COSC 2206: Internet Tools
Installing Java SDK and Documentation

Installing Java Software Development Kit (SDK)

The CD contains the latest version of Java (version 1.4.2). If you already have an earlier version installed and you want to uninstall it use Add/Remove Programs in "Control Panel".

The installatiion of the Java SDK, version 1.4.2 is the same for all versions of the windows operating system:

  1. Double click the installation folder \software\j2sdk1.4.2 on the CD.
  2. Run the installer program j2sdk-1_4_2-windows-i586.exe by double clicking it
    This will install the Java SDK in directory c:\j2sdk1.4.2 which should look like

Installing Java SDK Documentation

You will also want to install a copy of the Java class documentation. This is a huge collection of HTML files that document every standard class and method in Java. When you are learning the basics of Java you will need a copy of this documentation.

It is located on the CD in directory \software\j2sdk1.4.2 in the zip file j2sdk-1_4_2-doc.zip.

  1. Double click this file to unzip it.
  2. The screen shows that the files will be extracted to a directory called docs so choose "Extract".
  3. In the dialog box type c:\j2sdk1.4.2 in the "Extract to" box.
  4. Click the "Extract" button.
It may take a few minutes since there are a huge number of files.

You should now have the directory c:\j2sdk1.4.2\docs. To see the documentation home page find the HTML file 

c:\j2sdk1.4.2\docs\index.html
and double click on it. Then choose the link "API & Language", then choose the link "Java 2 Platform API Specifications".

If you want to go directly to this link locate the file 

c:\j2sdk1.4.0\docs\api\index.html
and double click on it. In fact you may want to put a shortcut to one of these files on the desktop (right click, choose Send To, choose Desktop) and rename it to "Java Docs". This makes the documentation easily available.