Accessing a user defined library - CLASSPATH

Question

Hi all
First I will tell you what I have implmented, then I will discuss the problem.
My PATH (user variables) is set to c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin and everything works
fine - I can compile and run from any directory.
When I open a shell (cmd.exe) my current working directory is:
     C:\Documents and Settings\Paul Gain\Desktop>
I have a file in the same directory called Test.java
Here it is:
import pack.ClassPathTest;
class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new ClassPathTest();
The package "pack" resides at C:\pack
There are two files within "pack" one is called ClassPathTest.java
and the other is called ClasspathTest.class
Here is the code:
package pack;
public class ClassPathTest {
public ClassPathTest() {
System.out.println("Hello Paul");
Obviously this program is nonsense, However, I want to find out
how to access a user defined library of classes that is in a seperate directory.
When I compile from the desktop with the command: javac Test.java
The compiler complains, here is the output:
C:\Documents and Settings\Paul Gain\Desktop>javac Test.java
Test.java:1: package pack does not exist
import pack.ClassPathTest;
^
Test.java:7: cannot find symbol
symbol : class ClassPathTest
location: class Test
new ClassPathTest();
^
2 errors
If I cut and paste "pack" into the desktop directory everything works as expected.
Because of this I believe the problem lies with the CLASSPATH of "pack".
I have tried all sorts of variations of CLASSPATH but to no avail.
for example under "system variables" in environment variables I have
used the following:
.;C:\pack
Which says look in the current working directory first and then in pack. But
that does not work (and yes I close the current shell and open a new one).
Once the CLASSPATH is set .;C:\pack and I compile again the compiler
moans and gives me this:
C:\Documents and Settings\Paul Gain\Desktop>javac Test.java
Test.java:1: package pack does not exist
import pack.ClassPathTest;
^
Test.java:7: cannot access ClassPathTest
bad class file: C:\pack\ClassPathTest.class
class file contains wrong class: pack.ClassPathTest
Please remove or make sure it appears in the correct subdirectory of the classpa
th.
new ClassPathTest();
^
2 errors
Obviously I am doing something wrong, can somebody please help me as I do not wish
to add my libraries in the same directory as my program. I have even tried to add c:\pack
to the PATH but that does not work either. HELP!
Regards
Paul

Answer 1

If you are currently in Desktop, you need your classpath to be:
.;C:\The "pack" package lies in "C:\"
If you are anywhere else, you need:
"C:\Documents and Settings\Paul Gain\Desktop;C:\""Test" lies in the first part, and the "pack" package still lies in "C:\".