This document provides instructions for using JCreator LE 4.5 to create a Java programming environment at LJHS. It describes how to download and extract JCreator, create projects to organize files, add existing files to projects, and remove files from projects. It also explains how to create and run Java files within projects, set the main class, and add line numbers.

1. Using JCreator LE 4.5
Creating a Java environment at LJHS
September 2008
Directory "My Documents"
After logging in you should see a shortcut on the desktop called Shortcut to My Documents. Double click
on this icon or from the Start menu select My Documents.
Creating a workspace for your programming work - This only needs to be done once all year!
• Download the file http://www.ljhs.sandi.net/faculty/volger/cs12java/JCreator/JCreatorLE.zip.
Save the file in your My Documents folder.
• Right click on JCreator LE.zip and select Extract All...
• Click Next.
• Click Browse... Ignore the Desktop folder Error Message.
• Select My Documents. Click OK, then click Next.
• Click Finish.
• Delete the zip file JCreator LE.zip!!!
• Open the JCreator LE folder.
• Double click on LJHS Workspace.jcw, then from the File menu select Exit.
Starting JCreator - This is what you will do each day!
• From the Start menu select All Programs then select JCreator LE 4.50.
• Once you have started JCreator LE 4.50 click on LJHS Workspace under Recent Projects.
• Look in the File View window (on the left side of the screen) to find your projects. If the File View
window is not visible go to the View menu and select File View. Your files are listed under each
project.
• To use files within a project, right click on the project name in the File View window, and select Set As
Active Project. Double click on the file you want to work with. The file should show up in the window
on the right.
• To build and run the above file go to the Run menu and select Run File.
• If there are errors they will be displayed in the Build Output window. You will need to fix them. Check
the spelling!
• If there are no errors the output will be displayed in the General Output window.
• You can enlarge the General Output window by dragging it upwards. You can close the window by
clicking on the X in the top right corner of the General Output window.
Instead of having numerous files in one directory it is better to group files together. For example all of Chapter
7 programs could be saved in a project called Chapter 7, or all the for loop programs could be project in a folder
called For Loops. To group files together you will need to create a JCreator project.
Creating a JCreator Project - Do this every time you start a new chapter or section.
• In the File View window right click on LJHS Workspace and select Add new Project...
• Click on Empty Project, then next Next.
• Enter the Name of the project. This should be a descriptive name of the type of files you are going to
keep in the project (e.g. Chapter 3 or While Loops).
• Click Next twice then click Finish twice.

2. Creating a JCreator File (Program) in your project
• Once you have started JCreator LE 4.50 click on LJHS Workspace under Recent Projects.
• Right click on a Project and select Add ->, then select New File....
• In the File Type window make sure Java Classes and Empty Java File are selected, then click Next.
• Enter the Name of the file. The name should start with a capital letter and be followed by letters, digits
or underscores. Do not put any spaces in the name! The name should be descriptive of file's contents.
IMPORTANT - The name of the file must match exactly the of the Java class name.
• Click Finish.
• To build and run a program file go to the Run menu and select Run File.
• If there are errors they will be displayed in the Build Output window. You will need to fix them. Check
the spelling!
• If there are no errors the output will be displayed in the General Output window.
• You can enlarge the General Output window by dragging it upwards. You can close the window by
clicking on the X in the top right corner of the General Output window.
Adding existing files to a Project - Use this when transferring a file from home
• Right click on the name of the project in the File View window. If the File View window isn't displayed
go to the View menu and select File View.
• Choose Add Existing File... then select the file you want.
Removing a file from a Project
• Right click on the name of the file to remove in the File View window, then select Exclude From
Project.
• This will place the file in a folder called External Files within the File View window.
Changing the main class for the Project - Running a specific Java file in the Project
• From the Project menu select Project Settings...
• From the Run: window select the file you want to run as the main file.
Adding line numbers in your file
• You will want to have line numbers in your file. To add line numbers go to the Configure menu and
select Options…
• Under Editor select Java.
• Check: Show line numbers.