"SignMaker If your computer can run Java, the SignMaker program is all you need to make signs like this, with the route numbers, town names, and markers you choose. Many people decorate their Web sites with them, but you could print signs for your little brother's Hot Wheels town, or make a personalized greeting card for a friend.
You can choose among over 40 route markers, 12 types of arrows, six types of exit tab, and four types of metal support. Finish it off with up to three lines of text, and place up to four sign panels on an overhead pole. There are still plenty of complicated real-life signs that SignMaker can't make, but the tools you have will mimic reality quite well.
You can use SignMaker online (a Java "applet"), which does not copy any files to your computer. You'll need a browser and net connection for this. Or, you can download an offline version (Java "application") that requires neither, but does need a Java runtime environment. "
Downloading SignMaker
The rest of this page shows you how to download the class files and .GIF images to run SignMaker on your home system. You will then be able to use SignMaker without an Internet connection or even a browser. SignMaker will certainly start up faster and possibly run faster.
SignMaker requires a Java Runtime (v 1.0.2 or later) on your system. The "Runtime" is just a program that can run Java programs for you outside of a browser.
Follow these steps to install SignMaker on your system.
See if there is a Java runtime on your system. If so, you can skip having to download it in step 3. A browser plug-in doesn't count: the Java program must run on its own. Places to look:
Mac: File Find for "java"
Unix: /usr/local/bin/java, /usr/local/jdk/bin/java, or ask your sysadmin
windows NT: c:\winnt\system32\java.exe
If you found what looks like a java runtime, try it out: type java -help. You should get a usage statement starting with something like: Usage: java [-options] class. For Mac users, try the About box to confirm the version: it should be 1.0.2 or higher.
If you didn't find one, you need to download one, or find one on CD. Places to look are below, but try Google for the latest.
Mac: http://www.apple.com/java/ (8 MB)
Solaris, windows http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1/jre/ (Solaris - 5 MB; win - 3MB)
Others: http://java.sun.com/cgi-bin/java-ports.cgi
Follow the directions included with the CD or download to install Java.
Create a directory where you'd like the Java class files and GIFs to live.
Download and unpack the SignMaker bundle (sm230.zip, an 83K package). To unpack, use Stuffit (Mac), Winzip (Windows), or gunzip and tar (Unix). You should now have about 17 class files and 12 GIFs.
Starting SignMaker
You'll want to be in the directory where you unpacked the SignMaker files.
Mac: start Java and open SignMaker.class.
Unix: type java SignMaker.
Windows: Open a Command Prompt and type java SignMaker. If you get a NoClassDefFound error, your runtime probably doesn't automatically search the current directory. If that happens, add a classpath argument: java -cp . SignMaker.
Quitting SignMaker
Click the close box on the green window or press Alt-F4.