BRIDGES (Java): Getting Started (Setup)

• If you do not have NetBeans installed, download it from the NetBeans site and install it on your computer.

• Visit the Bridges main page and create yourself an account by clicking the login button on the top navigation bar. Click "Sign Up!" near the bottom of the page.
• Please ensure that your user id is devoid of spaces, as it will be used as part of the web link for your projects.
• After creating your account, click on the profile tab in the upper right corner to view your profile. Here will see your account details and API Key; you will need this API key later in the tutorial (as well as in every BRIDGES program you write).
• NOTE: Make sure to remember your password.

Step 3: Create a Java Project Open the Netbeans IDE File-->New Project-->Java with Ant-->Java Application-->Next
Step 4: Name Project In the new window change the Project name and choose a path. Click Finish.
Step 5a: Import Jar File into project Download the Bridges.jar file from Bridges home page (Downloads --> Java Client) and save it somewhere convenient on your drive. On NetBeans, right-click on the libraries folder under the project in the Package Explorer window. Click: Add Jar/Folder
Step 5b: Import BRIDGES Jar file Navigate to the Bridges.jar file you downloaded earlier. Click open once the file is selected. This will add the Bridges library to your project
Step 6: Verification To verify that you have successfully imported the Jar file, look under the Libraries section of your project in the Package Explorer window in NetBeans. If you have got a Project in the NetBeans Package Explorer, and the referenced libraries section shows the bridges Jar file, you have completed the setup and are ready to build the Hello World class!

BRIDGES:Getting Started(Your First Bridges Program)

Step 1: Build the Bridges Program to illustrate a singly linked list Go to this BRIDGES Tutorial and copy/paste the Java tutorial program into the main window into a new file. Make sure the file name matches the class name! Set an assignment number, and your credentials in the line that creates the Bridges object at the beginning of the program. As a reminder, you can find your username and API key from the Bridges profile page.

Step 2: Visualize your data structure Run the Netbeans project. If your code compiles correctly, the NetBeans console will give you a link to the Bridges website. to view the visualization. Copy/paste this link into your favorite browser to view a visualization of the data structure you just created.