running java under Windows 7

[newbie123]

This may be a Windows 7 problem and have nothing to do with Java ... so let me apologize from the start!

I have been writing all my Java programs on a Mac. Once the program is compiled, an icon associated with the main class appears. If I click the icon, the program runs swimmingly.

When I try to run the same program under Windows 7 by clicking on the main class file, Windows 7 asks, "Which program do you want to open the file with?" If I select Java, I get a spinning circle ... kind of like my program going down the toilet ... and the program never runs.

I can compile and run the program from the command prompt.

Is there some arcane Windows trick I must employ to get the program to run just by clicking the icon?

[curmudgeon]

You may need to set your Window file associations so that class files are associated with java (or is it javaw?). This can be done via the Windows control panel (I think).

[Norm]

Can you open a command prompt window and change to the folder with the class file? If so you can then issue the java command:
java filename (note without the .class extension)

There is a problem with trying to associate a .class file with a command. You'll need to do some tricks to strip off the .class extension.
I (just now in fact) wrote a small batch file that strips off the extension. I then associate that batch file with the .class extension:
Action: C:\Batchfiles\ExecClass.bat "%1"

ExecClass.bat:

REM Execute a java class file - need to strip extension
echo filename is %~n1
java %~n1
MORE

If anyone knows a cleaner way to execute a java .class file, please post it.

If you package your code in a .jar file, there shouldn't be a problem. The jre/jdk install adds an association for the .jar extension.

[newbie123]

I can get things to run just fine using the command:

java filename (without the .class).

I play with your batch file and look into the .jar solution.

Thanks for the quick reply.