I’ve recently ordered a new computer and like with all things when they are new you gotta check them out for faults. Screens are always a worry, so with this in mind I’ve knocked together a little tool that simply allows you to check the display for various little things.

The tool is set out in two phases, the first phase consists of the tones white, black, light gray, gray, and dark gray. These will let you spot the easy pixels, gray is nice as you’ll be able to see if the panel is evenly lit. The second phase is just an RGB test, cycles red, green, blue, yellow and magenta. This will show any pixels that are stuck in those main colours.

It’s pretty simple and a tiny download written in Java so you’ll need Java installed. Mac OS X users have the Java system by default, Windows users will need it, thats if you don’t have it already, most people do. There is a Read Me included in the download with full instructions.

Any problems / help, or if you have something to say let me know.

Download

Download LCD Panel Tester v1.0.1
MD5: f1b6fdd846d81a49bd748c2f6ab6168e

Download LCD Panel Tester v1.0.1 Source
MD5: b8d6b907f521f3371274012efdd345e0

If you fancy using BlueJ on Mac OS X, head over to bluej.org and grab the stable version for Mac OS X. Once downloaded you will have the BlueJ folder, just put this where you keep your other apps. This is a stock BlueJ install so you will need to add the OU components.

Instructions

1. Right click, or control click if you have a single button mouse on the BlueJ icon. Select the option “Show Package Contents” this will open a window with a folder named “Contents”.

2. Navigate to the userlib folder Contents > Resources > Java > userlib.

3. Pop in the Course software CD, at the root of the CD is a folder named “libraryfiles” go inside here and copy the files bsh-2.0b4.jar and ou.jar to the userlib folder opened in the last step.

4. Next navigate to the folder Contents > Resources > Java > extensions.

5. From the root of the course CD copy the jars “eaextension.jar” and “ouwextension.jar”.

6. In the Finder navigate to the folder named Library in the root of your hard drive and scroll down to the folder Java, copy the same two jars bsh-2.0b4.jar and ou.jar
to the folder named Extensions.

Quick listing:
Inside BlueJ application bundle:
Resources > Java > extensions should contain the following:
eaextension.jar
ouwextension.jar

Inside BlueJ application bundle:
Resources > Java > userlib should contain
bsh-2.0b4.jar
ou.jar

In the Library Folder in the Hard Drive and not in your home folder.
/Library/Java/Extensions should contain the following:
bsh-2.0b4.jar
ou.jar

Thats it done. Now your good to go!

Note: I have seen another site that says to put bsh-2.0b4.jar and ou.jar in /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.5.0/Home/lib/ext/ this location is the actual Java system and should not really be touched. The Location /Library/Java/Extensions is the official location for additional jars and classes specified by Apple, all extensions are loaded when the JavaVM is started up. Another advantage of this approach is that if Apple updates the Java installation which is common this location is static and will just work with future versions.

If you want some more info, or find this useful leave me a comment.