What are the minimum files I need for a runtime-only installation? How do I create a launcher?

The minimum files you need for a runtime-only installation are:

  1. JRE (Java Runtime Environment - which includes java.exe/javaw.exe and the rt.jar files which are required to run any Java-based application) of a supported version for your isCOBOL release
  2. iscobol.jar from the isCOBOL installation lib folder (isrun.jar is the same as iscobol.jar but does not include the isCOBOL compiler)
  3. A properties file containing the isCOBOL license key (e.g. iscobol.license.2010)
  4. Your application .class files (or put them into a .jar file using the jar utility that comes with the JDK)
  5. Any other third-party .jar or other files that your application requires

There are many ways to create a launcher for your application. Veryant has tested and recommends Launch4j (free) and install4j (commercial).

Or you can instruct the user to install Java from a Java download site you provide them, and then send them an executable JAR file (See "isCOBOL Getting Started Guide: Working with isCOBOL: Packaging Applications and Executing Using a Jar File" for more information).

Or you could manually create your own distribution that includes the JRE. You can either include the JRE installer or you can simply include the JRE necessary files.

For example, on Windows you can create a new folder named myapp with the following subfolders: 

myapp\jre\
myapp\lib\
myapp\classes\
Copy all of the folders and files
from
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk<version #>\jre
to
myapp\jre

Copy
C:\Veryant\isCOBOL_SDK20XXRX\lib\iscobol.jar
to
myapp\lib

Copy your COBOL program .class files and your iscobol.properties file which contains your license key and other isCOBOL runtime framework properties
to
myapp\classes

Then in the myapp folder you can create a desktop shortcut to run the program with the following target value: 

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /c jre\bin\javaw.exe -cp lib\iscobol.jar;classes MYPROGRAM

Leave the "Start in" field blank to set the folder containing the shortcut to be the current working directory.

You can avoid a console window from popping up by choosing "Minimized" from the "Run" drop-down.

You can change the shortcut's icon by pressing "Change Icon" and looking for icons in %windir%system32shell32.dll.

If you make sure that the JRE is installed on the machine, then you can specify %SystemRoot%\system32\javaw.exe in the shortcut target field. For example, 

%SystemRoot%\system32\javaw.exe -cp libisrun.jar;classes MYPROGRAM

The above methods will allow you to install your application folder anywhere on the machine.

If you know the absolute path to your directory structure you can use it in the shortcut target field. For example, 

C:\myapp\jre\bin\javaw.exe -cp lib\iscobol.jar;classes MYPROGRAM

In this case you would set "Start in" to C:\myapp

As you can see there are many options. Please contact Veryant Support for further assistance.


Article ID: 144
Created: August 19, 2010
Last Updated: May 26, 2022
Author: Support KB Author

Online URL: https://support.veryant.com/phpkb/article.php?id=144