[news.eclipse.newcomer] Re: need help using a textbook class file in Ecl

[Eric Rizzo <eclipse5@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jon D. wrote:
> Hello-
>
> I'm a new java programmer (and teaching it to high schoolers). The text 
> we are using supplies us with a Keyboard.class file to use in the 
> introductory programs.  I have the class file on my hard drive.  I can't 
> get my code to work in Eclipse because it is looking for the 
> cs1.Keyboard class and can't find it.
>
> I've read some info at this site on importing class files, but those 
> techniques haven't worked for me.
>
> My question, how can I have an Eclipse project find the Keyboard class 
> when I type in the following at the beginning of the code:
> import cs1.Keyboard

You need to copy the .class file into your Eclipse Project; put it in a 
directory under your Project named /lib/classes (or any name you choose).
Is the Keyboard class in a package? If so, you must put it in a 
directory structure that mirrors the package names. For example, if 
Keyboard is in a package named com.foo, then you'll need it in a 
directory of your project like this:
MyProject/
    lib/
        classes/
            com/
                foo/
                    Keyboard.class

If Keyboard class has no package (it is in the "default" pacakge) then 
you don't need the com/foo/ container, just put it in classes/ directly.

Then open the Properties for your Project, select the Java Build Path 
section and then the Libraries tab. There you can click the Add class 
folder... button to include the lib/classes directory you added above.

By the way, the tutorials might help you understand Eclipse better. Open 
the Eclipse Help Contents and navigate to Java Developer User Guide, 
Getting Started and you'll find some tutorials.

Hope this helps,
	Eric