Runnable JAR from Eclipse does not run. Generates errors "could not find main".

[Richard VanMetter]

I have created a ImageJ-plugin project in Eclipse with an appropriate
"launch configuration". The project includes the ij.jar as a "referenced
library". The launch configuration runs perfectly in the Eclipse
environment, but when I try to export a runnable-JAR file I get the
following error:
  "Could not find main method from given launch configuration."
and indeed the project will not run in Java (here is an attempt at the
command prompt):
             C:\Users\Richard VanMetter\Desktop>java -jar MFPPD52a.jar
             no main manifest attribute, in MFPPD52a.jar

Here is the manifest when ij is included as a folder in the JAR file:
             Manifest-Version: 1.0
             Class-Path: .
which has no reference to main method.

Here is the manifest when ij is included as a jar in the project JAR file:
             Manifest-Version: 1.0
             Rsrc-Class-Path: ./ ij.jar
             Class-Path: .

In both cases, I tried adding the following line to the manifest manually
             Main-Class: ij.ImageJ
The contents of the JAR file include, the classes written for my project
plus the following:
             ij (either as a jar file or unzipped as a folder, depending
on export libraries option)
             META-INF folder
             org folder

but, it still will not run either by double-clicking, or in a command
window via either of these commands:
             C:\Users\Richard VanMetter\Desktop>java -jar MFPPD52a.jar
             Error: Could not find or load main class ij.ImageJ

             C:\Users\Richard VanMetter\Desktop>javaw -jar MFPPD52a.jar
ij.ImageJ
             (no error message, but no run either)

For completeness, the following works fine:
             C:\Program Files (x86)\ImageJ>javaw -jar ij.jar ij.ImageJ


Has anyone experienced this problem? and know a solution?

Thanks to all,

Rich VanMetter

--
ImageJ mailing list: http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/list.html

[ctrueden]

Hi Rich,

> I have created a ImageJ-plugin project in Eclipse with an appropriate
> "launch configuration".

My advice is to use Maven and pattern your plugin after this project:

    https://github.com/imagej/minimal-ij1-plugin

Then you can build the JAR in a variety of contexts, rather than only
Eclipse.

I tested exporting a "runnable JAR" from Eclipse with the "Extract required
libraries into generated JAR" option, and that also works. The difference
is that this option (as well as "Package required libraries into generated
JAR") creates a standalone "uber-JAR" [1] rather than a JAR containing only
your classes. Doing that inherits several serious disadvantages, though [2].

Regards,
Curtis

[1] http://stackoverflow.com/q/11947037
[2]
http://imagej.net/Frequently_Asked_Questions#How_can_I_call_ImageJ_from_my_software.3F

On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 at 8:57 AM, Richard VanMetter <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> I have created a ImageJ-plugin project in Eclipse with an appropriate
> "launch configuration". The project includes the ij.jar as a "referenced
> library". The launch configuration runs perfectly in the Eclipse
> environment, but when I try to export a runnable-JAR file I get the
> following error:
>  "Could not find main method from given launch configuration."
> and indeed the project will not run in Java (here is an attempt at the
> command prompt):
>             C:\Users\Richard VanMetter\Desktop>java -jar MFPPD52a.jar
>             no main manifest attribute, in MFPPD52a.jar
>
> Here is the manifest when ij is included as a folder in the JAR file:
>             Manifest-Version: 1.0
>             Class-Path: .
> which has no reference to main method.
>
> Here is the manifest when ij is included as a jar in the project JAR file:
>             Manifest-Version: 1.0
>             Rsrc-Class-Path: ./ ij.jar
>             Class-Path: .
>
> In both cases, I tried adding the following line to the manifest manually
>             Main-Class: ij.ImageJ
> The contents of the JAR file include, the classes written for my project
> plus the following:
>             ij (either as a jar file or unzipped as a folder, depending on
> export libraries option)
>             META-INF folder
>             org folder
>
> but, it still will not run either by double-clicking, or in a command
> window via either of these commands:
>             C:\Users\Richard VanMetter\Desktop>java -jar MFPPD52a.jar
>             Error: Could not find or load main class ij.ImageJ
>
>             C:\Users\Richard VanMetter\Desktop>javaw -jar MFPPD52a.jar
> ij.ImageJ
>             (no error message, but no run either)
>
> For completeness, the following works fine:
>             C:\Program Files (x86)\ImageJ>javaw -jar ij.jar ij.ImageJ
>
>
> Has anyone experienced this problem? and know a solution?
>
> Thanks to all,
>
> Rich VanMetter
>
> --
> ImageJ mailing list: http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/list.html
>

--
ImageJ mailing list: http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/list.html