Using eclipse or Netbeans, you can get executable jar files, but this jar file can not be launched by the most novice users, especially if the program needs user’s input to proceed. To convert .jar file to windows executable file, there is a good tool called launch4j. You can easily convert a jar file to exe, then let common users use your program.

Here is a snapshot:

The usage is very straightforward and it’s free without any strings.

The following is some other features it has:

• JAR files can be included into an executable file;
• Execute Java applications with any current directory;
• Java applications can make use of file type association;
• Java applications are viewed as native Windows programs (and you can create Windows shortcuts for your Java application in the Start menu or on the desktop);
• Use the icon (.ico file) of your choice or design for your executable;
• Fully localizable messages of the executable

As you will see in my later post, there is a a good eclipse plugin — fat jar which convert all java files to one jar file. You can first use fat jar to get one jar, then use launch4j to convert it to .exe file.

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