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Installing JCreator

1.	Find the JCreator installation file in one of two places: If you have the Robots CD, look on the CD inside a directory (folder) named JCreator. The file is named `JCreatorSetup.exe`. Go to http://www.jcreator.com/ and navigate to their downloads section. Download the latest version, saving it to your disk. At the time of this writing there is a free version and a "pro" version. You can try out the pro version for free, but will eventually need to purchase it. The version on the CD is the free version. Unzip the downloaded file to a temporary directory. Find `Setup.exe`. Double-click the setup file you found or downloaded to open it.
2.	Find the file you just extracted named `Setup.exe`. Double-click it. Click Next.
3.	Accept the license agreement with the radio buttons at the bottom. Then click Next.
4.	Fill in the folder where JCreator should be installed. The suggested folder shown here, `C:\java\JCreator3.5LE`, can be typed into the textbox directly. If you chose to download the "pro" version, you should change the "LE" to "Pro". Click Next. You will likely be shown a dialog box stating that the directory doesn't exist. Click Yes.
5.	You'll be asked where to place the shortcut in your Start Menu. The default is fine. Click Next.
6.	The defaults for the additional tasks put an icon for JCreator on your desk top. Click Next.
7.	A summary of the tasks about to be performed is displayed. If any look wrong, you can press the Back button to revisit your decisions. Otherwise, click Install.
8.	You'll be shown a completion message. Leave the Launch JCreator LE box checked. Click Finish to launch the IDE.
9.	The first time JCreator runs it will ask you for additional set-up information. The first question is about file associations. It wants to know if you want JCreator to launch when you double-click a file ending in `.java`, for example. The defaults are all fine choices. Click Finish.
10.	When JCreator launches, it shows you a "Tip of the Day" which can make your life easier. The first one, however, encourages you to buy the professional version. Click Next Tip if you wish, and then Close.
11.	JCreator is now up and almost running. Before you're ready to work, you'll need to install the libraries -- Step 3.
The following is an optional installation to use Jacobe, a code formatter, with JCreator.
1.	Create a directory for Jacobe. Download the program from here to your specified directory. Unzip it to install. Download the configuration file to match the textbook, robots.cfg. Save it in the directory you created.
2.	Launch JCreator. On the Configure menu, choose Options. Click on "Tools" in the left pane. Click "New" and choose "Program". In the resulting dialog box, browse to the folder containing the Jacobe program. Select `jacobe.exe` and click "Open". "Jacobe" should now be listed as one of the tools.
3.	The list of configuration options in the left pane should now have a plus sign beside "Tools". Click on it, if necessary, to expose the list of tools. That list should include "Jacobe". Select it. Configure the tool as shown in the image: Commands: This should already be filled in with the path to the jacobe program. Arguments: `-cfg`path to robots.cfg `-overwrite $[FilePath]` Initial Directory: leave blank Check the following: Save all documents first Capture output Show command line Click "OK".
4.	Reformat your source code by choosing "Jacobe" from the "Tools" menu. If all goes well, JCreator will show a dialog box saying that the source code has changed and ask if you want to reload it. Click "Yes". If your code contains errors, Jacobe may not be able to reformat it. The error message in JCreator's "General Output" window may help you locate the error. Alternatively, simply compile the program to find the errors. The result on a small file is shown to the right.	Before: After:

Contact: bwbecker@learningwithrobots.com.