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Create JAR File in Java

The document discusses how to create JAR files in Java using both command line utilities and Eclipse IDE. It explains that JAR files are archive files based on the ZIP format used to distribute Java applications and libraries. It then provides commands for creating, viewing, extracting, and updating JAR files from the command line as well as how to create executable JAR files and JAR files within Eclipse.

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Gv Asanka
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42 views

Create JAR File in Java

The document discusses how to create JAR files in Java using both command line utilities and Eclipse IDE. It explains that JAR files are archive files based on the ZIP format used to distribute Java applications and libraries. It then provides commands for creating, viewing, extracting, and updating JAR files from the command line as well as how to create executable JAR files and JAR files within Eclipse.

Uploaded by

Gv Asanka
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Create JAR file in Java & Eclipse

• By Viral Patel on December 15, 2008


• How-To, Java, Tutorial

Let us see how to create a JAR file using Java’s jar command as well as using Eclipse IDE.
The JAR file format is based on the popular ZIP file format. Usually these file are used for
archiving and distribution the files and implementing various libraries, components and plug-ins
in java applications. Compiler and JVMs (Java Virtual Machine) can understand and implement
these formats for java application.

JAR file using Java commands


Following are few commands that can be used to create/view/modify/execute a JAR file using
Java command line utilities and JVM.

Create a JAR file

view source
print?
1 jar cf JAR_FILE_NAME FILE_NAMES_OR_DIRECTORY_NAME
2 e.g.
3 jar cf MyApp1.jar C:\JavaProject\MyApp

View contents of a JAR file

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print?
1 jar tf JAR_FILE_NAME
2 e.g.
3 jar tf MyApp1.jar

View contents with detail of a JAR file

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print?
1 jar tvf JAR_FILE_NAME
2 e.g.
3 jar tvf MyApp1.jar

Note that we have used v (verbose) option to see the detail of JAR.
Extract content of JAR file

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print?
1 jar xf JAR_FILE_NAME
2 e.g.
3 jar xf MyApp1.jar

Extract specific file from JAR file

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1 jar xf JAR_FILE_NAME FILE_NAME(S)_FROM_JAR_FILE
2 e.g.
3 jar xf MyApp1.jar Test1.class

Update a JAR file

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print?
1 jar uf JAR_FILE_NAME FILE_NAMES_FROM_JAR_FILE
2 e.g.
3 jar uf MyApp1.jar Test1.class

Executing a JAR file

view source
print?
1 java -jar JAR_FILE_NAME
2 e.g.
3 java -jar MyApp.jar

Create an executable JAR file

In order to create an executable JAR, one of the classes that we include in our JAR must be a
main class.
Create a text file called MANIFEST.MF using any text editor and copy following content in it.

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1 Manifest-Version: 1.0
2 Main-Class: MyMainClass
Where MyMainClass is the name of the class that contents main method. Also note that you have
to specify fully qualified class name here.
Use following command to create an executable JAR file.

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print?
1 jar cvfm MyApp.jar MANIFEST.MF FILE_NAMES_OR_DIRECTORY_NAME

JAR file using Eclipse IDE


Creating JAR file using Eclipse IDE is pretty much easy. Follow the simple steps.
Right click on your project, which you want to create a JAR file of. And select Export from the
context menu.

Select JAR file from Java folder and click Next.


Provide the Destination path and click on Finish to create the JAR.

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