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Oh classpath, why do you hate me?

 
Ranch Hand
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The infamous classpath problem is haunting me. Let me describe the situation:
I have Java SOURCE files (package: Services.Impl) in this directory: c:\Server\Services\Impl
I have a single batch file in c:\Server that compiles the files into c:\ROOT\Services\Impl with this line:
javac -d ..\ROOT\Download\ .\Services\Impl\*.java
That same batch file then executes the program using this line:
java -cp ..\ROOT\Download\ Services.Impl.RunServer
In the main() of RunServer I reference a couple of classes located in a jar file that is specified in the classpath in Environment Variables|System Variables:
Variable: CLASSPATH
Value: C:\jdk1.3.1_01\lib\log4j.jar;
But when I try to run the program I get this error:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/apache/log4j/PropertyConfigurator
at Services.Impl.RunServer.main(RunServer.java:43)

Here's the kicker:
1) I've got import org.apache.log4j.PropertyConfigurator; and I get NO compile errors telling me that class can't be found or can't resolve symbol. Everything compiles correctly
2) I can get rid of that error if I add the path and filename to the -cp option when I run the program. So the working command looks like this:
java -cp ..\ROOT\Download\;c:\jdk1.3.1_01\lib\log4j.jar; Services.Impl.RunServer
Does anyone have a clue as to why I have to do that? Like I said, I specify that exact same path and filename in my Win2k Environment Variables. This is perplexing...
[ March 06, 2002: Message edited by: David Duran ]
 
Ranch Hand
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Hi David,
My guess would be that supplying the -cp argument to the java command just uses what you specify. Instead of what you think: using environment classpath and adding what you specify.
I think this is the way most Unix commands work ...
To test the theory you should place both the Download and jar paths into your environment variable. If that works, then you have your answer as I stated above.
Regards,
Manfred.
 
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On windows, if you want to append to the current CLASSPATH variable, add %CLASSPATH% as one of your path elements.
But I firmly believe no one should be setting a global environment variable. It's much safer and clearer to set the classpath for the particular tool you are using. You can even just create a batch file that sets the classpath, and reference that from your script that compiles and launches. This way, you have a lot more control over your classpath settings, and you don't have to worry about whether you need to update your classpath variable for a new tool.
just say NO to CLASSPATH!
 
Leverager of our synergies
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... or put it on extension path. Then you can forget about classpath. This operation, however, makes sense if your jar will be used by several applications, which seems true for log4j. By exploiting extension path I recently get rid of numerous mail.jars that come with every new download
just say NO to CLASSPATH!
--------------------
Map
[ March 06, 2002: Message edited by: Mapraputa Is ]
 
David Duran
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Thanks for the responses ranchers. I removed my classpath variable from environment variables and specified the classpath in my .bat files and it works like a charm now. Thank you thank you!
set CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%;..\ROOT\Download\
set CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%;c:\jdk1.3.1_01\lib\log4j.jar
btw, say NO to classpath!
 
Sheriff
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What happened is this. When you specified -cp, you set the class path to that. You did NOT add to the classpath. If you had stated
java -cp ..\ROOT\Download\;%classpath% Services.Impl.RunServer
It would have worked.
 
Rob Ross
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Still, just say NO to CLASSPATH.
I think this should be a new slogan.
Also I would like to nominate this thread for the funniest title of the month!
 
Ranch Hand
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Hello,
I got the Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError even I
use:
java -cp ..\ROOT\Download\;c:\jdk1.3.1_01\lib\log4j.jar; Services.Impl.RunServer
on UNIX.
Any suggestion?
Thanks a lot,
Sarah
 
David Duran
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On Unix the slashes go the other way and if I'm not mistaken you separate the directories/jars with a colon ":", not semi-colon. To my knowledge the c:\ drive isn't usually mapped on your Unix machine (Unix gurus, correct me if I'm wrong) so refer to the jdk directory using $JAVA_HOME. Try:
java -cp ../ROOT/Download/:$JAVA_HOME/lib/log4j.jar Services.Impl.RunServer
[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: David Duran ]
 
Greenhorn
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I am having similar problems with a class I am trying to run. I am using Redhat 7.2, and my class is located in $HOME/work/application/classes/com/applicationName/connection/
I have $HOME/work/application/classes in my $CLASSPATH. When I call the program with:
java SchedulePool.
The output is:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: SchedulePool
When I call it with:
java -cp $HOME/work/application/classes/com/application/connectionPool/
The output is:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: SchedulePool (wrong name: com/therezworks/connectionPool/SchedulePool)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass0(Native Method)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:509)
at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:123)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader.java:246)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(URLClassLoader.java:54)
at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:193)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(URLClassLoader.java:186)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:306)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Launcher.java:265)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:262)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClassInternal(ClassLoader.java:322)
What am I missing???
Thanks,
Chris.
 
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Have you tried specifying the fully qualified class name on the java command?
bear
 
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Friends don't let friends use Classpaths!
 
Chris-Huisman
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Yes, I have tried to type out the fully qualified pathname to the class file. It still did not work.
Chris.
 
David Duran
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Chris: What package is SchedulePool in?
 
Chris-Huisman
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SchedulePool is in package com.therezworks.connectionPool.
chris.
 
Chris-Huisman
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Everything is now fixed. Thanks for the help.
c.
 
Greenhorn
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try including a "." in your classpath variable to denote inclusive of the current directory where your application is running from.
 
Greenhorn
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Try expanding the $HOME
 
village idiot
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I think I'm going to cry.............
I just don't get this whole Classpath thing at all!
 
Greenhorn
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How would you go about not using classpath on the unix platform? i understand bat files on windows (i think) but how do you do the equivalent on unix?
I've got most of my linux class path defined in .bash_profile and have orion up and running most days everything is cool but lately I've been trying to access classes in xerces and although DOM tree classes are accessible for one reason or other the basic validation piece of the parser;
java sax.SAXCount -v foo.xml
kicks back the infamous no class found error.
Please help me to stop using the classpath!
Thanks
 
Rob Ross
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Use batch files/shell scripts to invoke any java tools like javac or java.exe that need a classpath. That way, you can supply the needed classpath, but customize it for each application. You could also reference a batch file/shell script that merely creates and initializes a CLASSPATH environment variable. The point is that this variable would be local to one invocation of your command window/shell, and wouldn't have to be global for your entire environment. This gives you much better control over what goes into your classpath for each project you have.
 
Tito Ortiz
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Rob:
Thanks for the explanation, although I should say I already understand the concepts, really my biggest problem is that I don't know the implementation still being new to linux. Anyone know of a link showing a step by step example of achieving a classpath-less approach to application development in a unix environment?
::thinks to himself "why don't they cover this critical issue in books published about java considering the breadth of ppl running into similar classpath issues"::
 
Rob Ross
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It's really quite simple. CLASSPATH is to .class files as PATH is to .exe files.
If you want to run a .exe file from your command line, but you haven't added that file to your PATH variable, what happens when you type in the command? You get an error saying that the name is not recognized as a valid command.
It's the same with class files. The java tool you are invoking needs to be told where to search to find the classes it needs; this includes all the classes that your application uses. If you don't tell java where to find a class file by including it in the classpath, then it won't find it and you'll get an error.
What more is confusing you?
 
David Duran
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Here's an example of a dos batch script and the corresponding unix/linus shell script:
DOS:

Unix:

Note the differences in the semi-colon separating jars/dirs in DOS with the colon in Unix as well as the direction of the slashes.
I'm using %CLASSPATH%/$CLASSPATH to append the existing classpath set in an environment variable or in the bashrc file. AFAIK, the scripts set the classpath only for the application, once it terminates the classpath remaines unchanged (correct me if I'm wrong).
[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: David Duran ]
 
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