Jar in eclipse

[DMarsh12]

I am trying to run my program as a jar file and I am completely lost. I searched the forums and have searched the internet and youtube but can't seem to grasp the concept. From what I understand, jar files are what makes java so important in that they can be run on any platform. Now when I try to create mine in eclipse, after I hit finish I get the icon on my desktop but I can't run it. I have searched how to run said jar file but it still isn't working! I have tried downloading JSmooth and using the notepad Main-Class method. So far nothing is working! Can some one please explain to me how I can run this program to see what it looks like outside of java!? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[doWhile]

I am trying to run my program as a jar file and I am completely lost. I searched the forums and have searched the internet and youtube but can't seem to grasp the concept. From what I understand, jar files are what makes java so important in that they can be run on any platform. Now when I try to create mine in eclipse, after I hit finish I get the icon on my desktop but I can't run it. I have searched how to run said jar file but it still isn't working! I have tried downloading JSmooth and using the notepad Main-Class method. So far nothing is working! Can some one please explain to me how I can run this program to see what it looks like outside of java!? Any help is greatly appreciated.

You probably exported as a jar, rather than an Executable Jar (you can verify this by un-jaring the jar and checking the manifest file). You could just add a Manifest file specifying the main class to the created jar using the jar utility that comes with the JDK, or use the appropriate export in Eclipse (eg export as executable jar).