Applets with file:// protocol can be loaded with plugin disabled.

Build Info: Merlin build 92.
Browsers NS4.x, IE4.x, IE5.x, IE6.x, NS6.x
Platform: All
Build Location: http://sqesvr/deployment3/merlin/fcs
                /net/jdk.sfbay/export/disk6/promoted/jdk/1.4/fcs/b92/binaries



With the Plugin disabled (through the Control Panel), the browsers are still
able to load all applets launched with file:// protocol.
(It does block http:// protocol).


1) Install browser
2) Install JRE bundle
3) cd <jre install dir>/bin/ControlPanel
4) Uncheck the 'Enable Plugin' checkbox.
5) Click on 'Apply'
6) Quit the Control Panel
7) Set NPX_PLUGIN_PATH to point to <jre dir>/plugin/<arch>/ns4 (if using NS4.x on Unix platform).
8) Invoke browser
9) go to URL http://webwork.sfbay/products/plugin/1.4/demos/applets.html and load any of the applets
10) It should not load and would throw an exception (so far its all okay)
11) Now click on File-Open from browser menu and choose
  <jre install dir>/ControlPanel.html
  this HTML usesa codebase set to file://none protocol
12) The ControlPanel shows up. It is not using the browsers VM
    (can cross-check NS4.x Console and IE console)

   Instead of the above example you can try to load any applet locally using
   file:// protocol. They all load fine.

   NOTE: The Java Console is never launched, with plugin disabled.