FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_10-rc"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-rc-b28)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b15, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
 customer  Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
XP Pro SP2

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I can launch my Web Start application offline from the Java Cache Viewer without any problems. It even appears to be offline - that is, it doesn't download any updates. It only does that when the application is subsequently launched online. However, if I try to launch the application from the command line using the command:

javaws -offline http://localhost/myapp.jnlp

It failed with the message shown below.

com.sun.deploy.net.FailedDownloadException: Cannot download resource.  System is offline.
	at com.sun.deploy.net.DownloadEngine.isUpdateAvailable(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.deploy.net.DownloadEngine.isUpdateAvailable(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.deploy.net.DownloadEngine.getResourceCacheEntry(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.deploy.net.DownloadEngine.getCachedFile(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.javaws.jnl.LaunchDescFactory.buildDescriptor(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.javaws.jnl.LaunchDescFactory.buildDescriptor(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.javaws.Main.launchApp(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.javaws.Main.continueInSecureThread(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.javaws.Main$1.run(Unknown Source)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)



REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

Release Regression From : 6u7
The above release value was the last known release where this 
bug was not reproducible. Since then there has been a regression.
Posted Date : 2008-09-04 21:40:43.0

N/A

Problem is we are doing cacheEntry IP lookup/matching even if we are offline, hence we think the cache entry is not valid and cannot launch. 

It's regression from b22 I believe (from *6661811 Web Start 1.6.0_3 causes repeated download of jar files <http://monaco.sfbay.sun.com/detail.jsf?cr=6661811>)*.
Posted Date : 2008-09-19 02:00:41.0

also, the original report using command:

javaws -offline http://localhost/myapp.jnlp

is problemmatic.  "-offline" means java web start runs in offline mode, and we will not try to make network connection.  so it should not be used with a http url.

however, we do have bug when the computer is disconnected, and we cannot launch cached jnlp applications from the cache.  this is what this fix will cover.
Posted Date : 2008-09-19 22:13:55.0

This is even more serious than I thought. With no network connection, the application can *NOT* be launched offline even from the Java Cache Viewer - contrary to what I had indicated in my earlier bug report (where I was launching it in 'offline' mode but actually still had the network connection). To me this is a 'showstopper' with respect to Java Web Start applications - they *cannot* be launched offline.

Ugh! Bad bug

This is a disaster for our company. We love Java Web Start with all the stuff you get for free like automatic updates, etc. But it's a requirement that the apps can be be started offline as our users/client use our app in the field.

I see the bug is closed, but is it dismissed or is anyone working on a fix? To me this seems like a huuuuge show stopper for Java Web Start!

I found a resolution for my problem. Changing the shortcut element attribute from:
<shortcut online="true">
to
<shortcut online="false">
enable our Java Web Start app to run offline. Tested successfully on JRE 1.6.0_10-b33 and 1.6.0_03-b05.

This bug is reported as being fixed and yet with the latest released version of java 6 update 10, web start applications can still not be launched from a windows command line using:

javaws -offline http://localhost/myapp.jnlp

They now fail with the message:

CouldNotLoadArgumentException[ Could not load file/URL specified: http://localhost/myapp.jnlp]

Presumably that's because, as mentioned in the Evaluation, I am referring to the application with the full URL but how else am I to reference it? By the name alone doesn't work either.

Please reopen this bug - it is *NOT* fixed.
Thanks.
-Paul

Please reopen this bug since I'm having trouble with running webstart apps offline.

Please reopen this bug, this is a showstopper.

this works fine on1.6.0_12-ea. 
Where is the reference on this fix?

A Workaround (Hopefully):
Problem is seen when there are directories inside jar's imported into JWS using <nativelib> tag. Either use <jar> tag to import or don't import jar's with directories, using <nativelib>.