Develop Reference

Making a "macro" command to run a program

I have a Main.java file and I want to run the program passing it test.txt
I know in command line I can write javac Main.java
After compiling I can write java Main test.txt and this will accomplish running the file and passing test.txt
If I wanted instead to be able to just write main test.txt and have that trigger my Main.class file to run is that possible and if so how?

(Edit: Based on your comment, let me expand to add a couple more situations)
If your goal is to have someone else run your program who does not have Java installed, and you do not wish to have them install a Java runtime environment before running your app, what you need is a program that converts the .class or .jar files into a native executable for the platform you are using. How to do this has been covered in other questions, eg: Compiling a java program into an executable . Essentially, you use a program like JCG (GNU Compiler for Java) or Excelsior JET (a commercial product) to expand the byte code into full native code with a mini-JRE built in.
If your goal is to save typing, there are a number of strategies. Others have suggested alias commands, which work well on linux.
A slightly more portable option that you could ship with your program would be a shell script. Granted, shell scripts only run on linux or other OS's with shell script interpreters installed.
Here is an example shell script. You paste this into a text editor and save it as main with no extensio. The $1 passes the parameter argument fyi.
#!/bin/sh
java Main $1
presuming you name your shell script just "main" with no extension, you could call main test.txt to execute your program now.
If you are on Windows, you might want to create a windows shortcut, and point the shortcut to "java Main test.text", using the full paths if necessary (if the paths are not already set). Of course, this does not make the parameter easy to change every time you run it, you would have to edit the shortcut.

add an alias
e.g. under a mac edit your .bash_profile with the following line
alias main='java main'
don't forget to open a new console to see your alias working

Depends on your operating system. On Linux with the bash shell, for instance, you can set up an alias to expand your main into java -cp myjar.jar main.
Linux can also be configured to 'understand' Java class flies as a binary format directly see here (linux kernel documentation).
If you're on windows, you'll have to wait for answer from someone with more knowledge about that than I.
Good luck!

Trying to run a java application from a shell script on Ubuntu 10.04

My java program was written on a windows machine and I am trying to get it installed and running on a Ubuntu 10.04 machine. I have created a .tar.gz file with myProgram.jar in it as well as 5 supporting library .jar files in a lib folder. Where do I put these files? Do I need to extract it on the Linux machine to a usr/bin folder? Does the shell script go inside the tar.gz? I have read that if you write the shell script on a windows machine you can have issues once you move it to the Linux machine, so I am writing the shell script on the Linux machine using gedit. I am just not sure what to do next.
So far in my script I have,
#!/bin/bash
java -jar myProgram.jar
I am going to try and extract the tar.gz file to the usr/bin directory and see if it runs.
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Ray

Your question is quite "broad" :). I hope you find the following useful.
Do not extract the files to /usr/bin. See e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_Hierarchy_Standard on where and where not to put files on a *nix system.
Extract the jar's to e.g. /opt/yourProgram/*.
The shell script should be inside there too. Make sure its executable (i.e chmod 755 script.sh)
In your shell script add cd /opt/yourProgram to have the proper working directory for your program before you invoke java.
If you want this program to be started easily by everyone create a symbolic link in /usr/bin or better in /usr/local/bin pointing to your script. Do this as last step after everything else is working.
In your shell script you'll have to add the other jars to the classpath e.g.
java -cp lib/some.jar:lib/other.jar -jar myProgram.jar
or
java -cp lib/some.jar:lib/other.jar:myProgram.jar com.acme.ClassContainingMain
Recommended practice: Add set -e at the very beginning of your script
As you already mentioned it's considered harmful to edit a shell script using a windows editor. The reason is that the windows editor will encode line-breaks (i.e. you hit the Return key) differently. This will make bash puke :)

Im not too clear of what you are looking for.
The script that you have written should work absolutely fine if you have placed your script and myprogram.jar at the same level.
And also im not sure how your myprogram.jar is referring the dependent libraries. So can't comment on them. Best bet will be to place your script and all jars together and try running the script.

How do I open a .bat containing a GUI in a java program in Linux?

everyone. I'm quite new here so please be tolerant if I make any mistakes.
I have a .bat file containing a command line to open up a .jar file that contains a program that has a GUI in it. The only line that's in the .bat file is:
java -jar "NewServer.jar"
I've been trying to use Runtime() to get this to run, but most the instructions I find to open a .bat file in a java program are for Windows. I'm currently using Fedora 12 (don't tell me to upgrade, I can't) if that makes a difference and programming using Eclipse. I also found this ProcessBuilder thing, but I couldn't get it to work so unless you have very explicit directions on how to use it, please don't include it in your answer. I would much rather use Runtime. It looked simpler.
Here's my code to test using Runtime in a java program. I'm hoping that if I can get this to work, I can get it to work in my real program.
import java.io.IOException;
public class testbat {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Process proc = null;
try {
proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("./ myServer.bat");
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
System.out.println("Cool");
}
The last line is just there for me to see if the program actually ran in case the GUI doesn't open. Also, I've already tried many combinations of things to include in the area after ".exec". I've tried using a path like "~/user/workspace/ProjectServer/dist/myServer.bat" to no avail.
I also already know that .bat files are for windows, but I'm able to execute it in linux, so I don't know if that makes a difference. I also tried using a .sh file the same way and it didn't work.
Please bear in mind that I'm not that great at Java, but I had to use it for this particular program, so if your answers could be really descriptive that would be awesome.

Just take that line out of the bat file, and run it. Yo're making it too hard.
$ java -jar "NewServer.jar"
will work. The quotes aren't necessary, so
$ java -jar NewServer.jar
will work as well. If you want to have the equivalent of your bat file, create a file named, say, run_newserver containing that line. Change its mode to executable:
$ cat > run_newserver
java -jar NewServer.jar
^D
$ chmod a+x run_newserver
$ ./run_newserver
Ideally, since you shouldn't have scripts without comments, do this. In your favorite editor, create a file run_newserver containing
#!/usr/bin/env bash
java -jar NewServer.jar
and chmod that. The line with #! -- often called a "shebang line" -- is UNIX magic that lets you say what interpreter you want. The program env in usr/bin finds your program and runs it (needed because different systems put bash in different directories.)
You could even put explanatory comments in the file too.
I'm a little unclear why you want to use Runtime#exec to run it at all -- it seems you'll just need a shell script to start that program.

Why are you using Java to run a Batch file, that in turn runs a Java program? Why have Batch in the loop at all? Just put the jar in your classpath and call it directly.

Batch (.bat) files are only for Windows environment. So, Try using shell script
Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("myServer.sh");

Just open up terminal and do this
vi /dir/to/exec/exec.sh
tap "i" and write this
#!/bin/sh
java -jar "NewServer.jar"
or if you want to run it in the background
#!/bin/sh
java -jar "NewServer.jar" & > /tmp/JavaServer.log
hit esc and type ":wq" and you have saved the file.
type this into the terminal
chmod +x /dir/to/exec/exec.sh
this give executable privileges and then you should run the file like
sh /dir/to/exec/exec.sh

Process is only initialized by your first call. You need to run:
proc.waitfor();
to get it to actually run your app.

Using Ctags with Gvim on Windows

I'm using gvim as my main 'IDE' on windows 7 and I would like to use ctags to navigate through the code. I've downloaded it and ran based on this tutorial: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/configure-vi-for-java-application-development/5054618
ctags -f ~/.tags -R ~/myprojects/src $JAVA_HOME/src
I've then setup my vimrc with...
set tags=~/.tags
However when I do Ctrl+] on a keyword, it says it can not find the file which the tag is defined in. Shows the correct path except it misses out c:\ from the start so vim can't load it.
How can get it to give me the correct path?
I'm using the latest version of gvim and ctags.
Thanks

FWITW, I'm not entirely sold on the concept of keeping my tags in one location.
This part of the command call:
-f ~/.tags
Nor would I hard path to my current project. This part:
-R ~/myprojects/src
BTW, Windows doesn't have ~ so I don't think either of those would work (not sure if Vim will find ~, i.e. "home").
If I were you, I would cut my teeth on the simplest method until you get more comfortable with the Vim methods and ideals.
Easiest method:
Always let Vim know the "Current Directory" (making the assumption that you are not launching Vim via the command prompt). When you open a file always set the current directory by issuing the following command from normal mode:
:cd %:p:h
Generate a tag file in the current directory with the following command (from normal mode).
:!ctags -R .
Happy jumping.

Runtime exec output path

I am trying to run a perl command with Java runtime exec in linux/ubuntu/gnome. The command generates an pdf file, but it saves it in my home folder. Is there any way that the exec method can set an output path for the commands executed? Thanks in advance.

The exec method just runs the command on the operating system, so you'll want to change the command you're running with exec more than anything in "Java" per se.
There are a few possibilities:
Change the working directory of your java program. The .pdf is being saved in your working directory because this is where the program is being run.
Unfortunately it's not simple to change this value after the program has been launched. It is, however, trivial to change before the program starts; just change the working directory before starting the program.
Move the file to it's desired location after it's been created in your home directory.
Change the command so that it includes the target location. Your perl script may have an option that will enable you to save it's output to a certain location (usually -o or --output). Using this your program would change from:
Runtime.exec("perl someprogram");
to something like:
Runtime.exec("perl someprogram -o /path/to/some.file")
You might be able to use "output redirection", if there is no option to do this.
Try something like what's below as your argument:
Runtime.exec("perl someprogram > /path/to/some.file")
Unfortunately, without knowing more details of your situation I can't provide more concrete advice.
While each approach has benefits and drawbacks, it's probably best to just implement the one that you understand best; if you can't get one to work, try another.
A good, free online resource for learning is Introduction to Linux: A Hands On Guide.
Section 2.2 has details on cd which you can use for 1..
Section 3.3, section 3 teaches about the mv command, which will be useful in 2..
Section 5.1 is about I/O redirection. Knowing about "output redirection" and the > operator, are important for 4..
For 3., you'll have to consult the documentation of the perl program you're using.

You could modify the Perl script to accept an absolute path for the output.
You can trying setting the working directory using exec(java.lang.String[], java.lang.String[], java.io.File) where File is the directory the command is executed from.
If all else fails, you'll can always copy the generated file from the Home directory to your final location.