How do I execute a java executable (jar) by code in java?

Question

How I can execute a jar file via java code?

I want to execute a java executable called "Console.jar" by code but I don't know how to do it.

Open it for what purpose? A jar is more or less just a zip file. Use a zip utility. — Savior, Apr 21 '16 at 15:43
Possible duplicate of [How to write a Java program which can extract a JAR file and store its data in specified directory (location)?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1529611/how-to-write-a-java-program-which-can-extract-a-jar-file-and-store-its-data-in-s) — Tobias Brösamle, Apr 21 '16 at 15:47
@Pillar I want to open the file with Java. I don't want to extract it — Frank Soll, Apr 21 '16 at 15:47
Then use Java's zip utility. But, again, what are you planning to do with the contents? — Savior, Apr 21 '16 at 15:47
The jar file is a my creation file, and I want to open it with an another jar file @Pillar — Frank Soll, Apr 21 '16 at 15:48

Davide Lorenzo MARINO · Answer 1 · 2016-04-21T15:57:33.597

2

A jar is simply a zip with a different extension.

So if you like to see what is present inside a jar simply rename it to .zip and open with your preferred zip client (winzip, winrar, unzip, 7zip...)

If you need to launch an executable jar from command line:

java -jar <jarFileWithJarExtension>

for example

java -jar Console.jar

If you need to launch it from a java application you can do that with the following code:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("java -jar Console.jar");

If you need also to interact with Console.jar take a look at the class Process

edited Apr 21 '16 at 15:57

answered Apr 21 '16 at 15:43

Davide Lorenzo MARINO

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Did you miss "with java" ? – Denys Séguret Apr 21 '16 at 15:44
There's no need to rename it. – Savior Apr 21 '16 at 15:44
@Pillar you can also open it without renaming but for most of people is simpler to rename it and open it with a double click than opening it with the standard File - Open (or similar) function of the zip client – Davide Lorenzo MARINO Apr 21 '16 at 15:45
No, I don't want to extract the jar file, but open it with Java – Frank Soll Apr 21 '16 at 15:45
@Frank what do you mean for "open" ? Launch an executable jar? Use the jar as a library in a java project? Open from java as a file and read the bytes? – Davide Lorenzo MARINO Apr 21 '16 at 15:47
@DavideLorenzoMARINO launch an executable jar with a code – Frank Soll Apr 21 '16 at 15:54

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 21 '16 at 17:08

The pro way to do it ProcessBuilder:

//Create a process builder
ProcessBuilder builder = new ProcessBuilder("java", "-jar","path/f.jar", "argument 1","argument 2");

//start it
Process process = builder.start();

So you can have control over the jar you have already opened.You can get it's output,close it,be notified if it crashed etc.

How do I execute a java executable (jar) by code in java?

2 Answers2