adding jar or directory to classpath

[Raj Ohadi]

I have questions about classpath --

1. what's the difference between adding some jar as "pre-fix to classpath" and adding jars as "appending to classpath" ? In Eclipse ideas there are such options. But, if you just want to add a .jar file to your classpath, what's the difference of pre-fixing it or suffix-ing it at the end of classpath ?

2. WHy people sometimes need to add a directory to classpath ? Can someone give an example ? I thought we would only need to add .jar files... If I put the 10 .jar files under one directory, then can I just add that directory into claspath or do I have to add the 10 .jar files one by one into classpath ?

Thanks.

[Balu Sadhasivam]

Raj ,

2. WHy people sometimes need to add a directory to classpath ? Can someone give an example ? I thought we would only need to add .jar files... If I put the 10 .jar files under one directory, then can I just add that directory into claspath or do I have to add the 10 .jar files one by one into classpath ?

CLASSPATH is where your application searches for any classes and resources like properities ( especially when loaded by Classloader) , and hence if you provide just directory , the .class file is searched with the package structure.

Say Class X is inside package com, then your classpath must include your top level directory , which is the directory directly above com.

And if classes are packaged inside jar , then Jars must be included in the classpath to indicate the Compiler to use the jar for class loading.

1. what's the difference between adding some jar as "pre-fix to classpath" and adding jars as "appending to classpath" ? In Eclipse ideas there are such options. But, if you just want to add a .jar file to your classpath, what's the difference of pre-fixing it or suffix-ing it at the end of classpath ?

This is will not affect in any sense unless you have duplicate Class entries in the CLASSPATH. ClassLoader loads the first encountered class from the CLASSPATH.