Setting up the UNIX™ curses library for the EGL runtime

Note:
Performing the tasks in this topic requires that you have installed the EGL runtime code, as described in the task topic "Installing the EGL runtime code for Java™."

When you deploy an EGL text program on AIX®,HP-UX, Solaris, or Linux™ (either Intel™ or zSeries®), the EGL runtime tries to use the UNIX™ curses library. If the environment is not set up for the UNIX™ curses library or if that library is not supported, the EGL runtime tries to use the Java™ Swing technology; and if that technology is also not available, the program fails.

The UNIX™ curses library is required when the user runs an EGL program from a terminal emulator window or a character terminal.

To enable the EGL runtime to access the UNIX™ curses terminal library, you must complete several steps in the UNIX™ shell environment. In each of the first two steps, installDir refers to the directory where you installed the EGL runtime files:
  1. Modify the library path to include the libCursesCanvas7 library. The library is provided in the runtime installation directory: 
      export library_var=$library_var:/installDir/bin
    library_var
    One of the following:
    • LD_LIBRARY_PATH for HP-Itanium and 64-bit HP-RISC, Linux™, and Solaris
    • SHLIB_PATH for 32-bit HP-RISC
    • LIBPATH for AIX®
  2. Set the TERM environment variable to the appropriate terminal setting, as in the following example:
      export TERM=vt100

    If terminal exceptions occur, try various terminal settings such as xterm, dtterm, or vt220.

  3. Run your EGL Java™ program from the UNIX™ shell, as in the following example:
      java myProgram

    Make sure that the CLASSPATH environment variable identifies the directory in which your program resides.

For additional details on using the Curses library on UNIX™, refer to the UNIX™ man pages.