title: Java Applet - how to determine if external jar file exist on client machine
body: <p>Good afternoon</p>
  
  <p>I'm in the search of a solid way to determine if an external jar exist on the client machine, who're going to use my java applet. Right now what I'm doing is this in pseudo code</p>
  
  <pre><code>try 
  {
    controller.init()
  }
  catch Exception(Jar does not exist)
  {
    make pretty screen to tell users to download setup file
    fire up browser with link to setup file
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However the exception that is thrown at me is UnsatisfiedLinkError which I can't catch as it's not something that's recoverable. This basically means I'm "left" with a browser window with the link to the setup file, but no explanation as to why it has come up.</p>
  
  <p>Of course an "easy" fix is just to add to the html page that hosts the applet that "If Java blows up, please just download the setup file that is suggested", however I would much rather like a programmatical solution, and it's here you guys and gals come into the picture :)</p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance for any and all answers.</p>
  
  <p>/Jeb</p>