Thread: Making Executable Jar Files.

Index:

1. PATH & CLASSPATH Environment Variables
2. Making Code
3. Compiling Your Code
4. The Set Up
5. Making A Jar File








1. First You Need To Set You're PATH & CLASSPATH In your Environment Variables.

Environment Variables.jpg

Notice: You Version Of Java jdk Might Not Be The Same, So Here's How To Find It:

Start -> My Computer -> Local Disk -> Program Files -> Java

You Should See A Folder Like jdk#.#.#_## Or Something In That Nature
This is you version of jdk that needed to be in the PATH & CLASSPATH In your Environment Variables

Example(s):

User Variables For [user]
PATH C:\Program Files\Java\jdk#.#.#_##\bin

System Variables
CLASSPATH C:\Program Files\Java\jdk#.#.#_##\bin



Once you sent that your ready to go.










2. Making Code:

NOTICE: MAKE A NEW FOLDER ON YOUR DESKTOP TO CONTAIN EVERYTHING
NOTICE: MY FOLDERS NAME IS "ExampleJar"

This Is For A Jar Using 2 Classes:

ExampleClass.java

import javax.swing.JFrame;
 
public class ExampleClass{
	public static void main(String[] args){
 
		ExampleClass2 JFrameclass = new ExampleClass2();
		JFrameclass.setSize(200,50);
		JFrameclass.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
		JFrameclass.setVisible(true);
	}
}

ExampleClass2.java

import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
 
public class ExampleClass2 extends JFrame{
 
	private JLabel ExampleLabel;
		public ExampleClass2(){
 
			super("Example");
 
			ExampleLabel = new JLabel("Example",10);
			add(ExampleLabel);
 
	}
 
}

Save This As .Java Files Using Notepad


MAIN-INF

So now you need to tell your jar file which is the main class, This is called MANIFEST.
For this tutorial The main class ExampleClass.

Main-Class: ExampleClass

Save this a manifest.txt
NOTICE: THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT:
AFTER TYPING "Main-Class: ExampleClass" PRESS ENTER OR YOU WILL GET A ERROR!












3. Compiling Your Code

Short & Sweet:

Simple Batch Compiler: Type:

@echo off
if exist "C:\Program Files (x86)\" set programfiles=C:\Program Files (x86)
set pro=%programfiles%\Java\jdk1.7.0_02
set pro2=%programfiles%\Java\jdk1.7.0_02
set jac=\bin\javac.exe
set jav=\bin\java.exe
:co1
set b=0
set t=7
goto co2
:co2
color %b%%t%
:menu
cls
title The Perfect Compiler version 2.0
echo Please choose an option below to do that function.
echo.
echo c - Compile your server.
echo.
echo.
set /p c=Option:
if %c%==c goto c
if %c%==C goto c
if %c%==* goto er
goto er
:color
cls
echo Would you like to change the backround color, change
echo the text color, or reset it to default?
echo.
echo back - Change the backround color.
echo text - Change the text color.
echo def - Change all colors back to default.
echo.
echo.
cls
:c
cls
title Compiler
goto cjc
:c2
if exist src (goto cl) else (goto c3)
:c3
if exist *.java (goto cl2) else (goto ce)
:c4
%javac% -cp . *.java
echo Files Compiled Successfully!
pause
cls
goto menu
:c5
%javac% -cp . .\src\*.java
echo Files Compiled Successfully!
pause
move .\src\*.class .\classes\
cls
goto menu
:ce
cls
echo You need to have Java files for this Compiler to Compile.
pause
cls
goto menu
:er
cls
title Error
echo Invalid command. Please make sure the commands you type
echo in are correct.
pause
cls
goto menu
:e
cls
exit
:cjc
if exist "%pro%_06%jac%" (goto sjc) else (goto cjc2)
:cjc2
if exist "%pro%_07%jac%" (goto sjc2) else (goto cjc3)
:cjc3
if exist "%pro%_08%jac%" (goto sjc3) else (goto cjc4)
:cjc4
if exist "%pro%_09%jac%" (goto sjc4) else (goto cjc5)
:cjc5
if exist "%pro%_10%jac%" (goto sjc5) else (goto cjc6)
:cjc6
if exist "%pro2%%jac%" (goto sjc6) else (goto cjc7)
:cjc7
if exist "%pro%%jac%" (goto sjc7) else (goto cjc8)
:cjc8
if exist "%pro%_01%jac%" (goto sjc8) else (goto cjc9)
:cjc9
if exist "%pro%_02%jac%" (goto sjc9) else (goto cjc10)
:cjc10
if exist "%pro%_03%jac%" (goto sjc10) else (goto cjc11)
:cjc11
if exist "%pro%_04%jac%" (goto sjc11) else (goto cjc12)
:cjc12
if exist "%pro%_05%jac%" (goto sjc12) else (goto je)
:sjc
set javac="%pro%_06%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc2
set javac="%pro%_07%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc3
set javac="%pro%_08%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc4
set javac="%pro%_09%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc5
set javac="%pro%_10%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc6
set javac="%pro2%%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc7
set javac="%pro%%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc8
set javac="%pro%_01%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc9
set javac="%pro%_02%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc10
set javac="%pro%_03%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc11
set javac="%pro%_04%jac%"
goto c2
:sjc12
set javac="%pro%_05%jac%"
goto c2
:cj
if exist "%pro%_06%jav%" (goto sj) else (goto cj2)
:cj2
if exist "%pro%_07%jav%" (goto sj2) else (goto cj3)
:cj3
if exist "%pro%_08%jav%" (goto sj3) else (goto cj4)
:cj4
if exist "%pro%_09%jav%" (goto sj4) else (goto cj5)
:cj5
if exist "%pro%_10%jav%" (goto sj5) else (goto cj6)
:cj6
if exist "%pro2%%jav%" (goto sj6) else (goto cj7)
:cj7
if exist "%pro%%jav%" (goto sj7) else (goto cj8)
:cj8
if exist "%pro%_01%jav%" (goto sj8) else (goto cj9)
:cj9
if exist "%pro%_02%jav%" (goto sj9) else (goto cj10)
:cj10
if exist "%pro%_03%jav%" (goto sj10) else (goto cj11)
:cj11
if exist "%pro%_04%jav%" (goto sj11) else (goto cj12)
:cj12
if exist "%pro%_05%jav%" (goto sj12) else (goto je)
:sj
set java="%pro%_06%jav%"
goto r2
:sj2
set java="%pro%_07%jav%"
goto r2
:sj3
set java="%pro%_08%jav%"
goto r2
:sj4
set java="%pro%_09%jav%"
goto r2
:sj5
set java="%pro%_10%jav%"
goto r2
:sj6
set java="%pro2%%jav%"
goto r2
:sj7
set java="%pro%%jav%"
goto r2
:sj8
set java="%pro%_01%jav%"
goto r2
:sj9
set java="%pro%_02%jav%"
goto r2
:sj10
set java="%pro%_03%jav%"
goto r2
:sj11
set java="%pro%_04%jav%"
goto r2
:sj12
set java="%pro%_05%jav%"
goto r2
:je
cls
title Error
echo You do not have JDK 5.0 or JDK 6.0. Go to od Taharok's tutorial
echo on the moparscape Tuturoials section for step-by-step instructions
echo link to download the newest JDK Update.
pause
cls
goto menu
:sl
cls
echo Ran Server at %time% and on %date%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Server was run using %java%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Thank-you for using Mod Taharok's 'Perfect' Compiler! >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
goto r5
:sl2
cls
echo Ran Server at %time% and on %date%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Server was run using %java%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Thank-you for using Mod Taharok's 'Perfect' Compiler! >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
goto r6
:cl
cls
echo Compiled Java files at %time% and on %date%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Java files were compiled using %javac%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Thank-you for using Mod Taharok's 'Perfect' Compiler! >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
goto c5
:cl2
cls
echo Compiled Java files at %time% and on %date%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Java files were compiled using %javac%. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo Thank-you for using Mod Taharok's 'Perfect' Compiler! >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
goto c4
:reset
cls
echo Resetting the Compiler's Logs...
pause
del "Compile Logs.txt"
echo ----------Compiler Logs---------- >> "Compile Logs.txt"
echo. >> "Compile Logs.txt"
goto menu

Save As Compiler.bat

NOTICE: THIS COMPILER DOES NOT BELONG TO ME!
NOTICE: ADD THIS COMPILER TO ExampleJar/ OR THE NAME OF YOUR FOLDER!

Owner Of Compiler: Moparscape








4. The Set Up:

This is what you should have so far:
WhatYouShouldHave.PNG


5. COMPILING:

Double-Click The Compiler
Press "C"
Press Enter

If Done Correctly You Should See

Files Compiled Successfully!
Press any key to continue . . .

Also ExampleClass.class & ExampleClass2.class
Also A Compile Logs: You Can Delete That, That Is Not Needed (its in the compiler)

This Is What You Should Have Now:
WhatYouShouldHaveNow.PNG






5. Making A Jar File:

Notice: Spelling Is Absolutely Importing, Make Sure Everything Is Correct Before Proceeding.

First:

Open ExampleJar/Your Folder on your desktop
Right click ExampleClass.java
Open Properties
You Will See Location: This Is Very Important. (LEAVE PROPERTIES OPEN)


Second:

Start-> Run-> CMD

We Need To Change Are Directory To Are Local Disk
So In This Case My Local Disk Is C:

So Type: cd C:\
You should See C:\

Now Remember The Location From Earlier?

Type cd "*Location Form Earlier*"



Example:

I Typed Whats In Bold

C:\>cd "Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ExampleJar

Now The New Directory Is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ExampleJar>



Making The Jar File:

Follow Closely (MOST IMPORTANT PART)

Now In CMD Where It Says: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ExampleJar>

Type:

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ExampleJar>jar cfmv ExampleJar.jar MANIFEST.txt ExampleClass.class ExampleClass2.class

You Should Then See:

added manifest
adding: ExampleClass.class(in = 438) (out= 319)(deflated 27%)
adding: ExampleClass2.class(in = 453) (out= 300)(deflated 33%)

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ExampleJar>

NOTICE: IF YOU SEE

java.io.FileNotFoundException: MAINFEST.txt (The system cannot find the file spe
cified)
        at java.io.FileInputStream.open(Native Method)
        at java.io.FileInputStream.<init>(FileInputStream.java:138)
        at java.io.FileInputStream.<init>(FileInputStream.java:97)
        at sun.tools.jar.Main.run(Main.java:171)
        at sun.tools.jar.Main.main(Main.java:1177)

THE FILES IN NOT THERE YOU YOU HAD MADE A SPELLING ERROR


Now there should be a jar file in ExampleJar On your desktop.

You Have Created Your Very Own Executable Jar File

Nice tutorial. There is just a couple of things I have say about it though.

That batch script ... ouch. All those nasty goto's with arbitrary variables indexed beyond any hope of readability are not the nastiest little dragon in this god forsaken, windows only script. The first warning as to it's worthlessness is it's title - Perfect Compiler. It is nearly as far away from being a compiler as it is to being perfect. Next up on my little list is it's assumption that I installed my SDK to C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.7.0_02 which is only slightly off my actual JDK path of E:\jdk1.7.0_01. Finally, I don't really see the point in writing the output of javac to a file like that. I sure as s**t want to know what the compiler has to say for it's self and opening up my text editor to do it shouldn't be necessary.

Now since you are not the author of the aforementioned batch script I really hope you don't any offense because the rest of the tutorial is really very good and I know how much work these things take, so thanks and well done.

As for addressing the problems with the script I would suggest replacing that segment with the following...

Next, install Ant. It is a mature, stable, cross platform and very intelligent build system written by the good people at the Apache Foundation. In their own words:

Originally Posted by Apache.org

Apache Ant is a Java library and command-line tool whose mission is to drive processes described in build files as targets and extension points dependent upon each other. The main known usage of Ant is the build of Java applications. Ant supplies a number of built-in tasks allowing to compile, assemble, test and run Java applications. Ant can also be used effectively to build non Java applications, for instance C or C++ applications. More generally, Ant can be used to pilot any type of process which can be described in terms of targets and tasks.

Ant is extremely flexible and does not impose coding conventions or directory layouts to the Java projects which adopt it as a build tool.

I don't pretend to be an expert on ant but here is my secret reusable weapon for building jar files. Save this file as build.xml in the projects root directory.

<!--
 
	Build file
 
	Author: Christopher Lowe   lowey2002_at_g{mail}
	Last update: 17/1/2012 (v0.136)
 
 
-->
 
 
<!--  Change your projects name -->
<project name="myproject" basedir="." default="main">
 
	<!-- Change your package -->
	<property name="package"		value="com.mydomain.myproject"/>
 
	<!-- Change your main executable -->
	<property name="main-class"		value="com.mydomain.myproject.Main"/>
 
	<!-- Change your version -->
	<property name="version"		value="0-0-1"/>    <!--do not use a fullstop '.'  -->
 
 
 
	<!-- This is the projects directory structure -->
	<property name="src.dir"              value="src"/>   
	<property name="build.dir"            value="build"/>
	<property name="classes.dir"        value="build/classes"/>
	<property name="jar.dir"               value="build/jar"/>
	<property name="archive.dir"	       value="archive"/>
	<property name="lib.dir"		       value="lib"/>
	<property name="resources.dir"     value="res"/>
 
 
	<!--  External jar's  -->
	<path id="project.classpath">
		<fileset dir="${lib.dir}" includes="**/*.jar"/>
	</path>
 
 
	<!--  Local resources -->	
	<fileset id="resources" dir="${resources.dir}">
		<include name="**/*.properties"/>
		<include name="**/*.gif"/>
		<include name="**/*.jpg"/>
		<include name="**/*.png"/>
		<include name="**/*.ogg"/>
		<include name="**/*.wav"/>
		<include name="**/*.mp3"/>
		<include name="**/*.ico"/>	
	</fileset>
 
 
	<!-- Usage -->
	<target name="usage">
		<echo>
${ant.project.name}
***************************************
version: ${version}
 
  usage:  
     ant compile
                 -- compiles the source code
 
     ant build
                 -- builds the jar file
 
     ant run
                 -- runs the jar file
 
     ant save
                 -- zips all source to /archive
 
		</echo>
	</target>
 
 
 
	<!--  Clean the build directory -->
	<target name="clean">
		<delete dir="${build.dir}"/>
	</target>
 
 
	<!--  Compile -->
	<target name="compile" depends="clean">
		<mkdir dir="${classes.dir}"/>
			<javac srcdir="${src.dir}" destdir="${classes.dir}" includeantruntime="true">
				<classpath refid="project.classpath"/>
			</javac>
	</target>
 
 
	<!--  Package into a jar -->
	<target name="build" depends="compile">
		<mkdir dir="${jar.dir}"/>
		<jar destfile="${jar.dir}/${ant.project.name}-${version}.jar" basedir="${classes.dir}">
			<fileset refid="resources"/>
			<zipgroupfileset dir="${lib.dir}" includes="**/*.jar"/>
			<manifest>
				<attribute name="Main-Class" value="${main-class}"/>
			</manifest>
		</jar>
	</target>
 
 
	<!--  Execute jar -->
	<target name="run" depends="build">		
		<java jar="${jar.dir}/${ant.project.name}-${version}.jar" fork="true"/>
	</target>
 
 
	<!--  Archive source -->
	<target name="save">
		<tstamp/>
		<zip destfile="${archive.dir}/${ant.project.name}-${version}-${DSTAMP}${TSTAMP}.zip" basedir="src"/>
	</target>
 
 
	<!--  The main method prints the usage of this file. Can be changed to run if you like  -->
	<target name="main" depends="usage" />
 
 
</project>

You will need to change the first three lines of this file. Change myproject to the name of your project. Also change the package com.mydomain.myproject and the main-class com.mydomain.myproject.Main to the entry point of your program. That is, the class that contains your main method.

With this file, you can compile, jar and run your program from a single command

$ ant compile
$ ant build
$ ant run

Or if you are feeling especially lazy, why not create a batch script (windows) so you don't even need to open the command prompt. Save this as run.bat

@echo off
ant run
set /P theuserinput="Press [ENTER] to finish"

The file readme.txt in the attached zip file explains the directory structure. The important thing is to make sure that the directories in src/ match up with the package in the source and the ant script. So if your package is:

package com.mydomain.myproject;

Your main class would live in the directory:

src/com/mydomain/myproject/Main.java

The attached file template.zip contains the entire thing ready to go.

I sure as s##t want to know what the compiler has to say

You might want to clean that post up a little as this forum should be family friendly.

.-. Well well.