Setting up Java’s Path
Once you install Java you must setup the path so that the computer can find Java. To do this you must first obtain the path that Java is stored at. This path is a string such as “C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_01\bin”. The easiest way to get this path is to use Windows explorer. Launch Windows Explorer (Either by pressing your Windows button and “E” at the same time, or by launching it from the “Start Menu”) then navigate to your Java BIN directory, as seen in Figure 2.12.
Figure 2.12: Get the Java Path
Once you reach the Java BIN directory, your path will be in the “Address Bar”, as seen above. Select this address and choose “Copy” from the “Edit” menu. Your path has been saved to the clipboard.
Now you must bring up the control panel to insert this path. Click the Windows XP Start button and choose “Control Panel”. You may start in “Windows XP” mode, as seen in Figure 2.13. Choose “Switch to Classic View”.
Figure 2.13: Windows XP Control Panels
Once you switch to Classic View you will see Figure 2.14. Double click the “System” icon.
Figure 2.14: Classic Control Panels
Double clicking the “System” icon will bring you to Figure 2.15. Choose the “Advanced” tab.
Figure 2.15: System Properties
Click the “Environment Variables” button. This will take you to Figure 2.16.
Figure 2.16: Environmental Variables
This will allow you to see the user variables for your user account. We will be adding a variable named PATH. Make sure you add it to the top section, and not the bottom.
If there is no PATH already click “Add” and add the path, as seen in Figure 2.17.
Figure 2.17: Set the Path
If there is already a variable named path then select it and click “Edit”. You should then add the Java path onto the end of whatever is there. Make sure to put a semicolon (;) at the end of whatever was there. i.e., if there was already c:\;c:\windows. You would modify it to be something such as c:\;c:\windows;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_01\bin
Now click OK. You will have created a path to Java. Now we will
test it.
