesting Java developer tools, including their design and implementation. The first is an upcoming Swing GUI builder which makes Swing programming simple - simple to draw, simple to load (just one line of code) and simple to interact with (with a unified interface for accessing values from many different controls). This GUI builder is not a code generator - instead it stores a user interface as an XML description which can be re-hydrated. And this GUI builder cuts through the complexity of Swing layout managers by offering a powerful and simple "Springs and Struts" layout paradigm. Source code for the GUI engine will be provided.

The second tool is ReportMill, the only reporting tool designed especially for reporting on Java applications and Java datasets (instead of a database). ReportMill is a full featured page layout and animation application written entirely in Java - and using the GUI builder described above (all of ReportMill's GUI is described in XML). We'll cover not only ReportMill's unique use of the powerful Java reflection API, but also ReportMill's unique use of XML for designing templates.

This presentation will be technically oriented, covering how these tools are used in development and also the techniques used in the design of these tools. The presenter has implemented every aspect of these applications, so we can cover audience inspired topics as well.

Bio:
Jeff Martin came to ReportMill from Apple Computer/NeXT Software ('90-'97), where he was a member of the platform graphics group. At Apple and Next, Jeff worked with a number of graphics languages - PDF, PostScript, Display PostScript, Interactive RenderMan, QuickDraw, QuickTime, QuickDraw3D and OpenGL. In this time Jeff wrote an image painting application, a page layout application and a 3D modeling application. Jeff also contributed to Apple's own object oriented graphics library. At Next, Jeff spent time working on their database and web application software and worked as a field engineer for several important enterprise customers (Fannie Mae, Koch Industries, Bozell). This has given Jeff a unique background in enterprise database development, web applications development and graphics.

In late 1997, Jeff founded ReportMill Software, Inc. to solve the problem of generating dynamic documents and reports for web applications. Jeff has been the lead architect and chief engineer on the ReportMill page layout application and developer library. ReportMill incorporates elements of Java Swing GUI design/implementation with both ReportMill's internal graphics architecture and Java2D programming. In addition, Jeff has been responsible for code in the following areas:
  • Graphics Data Structures
  • Text Layout and editing
  • PDF Generation and parsing
  • TrueType font parsing and manipulation
  • Flash Generation/Animation programming
  • Parser generation (Expressions, PDF, XML)
  • Data manipulation (grouping, sorting, expression evaluation)
  • Java Servlet integration and programming

    • Jeff has also taken the leading role in establishing ReportMill as a major player in the Java application reporting market with accomplishments in sales, support, partnerships, management, release control, technical writing, web mastering and more.


    JavaMUG Constitution Committee

    The documents from the constitution committee are ready for your review.

    We've produced an Articles of Incorporation to replace the old constitution. We've produced new By-laws suitable for a non-profit corporation. We've produced 2 exhibits (exhibit A and exhibit B) to support the By-laws. And have a document listing the major differences. You can see all these documents by following the links provided.

    Here's the schedule for their approval:

  • September 10 - Regular JavaMug Meeting. Announce new documents and voting schedule.
  • September 10 - Board Meeting. Give feedback on documents to board. Board votes to present to JavaMug membership for vote in October.
  • October 8 - Regular JavaMug Meeting. Membership votes on the new documents. If they pass, they'll be used for elections.
  • October 8 - Board Meeting. Board starts nomination process according to new By-laws.
  • November 12 - Regular JavaMug Meeting. Membership votes on new board and officers for new board.
  • December 10 - Board Meeting. Old board starts hand-over to new board.
  • January 14 - Regular JavaMug Meeting and Board Meeting. New board takes effect.

    •
    No Fluff, Just Stuff- Java Symposiums

    No Fluff, Just Stuff is coming back to Dallas October 10-12 hosting the Lone Star Software Symposium. For more information visit the website.

    Java Resources of the Month
      Compiled by Gil Hansen
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