java -jar ignore the classpath command line argument

[Thomas Kellerer]

Is it normal that when starting a jar, the -classpath command line option is ignored?

Yes. Read the documentation at
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/linux/java.html

"When you use this option [-jar], the JAR file is the source of all user
classes, and other user class path settings are ignored."

Thomas

 

[Nomak]

Is it normal that when starting a jar, the -classpath command line option is ignored?

$ cat A.java
class A {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.err.println("java.library.path = " +
System.getProperty("java.library.path"));
System.err.println("java.class.path = " +
System.getProperty("java.class.path"));
}
}


$ cat MANIFEST.MF
Main-Class: A


$ echo $CLASSPATH


$ javac A.java && jar -cmf MANIFEST.MF A.jar A.class && java -classpath 'xerces-2_5_0/xercesImpl.jar' -jar A.jar
java.library.path = /usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_07/jre/lib/i386/client:/usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_07/jre/lib/i386:/usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_07/jre/../lib/i386:/usr/X11R6/lib:/usr/X11R6/lib/modules
java.class.path = A.jar


$ java -version
java version "1.4.2_07"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_07-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_07-b05, mixed mode)

 

[Nomak]

Is it normal that when starting a jar, the -classpath command line option is ignored?

Yes. Read the documentation at
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/linux/java.html

"When you use this option [-jar], the JAR file is the source of all user
classes, and other user class path settings are ignored."

Thx

but my program must load xerces dynamicaly, how can i do?

(i tried to set the "Class-Path:" header in the manifest, but first it doesn't do anything, and then it would mean that xerces must be at the same location on all the computer where my program must run?!)

 

[Tor Iver Wilhelmsen]

Is it normal that when starting a jar, the -classpath command line
option is ignored?

Yes, you need to add a

Class-Path: xerces-2_5_0/xercesImpl.jar

line to the manifest file.

 

[Daniel Dyer]

Thx

but my program must load xerces dynamicaly, how can i do?

(i tried to set the "Class-Path:" header in the manifest, but first it
doesn't do anything, and then it would mean that xerces must be at the
same location on all the computer where my program must run?!)

It only has to be in the same relative location, not the same absolute
location. So if you set the classpath in the manifest like this...

Class-Path: xercesImpl.jar

....you would need to deploy xercesImpl.jar in the same directory as your
jar file.

If you use...

Class-Path: lib/xercesImpl.jar

.... then the Xerces jar would have to be in a "lib" directory beneath the
directory where your jar file is.

So it doesn't matter if your app is installed in "C:\Documents and
Settings\username\My Documents\yourapplication" on Windows or
"/home/username/yourapplication" on Linux, or in any other location on any
supported platform. It will work on both so long as the file tree below
"yourapplication" is the same.

Dan.

 

[Nomak]

It only has to be in the same relative location, not the same absolute
location. So if you set the classpath in the manifest like this...

Class-Path: xercesImpl.jar

...you would need to deploy xercesImpl.jar in the same directory as your
jar file.

If you use...

Class-Path: lib/xercesImpl.jar

... then the Xerces jar would have to be in a "lib" directory beneath the
directory where your jar file is.

So it doesn't matter if your app is installed in "C:\Documents and
Settings\username\My Documents\yourapplication" on Windows or
"/home/username/yourapplication" on Linux, or in any other location on any
supported platform. It will work on both so long as the file tree below
"yourapplication" is the same.

Thx a lot, it works