how to compile and run java??

hi, friends,
i am just a very beginer, please don't laugh at me,i am using a windows 98, and want compile and run a java program, so what commands i shoud type to compile and run a java program, is that should be done in some specific directory or path? i don't know nothing about it so quite need your help, thanks very much!!
Kevin

hi kevin
sure. one who laughs at others never learns and here we are to learn.
i 'll try my way...
steps:
1. consider we have A.java as,
class A {
public static void main(String[] s) {
System.out.println("Hello World!");
}
}
2. we have it in directory C:\java\programs
3. we have to make sure that we have PATH environment variable set properly so we can run "javac" (which is a compiler for java program) from anywhere. ie. if we have java 1.4.1_02 installed in directory,
c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02 then we must have "c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\bin" in the PATH variable. now, how to set PATH var?
3.1 as u r on win 98, go to autoexec.bat you have on ur system,
3.2 u might already see PATH variable there getting set to something
3.3 append at the end of it ";c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\bin;" if you have PATH variable already in the autoexec.bat otherwise just write,
SET PATH=c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\bin;
3.4 save autoexec.bat file
3.5 execute it to make sure it works for you in the command prompt. i hope you already know how to execute a batch file
4. now, coming to the original problem,
4.1 try to compile your java program as,
c:\java\programs>javac -classpath .;c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\lib\tools.jar A.java
that should work.
Here, you see -classpath switch? you can also set CLASSPATH env variable just the way you did PATH var in autoexec.bat file to be,
SET CLASSPATH=.;c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\lib\tools.jar
if you don't want to use -classpath switch (basically its like pre-configuring things).
try to see if this works for you.
on win 98 u might have to reboot computer to apply autoexec.bat settings to all command prompt window u open ...
regards
maulin

hi, Maulin,
thank you very much for your quik help, now i am installing the j2sdk1.4.1_02 and tring to figure out how to set up my classpath variable, there might be more problem coming to me, but i will try my best, thank you very much for your encourage!!
Kevin

Sun's tutorial "Your fisrt Cop O Coffee" is one of the best for these questions
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/getStarted/cupojava/index.html

hi, Maulin,
Sorry for bother you again! Can you also tell me how to excute a autoexec.bat file? and "c:\java\programs>javac -classpath .;c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\lib\tools.jar A.java" is one statement or two statement? and i like to use a classpath variable, if i use a classpath variable, how shoud i compile my Java program?
thank you very much!
Kevin

just to be on safe side, reboot ur comp. because even if u execute autoexec.bat from one terminal window it wont affect other terminal window if u open one.
but anyways, assuming u've autoexec.bat in, c:\systems u can do following,
c:\systems>bat autoexec.bat OR
c:\systems>autoexec.bat OR
c:\systems>autoexec
all shd work..
regards
maulin

"javac -classpath .;c:\j2sdk1.4.1_02\lib\tools.jar A.java" is one statement on command prompt
regards
maulin

hi, Maulin,
I stored my j2sdk1.4.2\bin in C:\Program Files\j2sdk_nb\j2sdk1.4.2\bin,
but after i set my autoexec.bat as SET PATH=C:\Program Files\j2sdk_nb\j2sdk1.4.2\bin and run it, it always say too many parameters,is there any problems in the statement?
Regards
Kevin

First, you should probably use PATH=%PATH%;C:\pathToYourJavaExecutable instead of just PATH=C:\pathToYourJavaExecutable

Second, I suggest that you try
SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\Progra~1\j2sdk_nb\j2sdk1.4.2\bin
replacing the "Program Files" part with "Progra~1" and see if that helps.

In my opinion it is always best to reboot after you change your autoexec.bat file.
[ August 13, 2003: Message edited by: Marilyn de Queiroz ]

It should also be possible to use quotes; i.e.:
SET PATH=%PATH%;"C:\Program Files\j2sdk_nb\j2sdk1.4.2\bin"
The problem, BTW, is that it is complaining about the space in "Program Files"; it thinks that it is another parameter. The quotes should group everything into one parameter.

Thanks everybody here to help me!!

Success!!!
Thanks a lot everybody!!!

I am so exited, this is my first cup of java, it is so nice!!
I am enjoyed!!