find source code through Jar file.

[Ajoy Sharma]

Hi,
I am a beginner java programmer and have been entrusted with learning our company's Java application. The architect of the application is not forthcoming in sharing information and so I need help in tracing the source code for the application. I know where the .jar files are stored but I don't know where the actual .java or .class files are stored.

In the .profile file, I see the classpaths set to various jar files. eg.

CLASSPATH=$PATH:/eaid01_apps/merc01/libs/tools/java/drivers/bin/eaiRun.jar

When I view this jar file with command "jar tf eaiRun.jar", it displays all the files under it. Onc such listing is as following:

citi/eai/EAI.class
citi/eai/Interface.class

I want to go to that specific directory on our file system which is storing these .class or.java file. From what I have learned about packages, I should find some folder called 'citi' ,'eai'.
However I am not able to find these folders anywhere on file system. Is there a way I can find where the actual souce code is by looking at the jar files.

Please help. Let me know if you need more information.
thanks,
Anand.

[sunitha reghu]

If you have eclipse open those class files in eclipse , you will see the source code. Even jbuilder also do that. Otherwise use Mocha. I do have that. Do a search in google if not i can send that.

[Pradeep bhatt]

You can also check the DJ Java Decompiler from here
http://members.fortunecity.com/neshkov/dj.html

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

A jar file is like a zip file. Just because some class is in a jar file on the system does not mean that the source file is on the system.

[Ajoy Sharma]

Thanks everybody for your help. I will download these tools and go from there.
Also, I would ask the architect what development procedure he follows if he does not store the source code files on a UNIX system from where the actual application runs.

Thanks,
Anand.

[Stan James]

Eclipse doesn't show source for class files without adding a plugin does it? We use the Jadclipse plugin found here: http://sourceforge.net/docman/display_doc.php?docid=16915&group_id=40205

Keep digging for source access. If you have a lot of jars and a lot of class files you might write a little program to open a jar file, read the directory and write a report with package name, class name and jar name. Let the uncooperative architect see you using the report, but don't give him one. Heh heh heh.
[ July 02, 2004: Message edited by: Stan James ]