Image of skyscrapers overlaid with a grid of lines representing the internet.


Welcome! This tour will show you how to use Rational Web Developer to improve your software and Web development.

Image of the Rational Web Developer user interface.

All the tools you need for designing and building your Web applications are included in the Integrated Development Environment.

Image of Site Designer.

Build Web sites or applications with a series of tools that help at every step. First, define the site hierarchy and navigation links in the Site Designer.

Image of the Web Diagram editor.

Then create application logic-driven page flows using the Web Diagram editor.

Image of Page Designer.

Then develop page content in the Page Designer.

Image of the Java Editor.

Then write business logic with the Java editor.

Image of a Web service being added to a Web page using the wizard.


You can create Web services or add connections to existing Web services.

Image of UI components being added to a client interface in the Java Visual Editor.

Build Java applications, applets or servlets in a tightly integrated Java development environment. Instantly create graphical interfaces for interactive, server-centric Java or Web applications by dragging and dropping components in the Java Visual Editor.



Specialized editors and wizards enable you to create and transform Extensible Markup Language (XML).

Image showing an XML file being edited, and that design and source views are available.
Image of code analyzer alerting developer to a problem within a Java file.

Code analyzers alert you to problems and as you work, and make sure you conform to Java 2, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) best practices.

Image of Rational ClearCase integration dialogs showing a delivery.


Full integration with Rational ClearCase lets you maintain the source of your projects.

Image of an Enterprise Generation Language file being edited.

Even if you do not know Java, you can develop applications that dynamically connect to databases. Enterprise Generation Language (EGL) is a 4GL language that generates to Java or COBOL.

Image showing how to switch between perspectives using the shortcuts in the upper right-hand section of the workspace.

Before you get started, here are a few layout basics. Multiple layouts, called perspectives, organize the information and tools you need based on the type of work you are doing.

Image of preferences being selected within the Capabilities window.

As you work, the workbench reveals new tools and perspectives to you. This helps reduce clutter by showing you only what you want or need. You can set your preferences at any time by clicking Window > Preferences > Workbench > Capabilities.

Image showing the Tutorials Gallery and Samples Gallery links from the Help menu, which open in new windows.

Rational Web Developer provides a variety of ways for you to get assistance. A Tutorials Gallery provides several types of learning experiences, and a Samples Gallery contains example source code and related resources.

Image showing the Cheat Sheet link in the Help menu, and that Cheat sheets open in an area on the right side of the workspace.

Cheat Sheets show you all of the steps necessary to perform common tasks. You can access them from the main Help menu.

Image of the Help Menu topic in the workspace opening a new window containing the information center.

When you need detailed information about a topic, select Help Contents. This takes you to the Information Center.

Image of the section of the Information Center that contains links to IBM and other technology Web sites.

Further assistance and product updates are available on the World Wide Web.

Image of skyscrapers overlaid with a grid of lines representing the internet.


This concludes the tour! You are encouraged to look over the rest of the Welcome pages before beginning your work. The next page you see is the Overview.