Environment variable shows different from editable value

[projecttoday]

I am trying to get Java SE to work for the first time. When I do My Computers/Properties/Advanced/Environment Variables I find that the value for Path which is displayed is not the same as the one that comes up for editing.


It says in the System Variable list on the Environment Variable screen:

System Variables:

Path C:\windows\system32;C:\windows;C:\...




Then when I click Edit, the popup says

Variable name:

Path

Variable value:

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\sy stem32\WBEM;C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_22\bin

I don't know how to proceed if the edit value is different from the value. I'm using Windows XP Professional.

[travishein]

it looks as if here the displayed value in the control panel widget there is resolving the %variables% to their values for display, but for editing it is showing the variable name ?

[projecttoday]

Okay. I'm trying to get javac to work. Is this correct for XP Pro?

it looks as if here the displayed value in the control panel widget there is resolving the %variables% to their values for display, but for editing it is showing the variable name ?

[pbrockway2]

I see the same thing on my computer - I've never noticed that before...

What you've got should be OK. The only thing different about your setting and the one on this computer is that mine has quotes around any path with spaces in it. But the best thing to do to test your setup is to try it out. Post if you have problems.

[projecttoday]

Thanks! It compiled with 1 error. I had put the program in a separate folder which was the problem but I was confused about the all pointing that you have to do and even changed some variables unnecessarily.

[pbrockway2]

I'm glad you've got it working the way you want.

It's quite common for people to get into a variable setting frenzy when they begin using the Java compiler. Basically the PATH variable is good the way you have it (as you've found), and the CLASSPATH variable is best left alone (unless you want to delete it).

If you get into trouble figuring out the command to compile when the source is in its own folder(s) there is a good javac "man" page to consult (and one for java) If these don't help you can always post here.

[projecttoday]

Thanks for the info.