How to Package External Libraries into a JAR File for Eclipse Projects?

Packaging External Libraries in JAR for Eclipse Projects

Exporting a Java project as a JAR file is essential for distribution and deployment. However, if your project relies on external libraries, you may encounter issues packaging them along with the JAR. This article addresses the question of how to include external dependencies in a JAR created using Eclipse.

In Eclipse, the process of packaging external libraries within a JAR is done during the export process. Follow these steps:

1. Export as Runnable JAR:
   Right-click on your project and select "Export". Choose "Runnable JAR" as the export type.
2. Packaging Options:
   In the "JAR File" section, select the "Package required libraries into generated JAR" checkbox. This option ensures that all dependencies required by your project are included in the JAR.

Other Packaging Methods:

Besides the default packaging method, Eclipse provides two additional options for packaging external libraries:

• Extract required libraries into generated JAR: This option extracts the required libraries into the generated JAR, without packaging them within the JAR itself.
• Do not package any required libraries: This option excludes any external dependencies from the generated JAR.

Considerations:

• Licenses: Pay attention to the license terms of the external libraries you include. Some licenses prohibit redistribution in certain ways.
• Launch Configuration: The "Launch Configuration" dropdown lists classes with a main(String[]) method. The selected class will be executed when you run the JAR.
• Non-Runnable JAR Exports: If you choose to export as a regular JAR, you can manually select any file from your project, including external libraries if they are present within your project folder. However, external dependencies managed by tools like Maven cannot be included in this manner.

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