The -cp option to the java command

Question

java -cp FILE.jar FILE.Main inputfile 

What does the -cp option mean? For that matter, what a negative sign in front mean? I've searched everywhere and couldn't find the answer.

Solution 1

The example you finally gave, -cp is a parameter to the command, which is java. Parameters are generally program-specific, in this case cp stands for Class Path, which is another location java will search to find the class files as they are needed by the program.

Solution 2

See this:

• http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/tools/windows/java.html

Quote:

-classpath classpath -cp classpath

Specifies a list of directories, JAR files, and ZIP archives to search for class files. Separate class path entries with semicolons (;). Specifying -classpath or -cp overrides any setting of the CLASSPATH environment variable.

Comments

[Admin]

java -cp FILE.jar FILE.Main inputfile

[Admin]

Then it isn't a command, it's an option to the java command.

[Admin]

Try java -h 2>&1| grep cp.