Adding a folder of jar files to my path

Question

I have java tools that I need to use. The tools are in a folder full of jar files. I wanted to add this folder to my path, for the obvious reasons, but after I edit my .bash_profile to include the new folder in the $PATH variable, and source it, it doesn't work. I also tried logging out, and logging back in, and that didn't work either. I just keep getting the error message "Unable to access jarfile .jar"

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but how could I check this? — Davy Kavanagh, Jun 21 '12 at 11:20
You may want to check this answer:http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5569591/unable-to-access-jarfile-in-linux-land — matcheek, Jun 21 '12 at 11:46

Huygens · Answer 1 · 2012-06-21T12:30:18.270

5

For JAR files, you have to set the CLASSPATH and not the PATH environment variable.

If you're using BASH, it is: export CLASSPATH="$CLASSPATH:<full_path_to_each_jar_files>"

You better add it in the file .bashrc unless you know what you are doing.

Example:

export CLASSPATH="$CLASSPATH:$HOME/java/lib/foebar.jar:$HOME/extra/lib/another.jar"

But of course, if you are still invoking the jar file with the Main class you have to use the full path for it:

java -jar $HOME/java/lib/main-prog.jar

However, you can set its execution right and run it:

chmod u+x $HOME/java/lib/main-prog.jar
export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/java/lib
main-prog.jar

But you have to take care that your classpath is correct and list all required jar.

edited Jun 21 '12 at 12:30

answered Jun 21 '12 at 11:28

Huygens

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I tried export CLASSPATH=$CLASSPATH:, with the replaced with the actual path of the folder, sourced and still the same result. – Davy Kavanagh Jun 21 '12 at 11:46
Sorry my mistake, it's not the path but the .jar file with full path you put, I'll update the answer – Huygens Jun 21 '12 at 12:11
Does this mean I will have to add to the CLASSPATH, a new entry for every jar file. There are about 80 of these jar files. – Davy Kavanagh Jun 21 '12 at 12:26
@DavyKavanagh Note: do not add the environment variable to `.bashrc`, add it to `.profile`. See [Alternative to .bashrc](http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/3052/3085#3085) – Gilles 'SO- stop being evil' Jun 21 '12 at 22:44
@DavyKavanagh sorry for the long delay in the response. But yes, this would mean adding the 80 jar files to the classpath. – Huygens Feb 28 '15 at 20:16

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 21 '12 at 11:30

2

If your tools are scripts, which contain commands like

 java -jar somejafile.jar

then you should edit them to contain the correct path

 java -jar /full/path/to/somefile.jar

answered Jun 21 '12 at 11:30

Jari Laamanen

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No, sorry, the tools are the jar files themselves – Davy Kavanagh Jun 21 '12 at 11:45

Adding a folder of jar files to my path

2 Answers2