classpath probs

hi everyone
can anybody get my funda clear regardin classpath setting.
wheteher i should create them by setting environment variables or create a batch file for it or whether i hav 2 set the classpath each time in the cmd prompt when i login.
i am not able to understand the difference between these approaches.
which will be easier one?
I am not able to throw my class files in to appropriate folder using -d options as well.

It's a matter of preference really.
It also depends on the project.

For small quick apps, its easy to use the compiler's -cp switch.

Once a project has more than 2 or 3 dependencies it starts making sense sense to write a shell script (or a batch script) to set up a CLASSPATH environment variable that can be sourced from the window you will using to run javac.

If a particular workstation is only ever used for one project (rare) it might make sense to set up the environment variable from the login scripts (or My Computer in the case of Windows).

There is a FAQ entry that covers compiling servlets (with a link to the classpath FAQ from the Java In General forum).
Here:
http://faq.javaranch.com/view?CompilingServlets
[ December 03, 2005: Message edited by: Ben Souther ]

One word: Ant.