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Creating an Executable Jar File

Creating a jar File in Eclipse

In Eclipse Help contents, expand "Java development user guide" ==> "Tasks" ==> "Creating JAR files."  Follow the instructions for "Creating a new JAR file" or "Creating a new runnable JAR file."The JAR File and Runnable JAR File commands are for some reason located under the Filemenu: click on Export... and expand the Java node.

Creating a jar File in JCreator

You can configure a "tool" that will automate the jar creation process.  You only need to do it once.
  1. Click on Configure/Options.
  2. Click on Tools in the left column.
  3. Click New, and choose Create Jar file.
  4. Click on the newly created entry Create Jar File in the left column under Tools.
  5. Edit the middle line labeled Arguments: it should have
    cvfm $[PrjName].jar manifest.txt *.class
  6. Click OK.
Now set up a project for your program, create a manifest file manifest.txt or copy and edit an existing one.  Place manifest.txt in the same folder where the .class files go.  Under View/Toolbars check the Tools toolbar.  Click on the corresponding tool button or press Ctrl-1(or Ctrl-n if this is the n-th tool) to run the Create Jar File tool.
With Windows Explorer, go to the jar file that you just created and double click on it to run.

Creating a jar File in Command Prompt

  1. Start Command Prompt.
  2. Navigate to the folder that holds your class files:
    C:\>cd \mywork
  3. Set path to include JDK’s bin.  For example:
    C:\mywork> path c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_25\bin;%path%
  4. Compile your class(es):
    C:\mywork> javac *.java
  5. Create a manifest file and your jar file:
    C:\mywork> echo Main-Class: Craps >manifest.txt
    C:\mywork> jar cvfm Craps.jar manifest.txt *.class
    or
    C:\mywork> jar cvfe Craps.jar Craps *.class
  6. Test your jar:
    C:\mywork> Craps.jar
    or
    C:\mywork> java -jar Craps.jar
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