hi James,
If you have a webstart enabled java application, then any one who wants to use a swing application need to type in the url just like a web app. The url is redirected to a jnlp file which resides in the server . For the first time the jar file for the swing app is downloaded onto ones m/c and the application comes up . From the second times onwards on typing the URL , it checks if the version of the jar file in your local m/c and server matches . If yes , the application is started from the local jar file. Only if the jar file version differs the new jar is downloaded onto your local m/c .
Advantages:
1. By the user has nothing do to start the new application.The webstart will help him keep updated by downloading the latest jar files.
2. The admin does not need to do anything , just that he has to put the latest jar files in the path specified in the jnlp file .
3. This download does not happen every time you start the app in ur m/c.It happens only if the jar file version differs .
Watch out for :
1. Version of the java webstart on local and the version of java used to compile the jar file. It should match.
Sorry for that looong Reply