Setting the Environmental Variable for the Java SDK

First, complete the java jdk installation.

To make it easy to use the tools of the Java SDK (the compiler, javac), you'll want to modify your PATH system variable on your PC so that it includes the directory where you have installed them. System variables are also called environment variables.

The PATH variable is a list of directories separated by semi-colons. These directories are where your system looks for commands when you try to execute them. If you don't add the location of the SDK tools to your PATH, you'll have to specify where they are every time you want to use them.

You'll want to modify your PATH so that it includes the following (this is from my WinXP school PC):

          C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_04\bin

You find this directory after the installation by going into your C drive, the Program Files folder, the Java Folder, the JDKversion folder, and the Bin Folder. You should find both "java.exe" and "javac.exe" in the Bin folder. The path can be copied from the address bar.

It's likely there are other entries in your PATH already. Add the JDK directory to the right end of the PATH definition. Make sure to include the separating semi-colon. Your final PATH may look something like this:

C:\windows;C:\windows\command;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_04\bin

If there was already an entry for a previous version of the SDK in the PATH, replace it with the new one.

To set the PATH in Windows 2000 and XP:

Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click System. In Windows 2000 or XP, select the Advanced tab and then Environment Variables. Edit the PATH variable (select or highlight the PATH variable and click the Edit button). Add a semi-colon at the end and the path to the "javac.exe"     ;Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_04\bin         and then click OK. The new PATH takes effect when you open a new Command Prompt window.

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