How to Open .Jar Files

The Java Archive (jar) file is used to archive many files into a single file. It is most often used to distribute Java classes and metadata. The .jar file uses a form of the .zip file format to create the archive file. To create or extract a jar file, the user must have the Java JDK (Java Development Kit). The JDK is available to download and use free of charge from Sun Microsystems.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Java JDK

1. Step 1

   Open a command prompt window in Windows or a terminal window in Linux and Mac OSX.

2. Step 2

   Type the command "cd jar_directory" to navigate to the directory where your .jar file is held. Change "jar_directory" to reflect the path to your jar file.

3. Step 3

   Type the command "jar xf file.jar" to extract the contents of the .jar file.

4. Step 4

   Type "exit" to close the command prompt or terminal window.