NoClassDefFoundError:

[Chris Kell]

First I am the greenest greenhorn at the JavaRanch.
I'm running a Windows XP box.
I've downloaded J2SDK (1.4.2_01) from Sun, installed, and added to my path c:\j2sdk1.4.2_01\bin.
I'm using the Headfirst Java book as a guide. All my java classes compile (without errors), but when I try to execute them I receive the error: Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError:
I used my limited knowledge to research the issue but I've come up empty.
Any ideas as to what I've done wrong, and what I need to do to correct.

Thanks!
-Chris

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

It's a CLASSPATH issue. Do you have a CLASSPATH environment variable? Does it include the subdirectory where the MyClass.class file is after you compile MyClass.java?

[Joel McNary]

Welcome to JavaRanch, Chris!
See How To Set the Classpath on our FAQ. This should tell you what you need to know to get yourself up and running.
Of course, if you have any questions about it, feel free to ask them here.
Hope this helps,

[Eric Hoskland]

Could you post your code? And how you are trying to run the code.
From one beginner to another, here are some ideas and things that I've seen fix that error.
1)
Make sure when your executing code you don't include .class
so
java program
NOT
java program.class
This seems simple, but I've seen many beginners frustrated because they leave .class on the name.
2) occasionaly this works
java -classpath "." program
3) And the only other thing is maybe your main is not correct. Here's an extremly basic java program.
filename: basic.java

 class basic
       {
           public static void main(String args[])
           {
           }
       }

If none of this works then could you post your code?
Goodluck
Eric

[Chris Kell]

Thanks for all the help.
The greenhorn is still frustrated.
I read the CLASSPATH FAQ. Did my best to figure what my class path should be. Currently I have it set to: C:\j2sdk1.4.2_01\src\java
I also tried it pointing to my directory where my source is it, but no help.
I tried to execute the compiled code without the .class, same error.
Sample source code is:
public class MyFirstApp {
public static void main (String [] args) {
System.out.println("I Rule");
System.out.println("the World!");
}
}
Thanks for help.
-Chris

[Chris Kell]

Ok the greenhorn is just stupid!
I re-did my classpath, using my source directory, and magic! It works. I swear I did it before. Maybe I fat-fingered it.
Thanks for the help. I've just taken my first steps in Java.
Thanks
-Chris