Install JDK with TextPad on Windows

This document describes the installation of the file editor TextPad and the Java Development Kit, JDK1.3.1_01 for a Windows platform on your own computer.

The registered of TextPad costs ~ $27 only.

Install JDK BEFORE installing TextPad. Then install TextPad. It is a standard self-extracting, self-installing Windows executable.

Setting up .java file associations

It facilitates program development to have TextPad automatically start up when you double-click a Java source file (recognized by the suffix). Start up TextPad, follow the menus through Configure -> Preferences -> Associated Files and add the extension .java to the list.

To enable TextPad for Java compilation support, follow the menus through Configure -> Preferences -> Tools. From the Add button, select JDK Commands. This will add three tools: Compile Java, Run Java Application and Run Java Applet.

Compiling and Running Java Applications from TextPad

After you create one or more Java source files in TextPad, they will be listed in the Document Selector. To compile it, select the source file and then Tools -> Compile Java. The results of the compilation are displayed in a new Command Results window. This will show any errors generated by the compilation. For most Java applications, you only need to compile the class file with main to compile all the class files.

To run the Java application, simply make sure the file containing main is selected and choose Tools -> Run Java Application. This will bring up a DOS shell which will automatically run the file's class through the Java virtual machine.

The CLASSPATH environment variable

In order that the Run Java Application works correctly the CLASSPATH environment variable needs to be unset. Often times some software package that you have installed will automatically set this.

Check the file AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you find a line

   CLASSPATH=<something>

I would recommend commenting it out by putting the word rem at the beginning of the line. Then you'll have to reboot the system to have it take effect.

In Windows 2000, the environment variables can be manipulated by the administrator through Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables

Test the Installation

Open TextPad, create the following file and save it as Hello.java.

   class Hello {
     public static void main( String args[] ) {
       System.out.println( "hello world" );
     }
   } 

From the Tools menu do Compile Java then Run Java Application. You should see a DOS window which prints out hello world message.