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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
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* Copyright (c) 2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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* Use is subject to license terms.
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<title>About Java Class Libraries</title>
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<link rel="StyleSheet" href="nbdocs://org.netbeans.modules.usersguide/org/netbeans/modules/usersguide/ide.css" type="text/css">
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<h2>About Java Class Libraries</h2>
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<p> <small><a href="#seealso">See Also</a> </small>
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<p>A Java class library is a group of resources needed by a project. Typically
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they include one or more JAR files containing compiled classes, the source files
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needed to debug the classes, and Javadoc documentation for the classes. In the
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IDE, you create and edit libraries using the Library Manager. To open the Library
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Manager choose Tools > Libraries.</p>
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<p>By creating Java class libraries within which to store the JAR files on your
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project classpath, you can do the following:</p>
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<li>Group related JAR files that you use frequently.</li>
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<li>Add Javadoc documentation for your classes to a project. This enables you
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to automatically open the Javadoc page for any class in the library.</li>
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<li>Attach source code to your classes. This enables you to step through the source
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code when debugging your program or use the Go To Source command to open the source file.</li>
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<li> When you attach Javadoc documentation and source code to a JAR file in
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the Library Manager, the IDE automatically registers the documentation and
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source code in every project that has that JAR file on its classpath. You
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do not have to remove the JAR file from the classpath and add it as a library.</li>
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<dt><a name="seealso">See Also</a></dt>
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<dd><a href="comp_classpath.html">Managing the Classpath</a></dd>
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<dd><a href="../javadoc/javadoc_add.html">Adding Javadoc to a Project</a></dd>
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<dd><a href="../debug/debug_source.html">Attaching Source Code to a JAR File</a></dd>
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<dd><a href="../project/proj_jdk.html">Setting the Target JDK</a></dd>
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<small><a href="../credits.html">Legal Notices</a></small>
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