How to install The Java Communications API and RXTX API

How to install The Java Communications API

There is a trick to install the Java Communications API correctly on a Windows system Machine. The following files are the core of JAVA Communiccation API, and they are very important to have them installed on your system for a proper operation:

• comm.jar
• win32com.dll
• javax.comm.properties

For the jdk (Java Developnment Kit) to recognize the serial ports on your machine, it is important to properly place these files in the right folders on your local machine :

%Java_HOME% = the location of your jdk directory.

To Find your JDK directory, Use the Following steps:

1. Click on Start
2. Click on Search
3. Click on For Files or Folders …
4. In the Left hand Side, Click on All Files and Folders
5. Type in jdk* in the textbox under All or part of the file name:
6. Click Search
7. Look for yellow icon that looks like a folder
8. Double Clikc on the folder to open the jdk folder

comm.jar should be placed in:

    %JAVA_HOME%/lib

    %JAVA_HOME%/jre/lib/ext

win32com.dll should be placed in:

    %JAVA_HOME%/bin

    %JAVA_HOME%/jre/bin

    %windir%System32

javax.comm.properties should be placed in:

    %JAVA_HOME%/lib

    %JAVA_HOME%/jre/lib

RXTX INSTALLATION

Windows

RXTXcomm.jar goes in \jre\lib\ext (under java)
rxtxSerial.dll goes in \jre\bin

Mac OS X (x86 and ppc) (there is an Installer with the source)

RXTXcomm.jar goes in  /Library/Java/Extensions
librxtxSerial.jnilib goes in /Library/Java/Extensions
Run fixperm.sh thats in the directory.  Fix perms is in the Mac_OS_X
subdirectory.

Linux (only x86, x86_64, ia64 here but more in the ToyBox)

RXTXcomm.jar goes in /jre/lib/ext (under java)
librxtxSerial.so goes in /jre/lib/[machine type] (i386 for instance)
Make sure the user is in group lock or uucp so lockfiles work.

Solaris (sparc only so far)

RXTXcomm.jar goes in /jre/lib/ext (under java)
librxtxSerial.so goes in /jre/lib/[machine type]
Make sure the user is in group uucp so lockfiles work.