Different versions of Jar

[mnsse]

Hi,

I have a webapplication that uses Saxon8.jar but now I have to add some new functionality to the webapplication and for that Saxon9.jar is ideal. Without affecting or breaking previously written code, how can I dynamically load/unload JAR (saxon9.jar specifically)?

For example:
Whenever the new functionality in the webapplication is invoked, Saxon9.jar is loaded, completes the job, and then unloads.

I have tried URLCLassLoader but that doesn't seem to work for me or maybe I do not know how to use it to get Factory classes and then objects from the factory.

If anyone can help that would be really helpful.

Thank you.

[r035198x]

Do you mean that you want to use both jars? Why not just replace the old jar with the new version?

[mnsse]

New version of the library is not backward compatible and that is the problem

[r035198x]

Trying to use both versions at the same time will give you problems if not impossible.
Better choose the one where you have less work to do to adapt your code and use that one.

[mnsse]

Having only one version doesn't seem to be an option.
Any thing that could be done?

[mrmatt1111]

you cannot load both at the same time (unless you change the package path)

but you can dynamically load a class from a specified jar path. In other words use the URLClassLoader to load a class stored in a jar:

filePath = "jar:file://" + jarPath + "!/";

[mnsse]

Thanks mrmatt1111.
URLClassLoader is what I have been playing with but simple classes are ok, you get an instance of the class and you are good to go. How about something like:

TFactory tf = TFactory.newFactory();
TClass tcl = tf.getNewTClass( abc, xyz);

I don't think this is possible with URLCLassLoader, it doesn't even compile.

[r035198x]

What if those those classes you are trying to load depend on new classes as well?

[mnsse]

I think that is what my question is.
How to use URLClassLoader when the new classes depend on each other.