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[ad name=”AD_INBETWEEN_POST”] I remember the day when I created a Tic Tac Toe game using Java Swing and packed it in an executable JAR file to distribute it among my friends. As few of my friends were not from computer background, they were unable to execute the JAR file. Hence I converted the JAR into EXE and send them the EXE.

It is sometime desirable to convert the JAR file in to EXE (executable) and distribute the EXE. Although the exe can be executed only in Windows environment, this will definitely affects the “platform independency” of a Java program. Still if you want to convert a JAR file in EXE then following tools are for you.

JSmooth .exe wrapper

JSmooth is a Java Executable Wrapper. It creates native Windows launchers (standard .exe) for your java applications. It makes java deployment much smoother and user-friendly, as it is able to find any installed Java VM by itself. When no VM is available, the wrapper can automatically download and install a suitable JVM, or simply display a message or redirect the user to a web site.

JSmooth provides a variety of wrappers for your java application, each of them having their own behaviour: Choose your flavour!

Download: http://jsmooth.sourceforge.net/

JarToExe 1.8

Jar2Exe is a tool to convert jar files into exe files.
Following are the main features as describe in their website:

• Can generate “Console”, “Windows GUI”, “Windows Service” three types of exe files.
• Generated exe files can add program icons and version information.
• Generated exe files can encrypt and protect java programs, no temporary files will be generated when program runs.
• Generated exe files provide system tray icon support.
• Generated exe files provide record system event log support.
• Generated windows service exe files are able to install/uninstall itself, and support service pause/continue.
• New release of x64 version, can create 64 bits executives. (May 18, 2008)
• Both wizard mode and command line mode supported. (May 18, 2008)

Download: http://www.brothersoft.com/jartoexe-75019.html

Executor

Package your Java application as a jar, and Executor will turn the jar into a Windows exe file, indistinguishable from a native application. Simply double-clicking the exe file will invoke the Java Runtime Environment and launch your application.

Download: http://mpowers.net/executor/

Advanced Installer

Advanced Installer lets you create Windows MSI installs in minutes. This also has Windows Vista support and also helps to create MSI packages in other languages.
Download: http://www.advancedinstaller.com/

Let me know other tools that you have used to convert JAR to EXE. And also comments/reviews about these tools.

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