Thursday, 09th September, 2010
Setting up Java in Windows XP
To set up java under the windows XP operating system follow these instructions.
You must first download the Java Environment from Sun Microsystems web site. You can download the Java Runtime Environment from the following web site.
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
The runtime environment allows you to run java programs, however it does not allow you to compile them. If you would like to create, and thus, compile java programs you will need to download the Java SDK from the following web site.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html
Once downloaded simply double click the file to being the installation of java. Now follow the onscreen instructions. Once the installation has finished you will need to set your path, this is described in the next section.
In order to being running java programs on your computer you must first set your System Path. This enables you to run and compile a java programs from the command prompt. The system path is a simple pointer to where you have installed java. This pointer is then used whenever your computer needs to find files associated with java. To set your path;
Right click on 'my computer'.
Select 'Properties'.
Select the 'Advanced' tab.
Click the 'Environment Variables' button at the bottom of the window.
You will be displayed with a window containing two boxes of variables.
In the 'System Variables' box select the variable called 'Path'.
Now click the edit button. You should be displayed with the following window.
In the text box labelled 'Variable Value' place a ';' after any text already entered.
Wherever you installed java there will be a folder inside the main folder called 'bin'. Find this folder.
You should now enter the location of that folder into the text box after the ';' previously entered. For example, I installed java to the following folder; 'C:\Program Files\Programming\Java\j2sdk1.4.2\bin' thus this should be the text that I enter.
Now click Ok to save your changes. Then click Ok to save any other changes on windows still open.
Now, open a new command window. You should now be able to type 'java' and receive a list of options. If so, your done ;-)
Stage One - Getting Java
You must first download the Java Environment from Sun Microsystems web site. You can download the Java Runtime Environment from the following web site.
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
The runtime environment allows you to run java programs, however it does not allow you to compile them. If you would like to create, and thus, compile java programs you will need to download the Java SDK from the following web site.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html
Once downloaded simply double click the file to being the installation of java. Now follow the onscreen instructions. Once the installation has finished you will need to set your path, this is described in the next section.
Stage Two - Setting your path
In order to being running java programs on your computer you must first set your System Path. This enables you to run and compile a java programs from the command prompt. The system path is a simple pointer to where you have installed java. This pointer is then used whenever your computer needs to find files associated with java. To set your path;