How do I set or change the PATH system variable?

How do I set or change the PATH system variable?

This article applies to:

Platform(s): Solaris SPARC, Solaris x86, Red Hat Linux, SUSE Linux, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP

MORE TECHNICAL INFORMATION

The PATH is the system variable that your operating
system uses to locate needed executables from the command line or Terminal window.

The PATH system variable can be set using System Utility in control panel on Windows, or in your shell's startup file on Linux and Solaris.

SOLUTION


Making
changes to the system PATH variable is not typically necessary for computers running Windows or Mac OS X. The instructions below are intended for advanced users or system administrators only.


Setting Path on Windows

Windows 8

Drag the Mouse pointer to the Right bottom corner of the screen

Click on the Search icon and type: Control Panel

Click on -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced

Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.

In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and
the location of the class as the value.

Close the window.

Reopen Command prompt window, and run your java code.


Windows 7

Select Computer from the Start menu

Choose System Properties from the context menu

Click Advanced system settings > Advanced tab

Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.

In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and
the location of the class as the value.

Reopen Command prompt window, and run your java code.


Windows XP

Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced

Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.

In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and
the location of the class as the value.

Close the window.

Reopen Command prompt window, and run your java code.


Windows Vista

Right click My Computer icon

Choose Properties from the context menu

Click Advanced tab (Advanced system settings link in Vista)

In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and
the location of the class as the value.

Reopen Command prompt window, and run your java code.


Setting Path on Solaris and Linux
To find out if the java executable is in your PATH, execute:

% java -version

This will print the version of the java executable, if it can find it. If you get error java: Command not found. Then path is not properly set.

To find out which java executable the first one found in your PATH, execute:

% which java

Below are the steps to set the PATH permanently,

Note: We are here giving instructions for two most popular Shells on Linux and Solaris.

Please visit link below if you are using any other shells.

Path Setting
Tutorial

For bash Shell:

Edit the startup file (~/ .bashrc)

Modify PATH variable:

PATH="$PATH":/usr/local/jdk1.6.0/bin

export PATH

Save and close the file

Open new Terminal window

Verify the PATH is set properly

% java -version

For C Shell (csh):

Edit startup file (~/ .cshrc)

Set Path

set path="$PATH":/usr/local/jdk1.6.0/bin

Save and Close the file

Open new Terminal window

Verify the PATH is set properly

% java -version