jar packaging

[Steve Schooler]

I'm attempting to package a coding sample into a runnable jar file, for a job
application.  The directory structure that I want is:
 
    <parent dir>/class/regexapp/<class files>
    <parent dir>/docs/regexapp/<doc files>
    <parent dir>/source/regexapp/<source files>
    
The code assumes files are created in a package called regexapp, with entry
point = regexapp.TestRegex.  I want a single jar file, with no nested jar files,
to include all class, doc, and source files.  I also want this jar file to be
runnable.  The only way that I have found to create the directory structure that
I want is to execute the following in Dos, from the <parent dir>:
 
    jar -cf TestRegex.jar *.* <or jar -cmf Manifest.txt TestRegex.jar *.*>
        
To make it runnable (via java -jar ...), I need a manifest file with an entry
like:  
    Main-Class: regexapp.TestRegex
    
But, if I create the jar file from the <parent dir>/class directory, I won't get
the directory structure that I want.  Instead, if I create it from the <parent
dir>, how do I specify (in the manifest):
 
1.  The main class?
2.  The fact that the executable class path INSIDE the jar file should be
    <parent dir>/class?
    
Apparently, the manifest entry for Class-Path is not relevant, since that seems
to apply to the location of files EXTERNAL to the jar.  Apparently, what I want
is not doable.  Comments?
 
Assuming that it is not doable, how is this situation typically treated?  Should
I create three separate jar files (class.jar, source.jar, docs.jar)?  If so, do
I then package them into one superordinate jar file, or is a zip file more
routine?
 
What type of email attachment will please the job interviewer?  Will both
methods in above paragraph force interviewer to unpack the zip/jar file and then
run the (nested) class.jar?
 

[Jeff Bosch]

Hi, Steve -

Welcome to JavaRanch. This forum pertains to the Sun Certified Java Developer exam. You may want to post your question in the Java in General: Beginner or Intermediate forums. You'll have a much better chance of getting an on-point reply to your question.

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Steve,

As Jeff pointed out, this is not the best forum for getting answers to your questions. I have therefore moved this question to the Java in General (advanced) forum.

Regards, Andrew