Set Ant Classpath for Compile

Hi,

If I have my classpath Windows XP environment variable defined, in this case .;C:\Sun\AppServer\lib\javaee.jar;C:\Java\lib\mysql.jar;, is it still necessary to define the classpath in the build.xml for Ant?

If yes can you help me convert the classpath shown above to what Ant requires?

Code and Ant output below.

Thanks,

Lou

File build.properties

File build.xml

<project name="eMotherEarth" default="war" basedir="..">
	<property file="ant/build.properties"/>

<target name="clean">
		<echoproperties prefix="Lou."></echoproperties>
		<echo>Cleaning the ${Lou.build.dir}</echo>
		<delete dir="${Lou.build.dir}"/>
	</target>
	
	<target name="init" depends="clean">
		<echo>Creating the build directory</echo>
		<mkdir dir="${Lou.build.dir}/WEB-INF/classes"/>
	</target>
	
	<target name="compile" depends="init">
		<echo>Compile the source files</echo>
		<javac srcdir="${Lou.src.dir}" destdir="${Lou.build.dir}/WEB-INF/classes" includeAntRuntime="${Lou.includeAntRuntime}">

</javac>
	</target>
	
	<target name="copy" depends="compile">
		<echo>Copy to the build directory</echo>
		<copy todir="${Lou.build.dir}/WEB-INF">
			<fileset dir="${Lou.conf.dir}"/>
		</copy>
		<copy todir="${Lou.build.dir}">
			<fileset dir="${Lou.web.content}"/>
		</copy>
		
	</target>
	
	<target name="war" depends="copy">
		<echo>Building the war file</echo>
		<war destfile="${Lou.dist.dir}/${Lou.project.name}.war" webxml="${Lou.build.dir}/WEB-INF/web.xml">
			<fileset dir="${Lou.build.dir}"/>
		</war>
	</target>
		
</project>

Ant output

C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\ant>ant
Buildfile: C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\ant\build.xml

clean:
[echoproperties] #Ant properties
[echoproperties] #Tue Aug 09 17:47:19 PDT 2011
[echoproperties] Lou.build.dir=build
[echoproperties] Lou.classes.dir=classes
[echoproperties] Lou.conf.dir=config
[echoproperties] Lou.dist.dir=dist
[echoproperties] Lou.includeAntRuntime=false
[echoproperties] Lou.project.name=eMotherEarth
[echoproperties] Lou.src.dir=src
[echoproperties] Lou.web.content=web
     [echo] Cleaning the build
   [delete] Deleting directory C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\build

init:
     [echo] Creating the build directory
    [mkdir] Created dir: C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\build\WEB-INF\clas
ses

compile:
     [echo] Compile the source files
    [javac] Compiling 9 source files to C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\bui
ld\WEB-INF\classes
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:3:
 package javax.servlet does not exist
    [javac] import javax.servlet.*;
    [javac] ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:4:
 package javax.servlet.http does not exist
    [javac] import javax.servlet.http.*;
    [javac] ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:11
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol: class HttpServlet
    [javac] public class Login extends HttpServlet implements SharedConstants {
    [javac]                            ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:16
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletConfig
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {

[javac]                      ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:16
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {

[javac]                                                   ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:33
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletRequest
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     public void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletRespons
e response)
    [javac]                       ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:33
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletResponse
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     public void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletRespons
e response)
    [javac]                                                   ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:34
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     throws ServletException, IOException {
    [javac]            ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:38
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletRequest
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     public void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletRespon
se response)
    [javac]                        ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:38
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletResponse
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     public void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletRespon
se response)
    [javac]                                                    ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:39
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]     throws ServletException, IOException {
    [javac]            ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:3: package javax.servlet does not exist
    [javac] import javax.servlet.*;
    [javac] ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:4: package javax.servlet.http does not exist
    [javac] import javax.servlet.http.*;
    [javac] ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:9: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol: class HttpServlet
    [javac] public class ShowCart extends HttpServlet implements SharedConstants
 {
    [javac]                               ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:12: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpSession
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]     private HttpSession session;
    [javac]             ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:17: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletConfig
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]     public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {

[javac]                      ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:17: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]     public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {

[javac]                                                   ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:32: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletRequest
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]     public void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletRespon
se response)
    [javac]                        ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:32: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletResponse
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]     public void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletRespon
se response)
    [javac]                                                    ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:33: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]     throws ServletException, IOException {
    [javac]            ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
2: package javax.servlet does not exist
    [javac] import javax.servlet.*;
    [javac] ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
3: package javax.servlet.http does not exist
    [javac] import javax.servlet.http.*;
    [javac] ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
7: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol: class HttpServlet
    [javac] public class Welcome extends HttpServlet implements SharedConstants
{
    [javac]                              ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
10: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletConfig
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Welcome
    [javac]     public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {

[javac]                      ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
10: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Welcome
    [javac]     public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {

[javac]                                                   ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
14: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletRequest
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Welcome
    [javac]     public void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse re
sp)
    [javac]                       ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
14: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpServletResponse
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Welcome
    [javac]     public void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse re
sp)
    [javac]                                               ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
15: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class ServletException
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Welcome
    [javac]     throws ServletException, IOException {
    [javac]            ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:17
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : variable super
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]         super.init(config);
    [javac]         ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Login.java:41
: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : class HttpSession
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Login
    [javac]         HttpSession session = request.getSession(true);
    [javac]         ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\ShowCart.java
:18: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : variable super
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.ShowCart
    [javac]         super.init(config);
    [javac]         ^
    [javac] C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\src\demo\ordering\Welcome.java:
11: cannot find symbol
    [javac] symbol  : variable super
    [javac] location: class demo.ordering.Welcome
    [javac]         super.init(config);
    [javac]         ^
    [javac] 32 errors

BUILD FAILED
C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\ant\build.xml:19: Compile failed; see the c
ompiler error output for details.

Total time: 1 second
C:\EclipseWorkspaces\Helios\Demo Web\ant>

I got it.

First in your buld.properties file
Lou.classpath=C:/Sun/AppServer/lib/javaee.jar;C:/Java/lib/mysql.jar

Second in your build.xml file
<path id="classpath.base">
<pathelement path="${Lou.classpath}"/>
</path>

Then add to your compile target in build.xml
<classpath refid="classpath.base"/>

If I have my classpath Windows XP environment variable defined, in this case .;C:\Sun\AppServer\lib\javaee.jar;C:\Java\lib\mysql.jar;,

Just an side, but setting the CLASSPATH env var globally is a very bad idea. At some point some Java code will break and you will spend countless hours tracking down the issue only to find out that is was because you set CLASSPATH globally and the Java app was therefore picking up the wrong classes.

Peter Johnson wrote:
Just an side, but setting the CLASSPATH env var globally is a very bad idea. At some point some Java code will break and you will spend countless hours tracking down the issue only to find out that is was because you set CLASSPATH globally and the Java app was therefore picking up the wrong classes.

Thank you for the information Peter, and for saving me countless future hours. I have removed the classpath from my environment variables.

I have been wondering, and perhaps you could answer, how to deploy and use my war and jar files.

I'm working on a Tomcat application.

Would it be best to deploy my jar files for db connections to $CATALINA_HOME\lib and then use $CATALINA_HOME\lib for my classpath, or some other configuration?

Thank you for your time.

Lou

Usually it is best to place your JAR files in WEB-INF/lib in your WAR file.

I see Peter, thank you!

I think adding a lib folder to my eclipse workspace and keeping my jar files there would be a good centralized place for them.

The eclipse project would then use the jar files, and then I have a good reference for building my war files.

Trying to keep things nice and neat, and organized, ... and simple.

Thank You for your time Peter!

Have you looked at Maven? It is very good at organizing and maintaining JAR files, and it removes the need to clutter up your Eclipse projects with lib directories containing JAR files. Especially handy if you have multiple projects and they all use very similar sets of JARs.