JApplet works in eclipse but refuses to show online

[Reskaillev]

So I got this JApplet that has a JPanel attached to it. (code below)
When I run the program in Eclipse (Indigo) it works perfectly.

So I build the entire .java to .class files and insert it in a html code:

<P><applet code="MaraudersOfDeepSpace.class" width="650" height="400">
Your browser does not support the <code>applet</code> tag.
</applet></P>

But the problem doesn't seem to be related to the HTML code (that's my guess!! I could be wrong). All I see when I open the site is a white background (you can slightly see the contours of the applet)

The code I'm trying to display on the site:

JApplet:

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.CardLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;

import javax.swing.JApplet;
import javax.swing.JPanel;

public class MaraudersOfDeepSpace extends JApplet {

	/**
	 * 
	 */
	private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
	
	MenuPanel mainMenu;
	final String MENU = "Menu";
	final String LOAD = "Load";
	final String OBJECTIVE = "Objective";
	final String CONTROLS = "Controls";
	private CardLayout cardsLayout = new CardLayout();
	private JPanel cards = new JPanel(cardsLayout);
	
	public void init()
	{
		[COLOR="#FF0000"]System.out.print("1/");[/COLOR]
		mainMenu = new MenuPanel(this);
		cards.add(mainMenu, MENU);
        //cards.add(load, LOAD);
        //cards.add(objective, OBJECTIVE);
        //cards.add(controls, CONTROLS);
		this.setSize(650, 400);
        this.add(cards, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        cards.setOpaque(true); 
        setContentPane(cards);
        [COLOR="#FF0000"]System.out.print("4/");[/COLOR]
	}
	
	public void swapCards(String key) {
		cardsLayout.show(cards, key);
	}

}

JPanel:

import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Image;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.Random;

import javax.swing.Box;
import javax.swing.BoxLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JPanel;

public class MenuPanel extends JPanel implements ActionListener {

	/**
	 * 
	 */
	private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
	
	Image title,earth,jupiter;
	Random random = new Random();
	int[][] StarArray = new int[1000][2];
	private MaraudersOfDeepSpace mar = null;
	
	public MenuPanel(MaraudersOfDeepSpace mar)
	{
		[COLOR="#FF0000"]System.out.print("2/");[/COLOR]
		this.mar=mar;
		this.setLayout(new BoxLayout(this, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
		this.add(Box.createRigidArea(new Dimension(0,180)));
		AddAButton("New", this); //NEEDS MODIFICATION WHEN TIME IS RIGHT
		this.add(Box.createRigidArea(new Dimension(0,20)));
        AddAButton(mar.LOAD, this);
        this.add(Box.createRigidArea(new Dimension(0,20)));
        AddAButton(mar.OBJECTIVE, this);
        this.add(Box.createRigidArea(new Dimension(0,20)));
        AddAButton(mar.CONTROLS, this);
        [COLOR="#FF0000"]System.out.print("3/");[/COLOR]
        
	}
	
    private void AddAButton(String text, Container container) {
        JButton button = new JButton(text);
        button.setAlignmentX(CENTER_ALIGNMENT);
        button.addActionListener(this);
        container.add(button);
    }
    
    public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
    	g.setColor(Color.BLACK);
    	g.fillRect(0, 0, getWidth(), getHeight());
    	System.out.print("5/");
    }

	@Override
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
		// TODO Auto-generated method stub
		
	}

}

So it's actually just a simple JApplet with a JPanel...but it refuses to show on the site

What did I already try?? (before you think I'm just too lazy!! :o)
- Putting another JApplet in place in the HTML-code, works fine (my conclusion: nothing wrong with HTML code??)
- Invoking a paint() procedure in the JApplet (simple one: just color the background black) and it works, the black JApplet is shown on the site (but it doesn't show the JPanel)
- Adding setVisible(true) in the JPanel --> nope (would be too easy -_-)
- Adding setContentPane(cards) or setContentPane(mainMenu) --> nothing..
- Adding setOpaque(true) in the JPanel --> nope..
- Reading the tutorial on Oracle about JApplet with JPanels, didn't get anything out of it...

Thanks in advance,

Resk

(PS: sorry for disturbing peace and quiet again...:s)

[Norm]

Are there any error messages in the browser's java console?

[Reskaillev]

Are there any error messages in the browser's java console?

Nope it doesn't give any error messages whatsoever...

[Norm]

Start adding some printlns so you can see where the execution flow is going.

[Reskaillev]

Not sure how to add system.out.prints when I can't see the JApplet in the browser? (and thus can't see the prints)

[Norm]

The printouts go to the java console.

[Reskaillev]

The printouts go to the java console.

Okay I added the printouts to the code:
system.out.print("1/") <--at the start on the init() of JApplet
system.out.print("2/") <--at the start of the constructor of my MenuPanel() class
system.out.print("3/") <--at the end on the constructor of my MenuPanel() class
system.out.print("4/") <--at the end of the init() of JApplet

console in eclipse gives me: 1/2/3/4/

Not sure if you wanted me to test this also when the JApplet is online when I open the site? I have enabled the java console but it doesn't show the 1/2/3/4/

[Norm]

What do you see in the java console when you load the html page with the applet in a browser?

[Reskaillev]

Err nothing much..it's supposed to show the prints right??

none of that..this is what I get:

Java Plug-in 1.7.0
Using JRE version 1.7.0-ea-b119 Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM
User home directory = C:\Users\Pete Ravenshard
----------------------------------------------------
c:   clear console window
f:   finalize objects on finalization queue
g:   garbage collect
h:   display this help message
l:   dump classloader list
m:   print memory usage
o:   trigger logging
q:   hide console
r:   reload policy configuration
s:   dump system and deployment properties
t:   dump thread list
v:   dump thread stack
x:   clear classloader cache
0-5: set trace level to <n>
----------------------------------------------------

UPDATE: well...this is certainly strange...
I added "this.setcontentpane(cards);" and "cards.setOpaque(true)" to the init()
Now when I try to load the webpage it gives nothing like always
BUT if I reload the page a few times there's a CHANCE that the applet loads perfectly..
really strange...

Would be best if you were able to experience it yourself??
Raw Menu Beta

[Norm]

I see you are using java 1.7

I have no idea why your prints are not showing on the java console.

[Reskaillev]

I see you are using java 1.7

Yes but I build them with java 1.6 in JDK. Could there be any conflict?

I have no idea why your prints are not showing on the java console.

Neither do I :(

What do you make of the "chance" to get the black screen? or does the black screen always show for you?

PS: updated the above JPanel and JApplet code to correspond the changes I made

[Norm]

Can you find a 1.6 plugin on another computer and test your applet there?

[Reskaillev]

not at the moment..

I tried building the applet in 1.7 and see if the problem would be fixed then...but to no avail..still the "chance" and still no prints

[Reskaillev]

Ok I found a pc with java 1.6, enabled the java console and loaded the website...

The applet works now 100%, but it still doesn't show the printlns in the console?

the biggest atm remains: why do I get the "chance" to see the applet on my java 1.7 pc?? (the printlns are strange, but don't really matter in the full run)

[Norm]

still doesn't show the printlns in the console

No idea what is wrong. I've never had a problem seeing what I print on the java console.