Why Is NoClassDefFoundError Displayed Here?

I'm using Notepad++ to write code, and command-prompt to compile and run the file on Windows 7. The problem I'm having is when testing packages I keep getting NoClassFoundError. From what I
discovered this error has something to do with a missing classpath (I think?)...The compiled class file is in the same folder as the source file.
The following is a simple class with the package folders included:

The project folder 'JavaHandCode' is on the C:\ drive. The class compiles without issue, but when I try to run the class I get the error below...

C:\javahandcode\mainpackage\package1>javac TestPackage1.java
C:\javahandcode\mainpackage\package1>java TestPackage1
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: TestPackage1 (wrong
name: javahandcode/mainpackage/package1/TestPackage1)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:791)
at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:142)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader.java:449)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(URLClassLoader.java:71)
at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:361)
at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:355)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(URLClassLoader.java:354)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:423)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Launcher.java:308)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:356)
at sun.launcher.LauncherHelper.checkAndLoadMain(LauncherHelper.java:480)
C:\javahandcode\mainpackage\package1>

The really puzzling part is this; when I delete the package from the source code, the newly compiled file executes correctly.

Would really appreciate help with this, thanks!

If your class is declared to be in package javahandcode.mainpackage.package1, and say you have directory path x/y/z as the only element of your classpath, then your class has to be in path x/y/z/javahandcode/mainpackage/package1/TestPackage1.class. You would run it as your main class by doing

I think that "wrong name" error means it found the class but not in a directory path the corresponds to its package.

I guess you are 3 package down the point required to run java

java -cp ../../../ javahandcode.mainpackage.package1.TestPackage1 (most probably it ill work out)

but always compile and run your java file from your root directory.
when you compile separate your package by / . and when you run use . to separate your package

Hi guys, thanks for your feedback.

I'm still confused, and have attempted to follow your advice without success.
As far as I understand, the classpath and directory are the same. Both TestPackage1.java and TestPackage1.class are in the same folder. The directory folders are as follows:

C:\javahandcode\mainpackage\package1

With files TestPackage1.java and TestPackage1.class residing in folder package1.

When I compile the file I use the following command (which works fine):
C:\javahandcode\mainpackage\package1>javac TestPackage1.java

Running the following created the same NoClassDefFoundError:
C:\>java -cp ../../../ javahandcode.mainpackage.package1.TestPackage1

Running the following:
C:\>java -cp javahandcode/mainpackage/package1/ javahandcode.mainpackage.package1.TestPackage1
... created...Error: Could not find or load class javahandcode.mainpackage.package1.TestPackage1

Thanks.

Peter Mc Cormack wrote:Hi guys, thanks for your feedback.

I'm still confused, and have attempted to follow your advice without success.
As far as I understand, the classpath and directory are the same. Both TestPackage1.java and TestPackage1.class are in the same folder. The directory folders are as follows:

C:\javahandcode\mainpackage\package1

With files TestPackage1.java and TestPackage1.class residing in folder package1.

Then:

That is, your classpath has only one element, and it is C:\ . Within that classpath, the fully qualified class name, which corresponds to the path to the class relative to a classpath root, is javahandcode.mainpackage.package1.TestPackage1.

Pay careful attention to where the spaces are.

Note that

is completely different from

and at most one of them can work for a given package and class structure.

Jeff, thanks for the detailed response, unfortunately that classpath did not work for some reason.
However I found this article http://jarticles.com/package/package_eng.html , which instructs the setting of the classpath to:

C:\>set CLASSPATH=.;C:\;

Then I ran the class and it worked!

Again, thanks for all your help!