[Solved] CLASSPATH for javax.swing libraries?

Question

Hello,
I wanted to use the swing packages provided by java for developing cross platform GUIs. But, when I tried compiling it, I ended up with the following error:
HelloWorldSwing.java:1: package javax does not exist
import javax.swing;
After searching a bit online, I found out that the CLASSPATH variable needed to be set to use external java libraries. (I installed the jdk and jre packages). I tried setting CLASSPATH to /opt/java/jre/lib in my ~/.bashrc but that didn't help. What should I do to remedy this situation?
(This is the first time that I am trying to use external libraries like swing on Arch. So I am a Noob at this)
Thanks for your time!
Last edited by mgangav (2009-11-24 15:45:59)

Answer 1

urist wrote:
The
import javax.swing.event.*;
is unnecessary as it is covered by the previous import.
No, each package must be imported separately, even if one is "inside" the other.  I wrote a little test program to make sure   Try compiling it with line 4 commented/uncommented.
package foo;
import javax.swing.*;
//import javax.swing.event.*;
public class Thingy
public Thingy() {
JMenu menu = new JMenu("File");
menu.addMenuListener(new MenuListener() {
public void menuCanceled(MenuEvent e) {
System.out.println("canceled");
public void menuSelected(MenuEvent e) {
System.out.println("selected");
public void menuDeselected(MenuEvent e) {
System.out.println("deselected");