Whats the best way to install J2SE V1.5?

While reading the java book, I noticed I need to download J2SE V1.5 from Java.sun.com, but it also says that I need to download the API documentation from the same site. What it does not say is WHERE to downloaded it. I dont know if I need to download the J2SE V1.5 in a carpet I named <J2SE V1.5> and dowload the API documentation into another carpet I named <J2SE v1.5 API Doc> or if I should download both things into one single carpet i.e. <J2SE V1.5> . Help.

Also, what are the "BB Codes"

And finally, what are the "Smilies".

I am a newby.

David H

Welcome to JavaRanch, David!

1. What it does not say is WHERE to downloaded it
From Installation Instructions for Documentation for J2SE 5.0

You can install the documentation inside your JDK directory or in any other location you prefer.

2. Also, what are the "BB Codes"
Bulletin Board codes. Codes you use to make your text italic, underlined, bold, etc... I used them in this post to underline your questions, to put a hyperlink to the documentation installation instructions, and to make the quote box.

3. And finally, what are the "Smilies".
Funny images. Example:

(I'm not sure what word "carpet" is supposed to be, but I'm pretty sure it's not "carpet" :)

There is no need to download the documentation if you have access to this API link.

And unless you have some specific reason for using Java 1.5 it's probably best to use the latest version which is 1.6.

David Newton wrote:(I'm not sure what word "carpet" is supposed to be, but I'm pretty sure it's not "carpet" :)

Sorry David N, I meant to write "Folder", I dont know why I typed "Carpet".

Joanne Neal wrote:And unless you have some specific reason for using Java 1.5 it's probably best to use the latest version which is 1.6.

Well Joan, I was told to start with this book called "Head First Java" to learn J2SE 5.0 first, and then move to J2EE. I need to install Java in my laptop, 2 things the "J2SE 5.0" [Installed but I did not see the need to unzipp it. I don’t see a zipped file. Did I miss something?] and the "J2Se API documentation" [Which I can not find. Where is it?]. I am behind on the installation I need to continue but can’t get the environment installed appropriately. Any advice from anyone will be great.

Well, you've actually already been given some advice, but hey.

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index_jdk5.jsp

There's a link there for the old Java 1.5 documentation.

Note that Java 1.5 is EOL'd as of November 3, 2009, but whatever floats your boat! :)

David Hernandez wrote:

Joanne Neal wrote:And unless you have some specific reason for using Java 1.5 it's probably best to use the latest version which is 1.6.

Well Joan, I was told to start with this book called "Head First Java" to learn J2SE 5.0 first, and then move to J2EE. I need to install Java in my laptop, 2 things the "J2SE 5.0" [Installed but I did not see the need to unzipp it. I don’t see a zipped file. Did I miss something?] and the "J2Se API documentation" [Which I can not find. Where is it?]. I am behind on the installation I need to continue but can’t get the environment installed appropriately. Any advice from anyone will be great.

Do you have the second edition of HF Java? If so, it covers JDK versions 5 and 6. You'll do yourself a favor by starting out with 6.

The API for version 6 is.... here. Don't bother printing it or downloading it, it's best just viewed on the web anyways.

Once you go through the installation, you'll need to set environment variables.... specifically your PATH (look in the FAQs for some info on that). You'll need to tell the OS where to find the javac and java files so you can get started compiling and having fun.

(I downloaded it; faster, and I work disconnected a fair amount of the time.)

David Newton wrote:(I downloaded it; faster, and I work disconnected a fair amount of the time.)

Some of us don't have dial up internet anymore....

David Hernandez wrote:

Joanne Neal wrote:And unless you have some specific reason for using Java 1.5 it's probably best to use the latest version which is 1.6.

Well Joan, I was told to start with this book called "Head First Java" to learn J2SE 5.0 first, and then move to J2EE. I need to install Java in my laptop, 2 things the "J2SE 5.0" [Installed but I did not see the need to unzipp it. I don’t see a zipped file. Did I miss something?] and the "J2Se API documentation" [Which I can not find. Where is it?]. I am behind on the installation I need to continue but can’t get the environment installed appropriately. Any advice from anyone will be great.

There's not that much difference between Java 5 and Java 6. Everything that works in Java 5 also works in Java 6. So you can safely start with Java 6 instead of Java 5.

Download JDK 6 Update 20 from the download page. Note, you need the JDK, not the JRE. The JDK (Java Development Kit) is the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) plus extra tools, such as the Java compiler, that you need to compile your own programs. Read the installation instructions, they tell you exactly, step by step, how to install the JDK.

On the same download page, you can download the Java SE 6 Documentation (scroll down a bit on the download page). You can unzip that anywhere you like.

Have a look at Sun's Java tutorials. They are very good and detailed. Start with the Hello World tutorial which explains in detail how to write, compile and run your first Java program.

If you're totally new to Java, don't bother with Java EE (J2EE) at the moment. First, learn the basics of the programming language and the Java platform.