How do I make my java application open a console/terminal window?

Question

Is there any way I can make an executable .jar that will open up the command line when double clicked?

I'm making a text-based adventure game. As of right now it is just a maze with rooms. Eventually it is going to be much bigger and more in depth but for now I just want to get the basic structure down. Anyways, to make this work I've been getting output and input from the System.out.printf command and the java.util.Scanner. It's all working beautifully so far but I've realized I'm going to run into a problem when I try to send this to other people that don't know how or just don't want to run the program from the command line.

Answer 1

If you want full control, you can implement a Console window in Swing which does what you have now.

If you cannot open said window (if headless) or the user asks for it on the command line, then just default to your current behaviour.

Answer 2

I found this while looking for an answer myself, I ended up writing this bit:

/**
 * This opens a command line and runs some other class in the jar
 * @author Brandon Barajas
 */
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
import java.net.URISyntaxException;
public class Main{
    public static void main (String [] args) throws IOException, InterruptedException, URISyntaxException{
        Console console = System.console();
        if(console == null && !GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()){
            String filename = Main.class.getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().toString().substring(6);
            Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{"cmd","/c","start","cmd","/k","java -jar \"" + filename + "\""});
        }else{
            THEMAINCLASSNAMEGOESHERE.main(new String[0]);
            System.out.println("Program has ended, please type 'exit' to close the console");
        }
    }
}

not sure if my answer is still relevant, but feel free to use it with the comment kept in o/

Only flaw I can think of is that it leaves the cmd window open after the program completes.

Usage: place this class in the same package as your main class and set it as the main class, it will open a command prompt window if one is not open, or if one is open launch the main class. Name / location of jar file is automatic. Designed for windows, but if you want it for another system just message me and I'll fix it. (I could do OS detection but I'm lazy and just making this so I can turn in a double-click jar file to my professor who uses windows).

Answer 3

Double-clicking a jar opens it with whatever application you've associated to it in your OS. By default, javaw[.exe] is normally associated to jar files. That's the binary that runs without a terminal window. To see a terminal on double-click, you'd need to associate the java[.exe] binary with jar files.

Answer 4

Or you can provide a .sh .bat that will open a terminal and call your java in it.

Answer 5

As long as the .jar is executed with java.exe, a commandline window will always show up. executing it with javaw.exe would prevent this.

for further reading: http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/windows/java.html

Answer 6

So this is my solution, I used the code from @Brandon Barajas and modified it. It creates a batchfile that starts the program by itself.

public static void main(String[] args){
    Console console = System.console();
    if(console == null && !GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()) {
        String filename = YOURMAINCALSS.class.getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().toString().substring(6);
        try {
            File batch = new File("Launcher.bat");
            if(!batch.exists()){
                batch.createNewFile();
                PrintWriter writer = new PrintWriter(batch);
                writer.println("@echo off");
                writer.println("java -jar "+filename);
                writer.println("exit");
                writer.flush();
            }
            Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd /c start \"\" "+batch.getPath());
        } catch(IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    } else {
        //your program code...
    }
}

If you want you can add a writer.println("pause"); before the "exit" print, to keep the window open after the progam finishes. Then you need to hit ENTER to close the window.

Answer 7

I guess the simplest way is to write a simple shortcut for your jar file. e.g. eclipse (like the most ide's) is able to export a jar file with all necessary libraries, etc. so you just need to set the shortcut command like "java -jar filePath/file.jar" (filePath: e.g. ./bin/file.jar)

Answer 8

One way to accomplish this is to create a .bat file with the command: "java -jar filePath/yourfile.jar" (without ""). Make sure to include the file path or else your file won't be found. Though the question was answered already, this is a simple way to do it.

Answer 9

You could create your own window, using Swing or Awt, using a TextPane, the only problem... is how to input and use like the cmd should do. But you can always do this with alerts and all...

Other way, is running directly from a batch file, showing on the console.

You should consider too, make your game DIRECTLY on batch... is not a bad language to make and is present on every Windows Operating Systems.

(Hope was useful ('cause i'm new), and my english was not THAT BAD...)

Answer 10

1. Use Launch4j and in Basic Tab give your exe name in Output file and then load a jar file in Jar Tab.
2. Go to Header Tab and select Console.
3. Then go to JRE tab and give the JRE version e.g 1.8.0
4. Then click the build wrapper button (kind of setting icon)
5. It will ask you to save a xaml file just put some random name and click save.
6. Finally your .exe is created and you can run now.