Single executable jar

Hi,

I have a PhoneBook directory with the following files:
- PhoneBook.jar (the main executable jar file)
- img.jar (includes PNG files only)
- itextpdf-5.1.3.jar
- qtjambi-4.7.1.jar
- qtjambi-win32-msvc2008-4.7.1.jar
- sqlitejdbc-v056.jar
- database.db (SQLite)

I know how can I conver PhoneBook.jar to PhoneBook.exe with icon-added. For this purpose I uses Launch4j tool. Launch4j - Cross-platform Java executable wrapper. The program works properly.

Now, I would like to distribute it but only in single executable file form with the database file. Therefore, I must merge all six jar file into the one and then convert it to exe file. I was instructed to use the One-Jar with Ant, but I do not know how to do it. Can you help me with that?

Thank you for your help in advance.

In the past, I have unpacked the jars manually (unzipped them) and then repacked them into a fresh jar with the provided java jar tools. You might need to modify the manifest file to include the other packages into the class library, but the result would be a single jar file which you could then bundle into an executable. You do realize however, that bundling into an exe will make the app platform dependent which kind of defeats the point of java to begin with right?

I've done similar stuff with a nice app called Platypus, but I think it might be Mac only.

Have you ever heard about JarJar?

I think I should use the following syntax:

Code:

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java-jar-1.1.jar jarjar process <rulesFile> <inJar> <outJar>

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But I don't know what should be inside of the rulesFile in my case.

Would you be willing to help me with it?

you can add all jars to one single jars. You have to execute

Code:

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jar cf new-jar-file-name old1.jar old2.jar.... (s)

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Then you have to manifest the new jar file. Check this for manifest.

Mawrecki,

Quote:

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jar umf MANIFEST.txt PhoneBook-all.jar

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Well,there is a problem.Because your main class is in PhoneBook.jar ,not in PhoneBook-All.jar . Thus this way of manifest will not work.

Quote:

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Error: Could not find or load main class PhoneBook

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means that you didnt manifest PhoneBook.jar
Got it?

Before merging,manifest the PhoneBook.jar . Then merge all into PhoneBook-all.jar by only the first command using cf. Then I think it will work. Otherwise you may have to manifest the merged JAR too.

I give you more details of this process.

In PhoneBook directory I have got:
- img (directory with PNG files)
- database.db (SQLite)
- PhoneBook.java
- PDF.java
- GUI.java
- Core.java
- MANIFEST.txt

First of all, I create img.jar from img directory:

Code:

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jar cf img.jar img

---

Next, compile Java code (which generates class file):

Code:

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javac PhoneBook.java

---

Create jar file from PhoneBook.class based on MANIFEST.txt:

MANIFEST.txt

Quote:

---

Manifest-Version: 1.0
Main-Class: PhoneBook
Class-Path: img.jar itextpdf-5.1.3.jar qtjambi-4.7.1.jar qtjambi-win32-msvc2008-4.7.1.jar sqlitejdbc-v056.jar
<empty line>

---

Code:

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jar cmvf MANIFEST.txt PhoneBook.jar *.class

---

Finally, I copy database.db file, PhoneBook.jar, img.jar and other jars (itextpdf-5.1.3.jar, qtjambi-4.7.1.jar, qtjambi-win32-msvc2008-4.7.1.jar, sqlitejdbc-v056.jar) into the new PhoneBook-bin folder. As you know PhoneBook.jar is executable and working now.

In PhoneBook-bin directory I have got:
- database.db (SQLite)
- PhoneBook.jar (executable)
- img.jar
- itextpdf-5.1.3.jar
- qtjambi-4.7.1.jar
- qtjambi-win32-msvc2008-4.7.1.jar
- sqlitejdbc-v056.jar

So, what should I do next? Finally, I want only single executable jar and database.db. I tried your methods and it doesn't work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mawrecki

I give you more details of this process.

In PhoneBook directory I have got:
- img (directory with PNG files)
- database.db (SQLite)
- PhoneBook.java
- PDF.java
- GUI.java
- Core.java
- MANIFEST.txt

First of all, I create img.jar from img directory:

Code:

---

jar cf img.jar img

---

Next, compile Java code (which generates class file):

Code:

---

javac PhoneBook.java

---

Create jar file from PhoneBook.class based on MANIFEST.txt:

MANIFEST.txt

Code:

---

jar cmvf MANIFEST.txt PhoneBook.jar *.class

---

Finally, I copy database.db file, PhoneBook.jar, img.jar and other jars (itextpdf-5.1.3.jar, qtjambi-4.7.1.jar, qtjambi-win32-msvc2008-4.7.1.jar, sqlitejdbc-v056.jar) into the new PhoneBook-bin folder. As you know PhoneBook.jar is executable and working now.

In PhoneBook-bin directory I have got:
- database.db (SQLite)
- PhoneBook.jar (executable)
- img.jar
- itextpdf-5.1.3.jar
- qtjambi-4.7.1.jar
- qtjambi-win32-msvc2008-4.7.1.jar
- sqlitejdbc-v056.jar

So, what should I do next? Finally, I want only single executable jar and database.db. I tried your methods and it doesn't work.

---

Now,Try this.

Quote:

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jar uf PhoneBook.jar img.jar all_jars_by_space

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And try double click on PhoneBook.jar.

If it doesnt work, read this carefully,

Ok, it's working now!

Btw. there is another option:
1. Unzip all jar files into the same directory for example: PhoneBook
2. Add line "Main-Class: PhoneBook" into the META-INF/MANIFEST.MF file
3. Pack all files from PhoneBook directory into PhoneBook.zip
3. Rename PhoneBook.zip to PhoneBook.jar
4. Double click on PhoneBook.jar

In my idea I used 7-zip with ULTRA compression. Thanks for that my single executable jar is smaller.

Ok. Remark this problem as "SOLVED"