Hello Im a beginner. I need to open Java source code. The source code is in JAR format. What is the benefit of Jar format? I have tried to open the file using Code warrior but I get an "Can not open unknow error"? I know there is nothing wrong with the JAR file. Can someone help me. Thank-you

A jar file is a convenient means for delivering multiple class files across the internet for use by an applet.

A jar file can be opened with winzip. However, it''s not likely that you will find any java source code inside of one. Most likely what you will find is a manifest file of the jar file contents and java class files (*.class) not java source (*.java).

Wasn''t the source code for the JDK distributed in a .jar at one time? Or am I just insane?

/*=========================================*/
/* Chem0sh */
/* Lead Software Engineer & Tech Support */
/* http://www.eFaces.biz */
/*=========================================*/

Sometimes people give the sources alongside the class files in the jar.

You can use the jar utility which comes with the JDK to extract files from a jar archive. It works a lot like the UNIX tar utility, so a command-line like the following should work:

jar -xvf jarfile.jar

This''ll extract the jar into the current directory.

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quote: Original post by Chem0sh
Wasn''t the source code for the JDK distributed in a .jar at one time? Or am I just insane?

The oldest version of the JDK that I could find quickly was for 1.17B - and it was shipped as an exe (win32). I know I have 1.15 someplace, but I don''t feel much like digging around for it.

There''s nothing to stop a jar file from containing java source files - notice that I didn''t rule that possibility out. It''s just much more likely that an arbitrary jar file won''t contain source - just the manifest and the class files and maybe some gifs too.

In your jdk directory, there is a file called src.jar. It has the java code for every java class. Just open it with winzip and go nuts. Its great for seeing how things are implemented.


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winrar also open .jar files

Just to clarify - a .jar file is a zip file - there are no special extensions in Winzip or Winrar to provide for .jar files.

quote: Original post by Arild Fines
Just to clarify - a .jar file is a zip file - there are no special extensions in Winzip or Winrar to provide for .jar files.

Hey you''re right! I always assumed they were different formats, but you can use the jar tool to unzip .zip files as well

You learn something every day

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