I had been using Notepad- The one that comes with Windows for a long time for writing Java programs and
then running it through command line, though i had Notepad++ installed on my system. But then it just flashed to me that “Why can’t i try Notepad++ for compiling and interpreting the Java programs“. I searched in the FAQs under “Running External Tools” and found useful information which has helped me to compile and run the Java programs right from the “Notepad++” application itself. Here’s how it can be done:
Running External Tools in Notepad++:
External tools can be executed by passing the current edited document as argument. For doing this the “environment variable” is used
The usage of Environment Variable:
$(ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE)
Ex: Lets say we are editing “NotHelloWorld.java”
The 5 environment Variable that can be used are:
FULL_CURRENT_PATH: C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\JavaP\NotHelloWorld.java
CURRENT_DIRECTORY: C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\JavaP\
FILE_NAME: NotHelloWorld.java
NAME_PART:NotHelloWorld
EXT_PART:java
Note: The environment variables must be enclosed with in double quotes.
“$(ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE)”
For Java Compiler its: javac “$(FILE_NAME)”
For Running the Program i.e interpreting the byte code its: java “$(NAME_PART)”
The screenshots can guide u much better:
Above: Program Snapshot
Above: Using the “Run” Menu
Above: Typing in the “javac” command for Compiling
Above: Typing in the “java” command for interpreting the Byte Code
Above: The Output Obtained
One can click on “Save” to Save the commands, and the next time the same can be accessed through the “Run” menu.
