Creating a Jar File
Once you have successfully completed your
programming assignment, you will need to create a Jar file to submit your
assignment to Blackboard. This will help us grade your assignment. You will
lose points if you do not submit your programming assignments in a Jar file.
Instructions
for checking your Jar file
What's a Jar File?
Jar stands for "Java Archive". It's much like a
compressed ZIP file that you may have used before. You'll be adding each Java
source file in your assignment (usually only one file) to a Jar file before
submitting it on Blackboard.
Why Do I Have to Create a Jar File?
When your programming assignments
are downloaded, Blackboard automatically prepends the program number and your
Onyen to the filename of the Java source file you've submitted. Remember that
Java requires that the file name of the Java source code and the main class name
be the same. This renaming by Blackboard causes us to be unable to compile your
assignment.
If you create a Jar file that contains the appropriately named Java source
file, Blackboard will rename only the Jar file, not the Java source file. This
allows us to easily compile and run your program.
How Do I Create a Jar File?
- After you've successfully compiled, run, tested, and commented your
program, choose Create Jar File For Project... from the Project
menu in jGRASP.
- The Create Jar File for Project (default) window should open. All
of the boxes should be empty. Click Add to choose your Java source
files for the current assignment.
- A file dialog box will open. Choose each file you want to add to the Jar
file and click Add. You should add only the Java source files (ending
in .java). Once you have added the files, click Cancel in the file
dialog box.
- After the file dialog box closes, you should be back to the Create Jar
File for Project (default) window. The files that you have added should be
displayed in the "Additional (non-project) Files" list. After you have
double-checked that you have added the appropriate files, click Next to
continue creating the Jar file.
- A new window will open asking for the name of the Jar file to create. You
should name the file progN_onyen.jar, where N is the
programming assignment number and onyen is your Onyen. Make sure that
the Jar file ends in .jar and that the file is being created in the same
folder as your Java source files. Once you have appropriately named your Jar
file, click Create Jar.
- After the Jar File has been created, click the R button in the
Browse window to the left. This will refresh the list of files in your
current folder. Your newly-created Jar file should appear in the list.
- If you have problems creating a Jar file, contact me.
