Error unable to access jarfile C:\Jar

Question

My jar file P2.jar (which has a main method and manifest file) is located in C:\\Jar Folder . I tried to run it from cmd like this:

C:SomeRandomFolder> java -jar C:\\Jar Folder\\P2.jar

I get the error:

unable to access jarfile C:\Jar

It works when I run it from the folder that the jar is in like this:

C:\Jar Folder> java -jar P2.jar

Why can't I use the 1st command? Why do I have to go to the directory of my jar file?

Answer 1

That's because of the space you have in the path name. On Windows, use quotes:

java -jar "C:\\Jar Folder\\P2.jar"

Answer 2

If you are in a terminal and the folder you are in is deleted out from underneath you and replaced with the same content, the jar file will be be visible with ls , but will not be available since your current directory was deleted and replaced with one that looks just like it.

I got that error too:

el@apollo:/myproject/build/jar$ java -jar CalculateStats.jar
Unable to access jarfile CalculateStats.jar

To fix it. cd up a directory and cd back in, like this:

el@apollo:/myproject/build/jar$ cd ..
el@apollo:/myproject/build$ cd jar/
el@apollo:/myproject/build/jar$ java -jar CalculateStats.jar
Program completed successfully