Re: a few java questions

[Bob Pendleton <bobp@pendleton.com>]

Jonathan Smith wrote:
> 
> Well, I might as well start out with the questions. I have to go to bed in a
> sec so, here goes:
> 
> Can the Java compiler produce .exe files or files ready to begin without
> having to have something else start it up?

Their are a lot of java compilers out their. The Sun java compiler does
not and can not generate .exe files. I've read the Symantec Cafe can
generate a .exe file for Java and I'm sure a number of other compilers
can do it too. One article I saw sugests using the following in a .bat
file to make it look pretty much the same.

> 
>                     This solution works for the older JDK's (our application runs on JDK 1.1.8, though it should
>                     work with 1.02 or 1.2.x as well), and Windows 95/98/NT. 
> 
>                     To install our Java application, we have the users copy a directory from a CD to their local
>                     drives. (You can also zip everything up into one zip file for distribution.) The directory has a
>                     bin and a lib subdirectory containing the jre. Also in the directory is a jar file containing all of
>                     the application's class files, and a batch file. 
> 
>                     The user runs the program by double-clicking the batch file from Explorer. You can also
>                     make a shortcut of the batch file, and put it on the desktop or in the Start menu. Either way,
>                     the Java application runs WITHOUT an unneeded DOS frame! Here's how the batch file is
>                     set up to do its magic: 
> 
>                     Contents of the 2-line run.bat: 
> 
>                     @echo off 
> 
>                     @start bin\jrew -classpath lib\classes.zip;.\myJarFile.jar MyMainClass 
> 
>                     When you run the batch file, it briefly launches a DOS frame, which immediately completes
>                     its business and closes itself. The Java application appears shortly afterward in its own
>                     java.awt.Frame. 
> 
>                     Notes: To get the DOS frame to disappear automatically in Windows 95/98, you MUST do
>                     the @echo off part. The DOS frame won't go away if it's displaying any text. Windows NT
>                     doesn't have this problem. 
> 
>                     The "start" command spawns the java application off in its own DOS interpreter. This
>                     allows the batch file to "keep on going", and finish up without waiting for our java
>                     application to terminate. Once the batch file is done, the DOS window is able to close on its
>                     own. 
> 
>                     For those who don't know, jre.exe works essentially the same as java.exe for the purposes
>                     of running your Java program. jrew.exe works just like java.exe, too, but it doesn't spawn a
>                     new DOS window. 
> 
>                     Since the batch file references the jre.exe and classes.zip that we ship along with the app,
>                     there is never any chance of conflicts with any JDK version the user might have already
>                     installed. Also, we don't make the user manually install the JDK or muck about with path
>                     settings. And, this batch file will work no matter where the user decides to install our
>                     application's directory. This is the perfect solution for those of us who have to distribute our
>                     programs to computer illiterates! 
> 
>                     Hope this helps people! 
> 
>                     -Kip Fiebig 
> 
>                     www.kipley.com 
> 
>                     kip.fiebig@tivoli.com


> 
> How can I slow down my java compiler? Everytime I try to compile it comes up
> real fast and goes down even faster without seeing the errors or anything.

That's an interesting problem. I solved it by using an IDE that puts the
output in a window for me. The one I use is free and you can get it at
http://sunsite.auc.dk/jde/


>                                       Peace and may God
>                                        direct your life
>                                         Amen, Jonathan Smith

And may Odin grant you wisdom and Thor grant you the strength to use it.

			Bob P.
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