Opening URL Connection

[Mark Mokris]

I have a simple standalone Java application that opens a URLConnection then reads it as a stream. This is just like reading a web page programmatically.

    
    URL url=null;
    URLConnection urlconnection=null;
    int contentLength=0;
    int ch=0;
    StringBuffer rec = new StringBuffer(" ");
    try {
        url = new URL("http://www.amazon.com");
        urlconnection = url.openConnection();
        contentLength = urlconnection.getContentLength();
        }
        catch (IOException e1) {
           System.out.println(e1);
        }
    System.out.println("Content: " + contentLength);  

When I execute the app from the DOS command prompt with 'java', it executes fine. When I run it from the JBuilder IDE, it fails to "connect" and the contentLength return value is -1. Is this a security issue? Why does it work from the basic Java JRE, but not when run from within an IDE like JBuilder?
What it means is that I cannot debug the rest of the app using JBuilder's debugger I guess.

[John Smith]

When I execute the app from the DOS command prompt with 'java', it executes fine. When I run it from the JBuilder IDE, it fails to "connect" and the contentLength return value is -1.
I had a similar problem. I bet that when you run it from the command prompt, your app runs under JDK 1.3, and when you run it from JBuilder, it uses JDK 1.4. See this thread for more information.
Eugene.

[Mark Mokris]

Eugene! WOW! You are right on!!!
I would never have guessed this, but where it works I am using jdk1.3 and where it doesn't work I am using jdk1.4. I actually don't need the contentLength, I was using it to tell me whether the connection was successful or not. I guess I will just go ahead and read the thing and not worry aout the content length.
MAN I OWE YOU A BEER! THANKS!
Thanks for sending me the private message on this too.

[Michael Morris]

MAN I OWE YOU A BEER!
Offer him Vodka instead. And, by the way, he doesn't like shouting.