Conventions

We have used a number of different styles of text and layout in this book to help differentiate between the different kinds of information. Here are examples of the styles we use and an explanation of what they mean:

Code has several styles. If it's a word that we're talking about in the text, for example when discussing a Java StringBuffer object, it's in this font. If it's a block of code that you can type as a program and run, then it's in a gray box:

     public void close() throws EJBException, RemoteException 

Sometimes you'll see code in a mixture of styles, like this:

     <?xml version 1.0?>     <Invoice>         <part>             <name>Widget</name>             <price>$10.00</price>         </part>     </invoice> 

In cases like this, the code with a white background is code we are already familiar with; the line highlighted in grey is a new addition to the code since we last looked at it.

Note 

Advice, hints, and background information come in this type of font.

Important 

Important pieces of information come in boxes like this.

Bullets appear indented, with each new bullet marked as follows:

• Important Words are in a bold type font

• Words that appear on the screen, in menus like File or Window, are in a similar font to that you would see on a Windows desktop

• Keys that you press on the keyboard like Ctrl and Enter, are in italics