xLearning

 overview 

xLearning is a neat little Java-Program which helps learn by heart for example phrases or vocabulary.
Actually I developed this for myself for the above reason and trying out SWT.
Now I think it is worth sharing with others.

 screenshots 

main
manage groups
(screenshots were taken under windows xp - classic theme)

 downloads 

start using WebStart - recommended (windows / linux)
xLearning_setup.exe - recommended for windows
xlearning.jar - program only (no required libs etc.; start with java -jar xlearning.jar)
xlearning_0.95b.zip - complete (windows - but you might use it for other platforms as a base; updated less frequently)

get java (if you do not have it yet)

xlearning_db.zip - sample ms access database

xlearning_wizard.gif - please copy this file in a subdirectory called "res" if you cannot open the import-wizard

 installation 

When using WebStart the files will be found in the xLearning-subdirectory of your Home-Directory. All other files will be managed by WebStart. Actually the Installation will only work without further settings on a windows platform because of the database. (see database section bellow)
I tried to make the installation as easy as possible, but because of native requirements (swt and database) it works best with windows. Any recommendations or notions are welcome always.

 import/export 

XML-import/export and VT2-import (no export) is available.
In the import-wizard (File -> Import) you are able to choose where to import which entries and whether they should be shared (if they already exist).
The export is available in the group-manager at different context-menus (for relations).

 directory structure (windows) 

xlearning.jar
xlearning.properties
swt-win32-3054.dll
db/xlearning.mdb
lib/jface.jar
lib/osgi.jar
lib/runtime.jar
lib/win32/swt.jar
lib/win32/swt-lib.jar

(libraries were taken from the ecplise platform 3, will be somewhere else when using WebStart)

 database 

Currently it works with an MS Access, MySQL and HSQLDB 1.7.1 database. (I choosed MS Access not for quality but for the reason that on windows it can be used without a special driver or an extra server running.)
Actually it might work even with other databases, depends on combatibility of the SQL-Syntax. If you find any database worth implementing, do not hesitate telling me. (I know PosgreSQL is not a bad database but the installation under windows is hard enough to let me capitulate)
For the connection JDBC is used, but because not all drivers are JDBC2.0 (and maybe other reasons) SQL scripts are used which may lead to incombatibility. (especially those creating/updating the database automatically)

 MySQL users 

You can download MySQL at www.mysql.com.
Create a an empty database and enter the driver and url when asked or modify xlearning.properties (will be created if it does not exists already).
Example:
db.url=jdbc:mysql:///xlearning
db.driver=org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver
(note: make sure the driver is in the classpath, for example you just put the jar connector in the ext directory of your JVM)

 HSQLDB users 

You can download HSQLDB at hsqldb.sourceforge.net.
But I reconized that 1.7.2 does not accept the CREATE TABLE-statement, so you better try the version 1.7.1.
Enter the driver and url when asked or modify xlearning.properties (will be created if it does not exists already).
Example:
db.url=jdbc:hsqldb:file:xlearningdb
db.driver=org.hsqldb.jdbcDriver
db.username=sa
(note: make sure the driver is in the classpath, for example you just put the jar connector in the ext directory of your JVM)
However, I am not sure this is currently working probably because my harddisk gave me a headache again and I cannot test it well anymore.