haroldspt

Q: Java version

I just downloaded latest Java  Update 77 from Oracle saying all old versions should be deleted per Gov't; now Apple says I should replace with an older version? and where do I find the app it is not in Applications.  MacBook Air OS 10.10.5. (OpenOffice needs Java to run macro for taxes)

Mac G4 & MacBook Air, OS10.4.11 & OS10.6.8

Posted on Apr 12, 2016 5:32 PM

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Q: Java version

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  • by leroydouglas,Helpful

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Apr 12, 2016 6:20 PM in response to haroldspt
    Level 7 (22,887 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 12, 2016 6:20 PM in response to haroldspt

    /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/

     

    you can use terminal command to search

     

    sudo find / -name java

  • by haroldspt,

    haroldspt haroldspt Apr 12, 2016 6:23 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2016 6:23 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Yes I have a plug-in Java 8 Update 77 that I should have per Oracle.  But is it safe to replace it with Java 6 per Apple alert on my screen?

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Apr 12, 2016 6:29 PM in response to haroldspt
    Level 7 (29,056 points)
    Apr 12, 2016 6:29 PM in response to haroldspt

    Hello haroldspt,

    What do you need Java for? The old "Legacy" Apple Java is primarily for older Mac applications that have been written in Java. It no longer has the web interfaces and is not a security risk. If you still need the web interfaces, then Oracle's newer Java is the only option. The ideal solution is to install the Legacy Apple Java first and then install Oracle. That will give you compatibility with the older Mac Java apps, but with the newer version of Java. It would also give you the web compatibility if you need that.

  • by haroldspt,

    haroldspt haroldspt Apr 12, 2016 8:12 PM in response to etresoft
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2016 8:12 PM in response to etresoft

    [BACKGROUND:  Maybe I  did not need Java 1.5 weeks ago, but at that time the App Store would not connect.  Meeting with 3 Apple techs over as many days, they were convinced that my disk needed to be erased to replace OS 10.10.5 (latest that will run my apps).  I was to then then to use Migration Assistant to reinstall my data from the Time Machine disk. However, when I got my MacBook Air back from the shop and started up my Mac, it would not recognize the prior Time Machine backups.   I seem to have what appears to me a permissions problem.  Yesterday another Apple Tech said the problem was because.  like a dummy,  I had used Time Machine encryption, thus  he had to easy solution.  I am slowly dragging files from Time Machine.  Some of my files will not now open since I 'so not have correct permission', even though it appears Get-Info says I do have admin R&W permission.] 

       I take an exported .xls data file from Quicken 2007 (later versions are crippled and useless to me) and use OpenOffice 4.1.2 (latest)  Visual Basic macro i wrote, to reconfigure the data into a format useful to paste and be manipulated by a 10-page spreadsheet.  It all worked 1.5 weeks ago.  But now OpenOffice says it will not start the macro unless I have Java -- so I went to the recommended link and installed Java 8.  Oracle is alerting everyone that only one Java should running on the computer and it should be the latest version - per a government directive. Then I went to run my OpenOffice macro again and an Apple alert window said I should use Java 6!.  Why - - I do not know!

        LeroyDouglas gave me a sudo script to inhibit Java 8 and to install Java 6 SE  (sounds old!)  and visa-versa.  Thanks  but it seems to be a lot of work switching back and forth all the time I want to use a macro - and I have lots of them.

    a. Step 4 of instructions seems to install Java 2.  ???  So I am wary.

    b. The date of the instructions is March 18, 2016, and they talk about Java 7, but Java 8 - update 77, no less, is latest, so who is being old, beside me?

     

    I am confused, (partly because I am working until 2AM to get my Mac working again), but everything seems to not be connecting well.

    - - Just thought - I have been running another macro on OpenOffice OK, maybe this macro file, pulled from Time Machine, is also having a 'permissions' problem even though the file opens OK, thus will not run this macro.  I will first try copying and pasting its spreadsheet and the macro instructions into a new OpenOffice.ods macro file.

    Thanks for the info all of you, but I have ' a slog ahead of me before I pull out all my hair.   (Sorry for the rant, but it did give me a new idea.)  H.

  • by haroldspt,

    haroldspt haroldspt Apr 12, 2016 11:45 PM in response to haroldspt
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2016 11:45 PM in response to haroldspt

    The last two days I wrote an 8-page OpenOffice/Basic macro. I was in Edit mode most of the time as I kept expanding its capabilities. I am not a good typist, so make frequent errors so need to be in Edit mode to keep me honest. When done writing, I believe I did run that macro by RUN MACRO (no-Edit mode), yesterday testing its various options.

      This evening, I again ran that macro OK in Edit mode. But since installing Java 8, when I try to RUN MACRO, I get message:  To open “soffice” you need to install the legacy Java SE 6 runtime. (The macro is embedded in the OpenOffice workbook document, and not yet converted to a stand-alone file.)

    The more complicated 18-page (9-font) macro I mentioned earlier, which I reconstructed from a text version of the macro instructions to avoid the possible Time Machine 'permissions' problem, will not even begin in Edit mode – again getting that Java message.

      Think I have to get rid of Java 8 I installed today and try again, and maybe finally install old Java 6. I had no problems running the 18-page macro before the erase disk and reinstall of the OS, OpenOffice, and Java 8. H.

  • by John Lockwood,Helpful

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Apr 14, 2016 9:12 PM in response to haroldspt
    Level 6 (9,240 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Apr 14, 2016 9:12 PM in response to haroldspt

    Java is a confusing cesspit. There are actually three different Java installers that might be needed depending on the applications you want to use. I cannot tell you for certain which will be needed. Here are the three different Java's I am referring to.

     

    1. Apple's old Java 1.6 as per Download Java for OS X 2015-001 this is apparently going to be the last ever version from Apple and whatever the next version of OS X is going to be called when it is released later this year it will apparently no longer support this version. Some software still wants this version.
    2. Oracle's Java 1.8 JRE i.e. Java Runtime Environment as per https://java.com/en/download/
    3. Oracle's Java 1.8 JDK i.e. Java Development Kit as per http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.h tml

     

    Even if you have no intention of doing Java development yourself some Java applications actually need the JDK installed rather than as one might expect the JRE. Unfortunately much confusion is caused by the fact that the JRE is the one that automatically gets listed by the Java website.

     

    Note: If you install the Oracle Java 1.8 JDK you do not need to also install the Oracle 1.8 JRE. You might still need to install Apple's 1.6 Java which it appears is also equivalent to a JDK install but this time for version 1.6.

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Apr 13, 2016 4:35 AM in response to haroldspt
    Level 7 (29,056 points)
    Apr 13, 2016 4:35 AM in response to haroldspt

    Hello again haroldspt,

    The first thing you should do is find someone else to work on your machine. It sounds like you have been getting some very bad advice. Go to an official Apple Store is there is one anywhere close. Otherwise, go to an Authorized Apple Service Center. If that is where you went before, find a different one.

     

    To make a long story short, you want the legacy Java 6. The Oracle Java is only for web applets. My personal opinion is that you should use Microsoft Office.

     

    I Also think it may be worthwhile to try again to migrate from your backup. Start a new question specifically about that. It will be a pain to diagnose such things over an internet forum like this, but I have more confidence in the helpers where than in whomever you worked with before.

  • by haroldspt,

    haroldspt haroldspt Apr 14, 2016 10:19 PM in response to etresoft
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2016 10:19 PM in response to etresoft

    After mostly working days and until 2AM most nights for the last week and a half, I came to the conclusion in the middle of the night that the MacBook Air for me is now only useful to email and search the web.  So the laptop is moved to a corner and I will check email once a day.

    * Most files that I dragged off the Time Machine require that I enter my admin password each time I open them.  I did copy the content of a few documents and pasted them into a fresh document and that solved that problem - but it is tedious to do that with every document.

    My MacBook Air has two partitions Yosemite 10.10.5 and Snow Leopard 10.6.8.  Now they do not communicate with each other or with Time Machine other than requiring an admin password to open each other's documents.  However Yosemite communicates well with my other 5 external disks/thumbdrives, including documents from my G4.  (All old documents and apps.)  It seems new security codes are attached to new documents requiring knowledge of the user.  My Yosemite, Snow Leopard, and Time Machine seem to be strangers to each other since the reinstallation of the two OS on the MacBook Air.

    * Apple tech #1 in California observed my MacBook via web and could not fix my simple problem about not getting into the AppStore  for updates.  Neither did a Denver Apple Store tech #2 the next day - so computer was kept overnight and tech #3 could not fix it, so erased the disk and reinstalled the OS's.  I was told I could use Migration Assistant to  the backup data from the Time Machine.  But the new OS thinks the Time Machine is a stranger and does not recognize the old backups.  Tech #4  told me the reason was that I used encryption on the Time Machine.  (I can still open Time Machine using my old password and drag items from it - - but Yosemite still thinks the disk and the imported data files need my admin password each time I open them since they are still strangers.)

    * I was a tester in the development of Microsoft Office 2016 in the summer of 2015.  I worked mostly with Excel. As the summer progressed, some of the Excel problems were fixed with updates, but I was having new problems. Finally by fall - when I tried to open Excel, the MacBook OS would crash. Word would open, but had a hard time displaying a document.  Speaking with Microsoft, I was told I did have the latest version.  Decided not to buy Microsoft Office 2016.

    When I recover some sanity, I may set up another appointment with another Apple tech to solve the new permission and Java problems, but now I am exhausted.

     

    I have moved back to my old Mac G4 that I have not powered up in a year and successful wrote an Excel Visual Basic macro yesterday and had no problems with that computer.  It does well as long as I do not need to get on the web -- even though the screen is getting a bit dirty inside.

     

    Harold's Mantra for the last year has been:  Any time there is an 'improved' update to an OS, App, or website, the computer becomes more useless and more painful.    [Examples: 'Improved' versions of Apple OS, Quicken 2007, Apple-award-winning HyperCard (now using SuperCard), TurboCAD 6, etc.  these old versions of which I use nearly daily.  The crippled new versions, if available,  are useless since their best and useful features were eliminated.]  I hate being a nurse to a computer.  Thanks for your suggestions.  H

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Apr 15, 2016 7:28 AM in response to haroldspt
    Level 7 (29,056 points)
    Apr 15, 2016 7:28 AM in response to haroldspt

    haroldspt wrote:

     

    But the new OS thinks the Time Machine is a stranger and does not recognize the old backups.

    Hello again haroldspt,

    I think if you wanted to revisit that problem here on Apple Support Communities, we could be helpful.


    Tech #4  told me the reason was that I used encryption on the Time Machine.

    That's nonsense.


    Harold's Mantra for the last year has been:  Any time there is an 'improved' update to an OS, App, or website, the computer becomes more useless and more painful.    [Examples: 'Improved' versions of Apple OS, Quicken 2007, Apple-award-winning HyperCard (now using SuperCard), TurboCAD 6, etc.  these old versions of which I use nearly daily.  The crippled new versions, if available,  are useless since their best and useful features were eliminated.]  I hate being a nurse to a computer.  Thanks for your suggestions.  H

    Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you. These days I find myself apologizing for Apple instead of being a zealot. That never used to happen.

  • by MlchaelLAX,

    MlchaelLAX MlchaelLAX Apr 16, 2016 3:28 AM in response to haroldspt
    Level 4 (2,256 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 3:28 AM in response to haroldspt

    haroldspt wrote:


    I take an exported .xls data file from Quicken 2007 (later versions are crippled and useless to me)...

    FYI:


    The current version of "Quicken 2007 for Lion" is sold by Quicken for $15 (Use their Chat feature on Quicken Support and resist their attempts to sell you Quicken 2016), version 16.2.3 will run in Snow Leopard through El Capitan.


    Perhaps this is what you are currently using.