Ah my son, I just start with the jswdk-1.0 days ago with the same problems you had. But have overcome these pit falls with victory. I also posted the solution to the Java Develper Connection. See posting on "setting classpath in java" below. Your problem stated in the email is definitely due to net having your classpath set to all the libraries your need. In your case you are missing the tools.jar and/or the j2ee.jar (j2ee.jar if you downloaded the entriprise edition, may be called jsdk.jar or even something else if you downloaded the servlet runner utility). See the Setting Classpath in Java (below) and that should clear up the classpath problem. Second, let me know what the file name is the has the JAVA_HOME in it (if you know). Setting Classpath in Java When using JDK 2 platform Enterprise edition which includes the Servlet packages you must include the j2ee.jar file in your classpath. If you don't you will get errors when using javac (i.e. javac MyServlet.java) that it can't find the imports (i.e. import javax.servlet not found). How to do this if you are using Windows (dos). There are two ways I know of. First, you can set the classpath at the command prompt (Open a msdos prompt, i.e. C:\> ,the directory does not matter). At the command prompt type C:\>set classpath=C:\j2sdkee\lib\j2ee.jar; Where j2sdkee is the directory where you installed the JDK 2 Enterprise Edition. This will get the imports you need for the Enterpise Edition classes including the import javax.servlet All the sun documentation I have read always recommends that you set the classpath at the command prompt. Why, I don't know for sure but I have noticed that when you set it in the autoexec.bat file, it does not always work properly. If you are like me, you hate typing all that stuff on the command line. I put it in the autoexec.bat file and if I am having problems with it finding the imports then I set it at the command prompt after first clearing it by doing this C:\>set classpath= Then do as I have showed above. If you want to add additional files locations to your classpath just do this C:\>set classpath=%classpath%;C:\j2dk1.2.2\lib\tools.jar where c:\j2dk1.2.2\lib\ is whatever new path you want to add. The %classpath% lets you append C:\j2dk1.2.2\lib\tools.jar to the end of the class path you already created. In essence it is the same as retyping C:\>set classpath=j2sdkee\lib\j2ee.jar;C:\j2dk1.2.2\lib\ If you are setting your classpath in the autoexec.bat file it should look something like this: SET CLASSPATH=C:\JDK1.2.2\lib\tools.jar;C:\j2sdkee\lib\j2ee.jar Another thing worth mentioning, lets say you have created your own class or package and want to import (i.e. import MyCreatedClass)it. You need to add it to your classpath if it is not in the same directory you are doing javac FileWithImport.java in. I would just add the complete path to the directory with the %classpath% so you don't loose the classpath you may have already set. Hope this helps someone. I know it took me a little bit to get it all sorted out and was hoping to avoid spent time for someone else. Jason Skipper wrote: > Win95... I have since "SET JAVA_HOME = c:\jdk1.1.7" > but i am getting java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: sun/tools/javac/Main > what do ya think? > thx > ~skip > > J wrote: > > > Are you using windows or a unix based system? > > > > Jason Skipper wrote: > > > > > ok so i'm having trouble starting my first jsp... i downloaded and > > > installed the kit .. i think my problem is that i haven't set the > > > JAVA_HOME variable... but my real problem is HOW do i set it???? It's > > > not finding the tools so any help will be greatly appreciated =) > > > ~skip
