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Teach Yourself Java 6 in 21 Days

Teach Yourself Programming with Java in 24 Hours, Fourth Edition

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Teach Yourself Java 2 in 21 Days Pro Reference Edition, Third Edition

Teach Yourself Java 2 in 24 Hours, Third Edition

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Teach Yourself FrontPage 2003 in 24 Hours

Using the SDK on a Windows System

Finding the Command Line

Note: This tutorial covers how to start using the Software Development Kit on a Windows system and fix any problems that prevent it from working correctly. If you haven't installed the SDK yet, you should do so before reading this.

The Software Development Kit requires the use of a command line to compile Java programs, run them, and handle other tasks. Using a command line, you can operate a computer entirely by typing commands at your keyboard.

Very few programs designed for Windows users require the command line today. To get to a command line on a Windows XP system, click the Start button, choose All Programs, choose Accessories, then click Command Prompt (as shown below):

To get to a command line on other Windows systems, click the Start button, choose Programs, then click MS-DOS Prompt (as shown below):

After you click MS-DOS Prompt, a new window will open where you can type commands.

To see what this window looks like, continue to the next page.