manifest file

[Paul Keohan]

I'm trying to create a jar file that knows which class files holds the main() method I want to invoke. I create the txt file as I'm told and jar the files with the appropriate command. However I keep gerring an error. Here's what happens.
What do I keep getting an io exception?

  
C:\VIP>jar cmf mainclass.txt pj.jar *.class
java.io.IOException: invalid header field
        at java.util.jar.Attributes.read(Attributes.java:358)
        at java.util.jar.Manifest.read(Manifest.java:161)
        at java.util.jar.Manifest.<init>(Manifest.java:56)
        at sun.tools.jar.Main.run(Main.java:125)
        at sun.tools.jar.Main.main(Main.java:904

[Paul Keohan]

I should clarify this. I was getting the 'invalid header' message when I had the contents of mainclass.txt as 'Main-Class aul' - no space after the colon. Earlier, when I did have the space, I was getting a 'line too long' exception.
So the obvious problem of my previous post is not the real problem.
Thanks.
Paul

[Roy Ben Ami]

post your manifest file.

[Paul Keohan]

I have no idea why there is a round green face with a red tongue on the previous post. Obviously I didn't have that in my txt file. I actually had 'Main-Class: Paul'.

[Paul Keohan]

I have no manifest file because my jar cmf command won't create a jar file with the exception.

[Roy Ben Ami]

the mainclass.txt file i presume is your manifest file no?
you should put in there somthn like this:
Manifest-Version: 1.0
Main-Class: (the name of your main class )
make sure the main class is the one that has a min method in it. and make sure to use a carrige return (enter) after the last line of the file

[Paul Keohan]

I didn't realize I was supposed to include Manifest-Version: 1.0 in the txt file but even after I did I still get the 'line too long' exception.
My understanding is, whatever I put in the txt file will be taken by the jar cmf command when building the manifest file. The txt file is not the manifest file.
Am I wrong?
Thanks!
Paul

[Roy Ben Ami]

actually u supply the manifest file.
try naming it just manifest for example with no
.txt at the end or anything...
it should matter but what the heck give it a try
and then use the
jar -cmf manifest yourjar.jar *.class

[Paul Keohan]

I've just been looking at the source code to see what gives me this exception and the code is checking that I have a '\n' at the end of my line. If I don't I get the exception. But I do have a carriage return at the end of my line. I press return before I save the txt file. Perhaps this is not enough?

[Roy Ben Ami]

could u just copy paste the manifest file here:
(ie the txt file u have there)..
maybe ill see somthn...

[Paul Keohan]

Main-Class: Paul

[Roy Ben Ami]

ok. lets try this:
make sure again u press enter before u save the manifest file.
and then use this line:
jar cmf manifest yourjar *.class
(notice dont put the .jar at the end of the jar file)
btw, make sure u got a class called Paul in your classes there (just checking).

[Paul Keohan]

I finally got it to work by using the txt extension on the file name.
jar cmf mainclass.txt pj.jar *.class
I could have sworn I tried this already but maybe I hadn't got the carriage return in at the time. All the examples I had seen specifically left out the .txt extension.
I very much appreciate all your help.
Paul

[Roy Ben Ami]

no problem
btw u did include the txt extension (check out your first post here).
probably didnt have the carrige return then.

[doug watson]

I had the same problem and I needed to put a space between the colon and classname like this:
Main-Class: Count
Manifest-Version: 1.0
Created-By: 1.4.0 (Sun Microsystems Inc.)
Main-Class: Count
Then it worked fine.(BTW I am on linux, j2sdk1.4)
jar -umf mymanifest Count.jar
-Doug

[Roy Ben Ami]

wow. talk about raising the dead

[Brusk Baran]

manifest file: i suppose it must have the suffix MF..
regards..

[Roseanne Zhang]

This is my manifest manufactured by velocity and ant (I used quotes to show no spaces there. In you mf file, there should be no quotes.
"Manifest-Version: 1.0"
"Main-Class: com.myco.common.Version"
This is the real on inside my meta-inf dir of common.jar. I used ant jar task to build it, which is why ant come into play.
"Manifest-Version: 1.0"
"Main-Class: com.myco.common.Version"
"Created-By: Ant 1.4.1"
[ June 15, 2002: Message edited by: Roseanne Zhang ]