Java how to run another .jar program from code in response to button click

Question

I have written a Java program that should open another program (which is a .jar file). If I use this code in the main class of my program, all works correctly:

File logFile = new File("./ePaymentUpdater.jar");
Desktop.getDesktop().open(logFile.getCanonicalFile());
//or
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("java -jar ePaymentUpdater.jar");

But if I paste the same code in the event in response to the user clicking a button, it doesn't work as it should: The program seems to run, because it creates a folder like it should be (this code is in the main class of the called program), but it doesn't show the jFrame it should

It seems that i cannot open a frame from inside the frame of another program...

This is my main class:

package prove_idiote;
import java.awt.Desktop;
import java.io.File;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {  

//        try {
//            Runtime.getRuntime().exec("java -jar ePaymentUpdater.jar");
//        } catch (Exception e) {            
//            System.out.println(e);
//        }

        Tester tester = new Tester();
        tester.setVisible(true);       
    }   
}

And this is my button event:

private void ExecuteActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                         
    try {

        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "before" ,"ATTENZIONE!",JOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);

        Runtime.getRuntime().exec("java -jar ePaymentUpdater.jar");

        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "after" ,"ATTENZIONE!",JOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);

    } catch (Exception e) {            
        System.out.println(e);
    }
}

Define "doesn't work"! What happens when you execute that code in the event handler? Any error/messages? — Joachim Sauer
– Joachim Sauer, Commented May 24, 2012 at 10:16
Desktop.open() uses windows file associations for opening and executing programs. If they are not correctly set it will not work. Does the ePaymentUpdater.jar have a MANIFEST.MF file with main class set? — Stephan
– Stephan, Commented May 24, 2012 at 10:19
No error message, it simply seems that the .jar file called doesn't run PS: i see now that the .jar DOES run, because it creates a folder as it should be, but it doesn't show what it should (a jForm) — Maik
– Maik, Commented May 24, 2012 at 10:23
Can you provide some code on how you process the event? It will help to test the code locally. — Daniel H.
– Daniel H., Commented May 24, 2012 at 11:05
Is there some reason for this to run in a separate process than the one that launched your code? — Andrew Thompson
– Andrew Thompson, Commented May 24, 2012 at 11:24

GingerHead · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-24 10:22:47Z

4

You can use the Runtime class of java and process your jar from there as follows:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("java -jar ./ePaymentUpdater.jar")

Where Runtime handles all the processes at runtime and executes them one by one.

answered May 24, 2012 at 10:22

GingerHead

8,23815 gold badges63 silver badges97 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Stephan · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-24 10:15:23Z

1

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("java -jar yourjarfile")

answered May 24, 2012 at 10:15

Stephan

4,4413 gold badges28 silver badges49 bronze badges

1 Comment

Maik Over a year ago

I've also tried this road, but the result is the same: works if launched in the main, doesn't work if launched in response to the button click

Maik · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-25 10:49:23Z

1

I finally found the problem (and the solution) There were some missing libraries in the called .jar (i've put the two jars in the same folder, so they shared the same libs, but one of them was using a lib that was missing)

Thnaks for the hints

answered May 25, 2012 at 10:49

Maik

9114 gold badges25 silver badges35 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Java how to run another .jar program from code in response to button click

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related