Using JAVA applets in websites.

[Sebouh]

Hi guys. I have an assigment which include building a website for a university course. Not going into the details, i need to use applets to implement the processes of the website. The user interface will be done in html using Frontpage.
Now i know VERY little HTML and suitable amount of JAVA. The problem is i don't know how to have communication between an HTML and and JAVA. For example, the first page will be the logging in. If i do that in an applet, how can i then instruct the webpage to go to the next page according to the applet's result? Stuf like that...
I'm not sure if i'm making any sense here cause i have no experience in website development.
Where can i learn useful HTML to design a website? I need something easy and quick to design a nice looking website. And there is this thing about the server, apache or something...what exactly is this used for? To upload websites?

I appreciate any help!
Thanks.

[CornedBee]

Not going into the details, i need to use applets to implement the processes of the website.

Ouch!

The user interface will be done in html using Frontpage.

OUCH!

Now i know VERY little HTML and suitable amount of JAVA.

Like that it is spelled "Java"?

The problem is i don't know how to have communication between an HTML and and JAVA.

Look up java.applet.Applet and java.applet.AppletContext in your reference.

For example, the first page will be the logging in. If i do that in an applet, how can i then instruct the webpage to go to the next page according to the applet's result?

Why on earth would you do that in an applet? There's not a single good reason to do it that way. And if you do it that way, you should continue to present the website in the applet, not go to another page.

I'm not sure if i'm making any sense here cause i have no experience in website development.

From my point of view, you're not. Frontpage is and outdated piece of turd that was bad the moment it was released and never got any better. If you have to use a WYSIWYG editor, at least use Dreamweaver or that new Microsoft thing. But really, WYSIWYG on the web is going through a real low right now.
Applets are an outdated technology that never really took off, partially through MS's evil machinations, partially due to various technical reasons. I haven't seen a web page that uses applets in ... I don't know, years?

Where can i learn useful HTML to design a website?

w3schools.com
Then go on and get a modern book on HTML/CSS. Jeffrey Zeldman is an author to look out for.

I need something easy and quick to design a nice looking website.

Design is never easy or quick, unless you're really talented. It's also something that doesn't involve HTML or anything else except paper, pencil, and maybe a graphics program.
Coding the result needs a text editor and knowledge about HTML and CSS: HTML contains the structure and content, CSS decides how it looks.

If you've got a deadline, you're in trouble. Learning the basics of web design takes a month at least. Learning it really well takes longer.

And there is this thing about the server, apache or something...what exactly is this used for? To upload websites?

The opposite. As the name says, the server serves the web pages to the browser. It's the far end of the HTTP communication channel.
For a site that uses login, you'll need server-side scripting too, by the way. Client-side Java applets won't suffice. If you've got experience in Java, JSP might be the best technology for you, but that requires Apache Tomcat instead of (or in addition to) the common Apache HTTPD, which can be a real hassle to set up if you haven't done it before.
Anyway, I doubt you can set up a server for yourself anyway if this is a university project. Ask the teachers what is available and make your decision based on that.
The easiest server-side programming language for Apache HTTPD is probably PHP. It's got a syntax very similar to Java, but it isn't very object-oriented.

All in all ... you don't know server-side scripting, you don't know HTML, you don't know system administration ... you've got your work cut out for you. Sad thing is, Java alone doesn't get you very far. You need to learn all these supporting technologies as well.

[Sebouh]

Thanks for that relpy.
The thing is, it's a software engineering course so i have to implement everything in steps. I just wanted to have an idea of what's what and how easy it is to do it. And from what i've read, it's not.
Thanks again. Things will be clearer soon and i'll get back to you on the requirements.