javac: directory not found: classes

[Ryan McClain]

Hello

I am trying to deploy a web app (servlets) but it does not seem to be working.

I have the following commands:
x:\> c:\apps2\jdk1.6\bin\javac -cp x:\apps2\Apache TomCat\lib\servlet-api.jar;classes:. -d classes x:\projects\beerV1\src\com\example\web\BeerSelect.java

javac outputs the following error:
javac: directory not found: classes

What 'classes' is it referring to?
How can I fix this so that it copies it into the correct classes directory within the development environment project structure?

Thank you

OS: Windows XP Pro

[Ryan McClain]

Still awaiting a reply from fellow forumers.

--
Ryan

[Henry Wong]

Windows uses the semicolon to separate the different class paths. Unix uses the colon. And in your example, you are using both -- which is obviously wrong.

Henry

[Ryan McClain]

Replaced the colon at 'classes:.' with a semicolon. The error remains.

[Henry Wong]

Ryan McClain wrote:
Replaced the colon at 'classes:.' with a semicolon. The error remains.

Can you show us the contents of the "x:\classes" directory?

Henry

[Rob Spoor]

The (or at least another) problem is with the spaces in your path. Currently your command has the following parameters:
- -cp
- x:\apps2\Apache
- TomCat\lib\servlet-api.jar;classes:.
- -d
- classes
- x:\projects\beerV1\src\com\example\web\BeerSelect.java

To group the 2nd and 3rd you must quote them:

x:\> c:\apps2\jdk1.6\bin\javac -cp "x:\apps2\Apache TomCat\lib\servlet-api.jar;classes:." -d classes x:\projects\beerV1\src\com\example\web\BeerSelect.java

Note that the entire class path needs to be quoted, not just the one folder inside the class path. That's because you pass this as one parameter to the JVM which then splits it up.

[Ryan McClain]

Compilation success.

It appears I had to cd to the project directory (x:\projects\beerV1), otherwise it would not find the relative path classes within the project structure. I thought classes was a standalone parameter.

Fixed now.

--
Ryan

[Ryan McClain]

@Rob
Already knew that, but forgot to put the quotes when I posted.

For further reference: I have had a lengthy (~6 years) experience with programming. Though it has been through IDE's mostly, that is why I was not so flexible with compiling through commandline even though I have tried it before.

--
Ryan

[Rob Spoor]

That's why we mostly advice beginners to start with the command line and move to an IDE when the command line is under control