JabaDex Troubleshooting

Traceback

Some versions capture any error traceback into a file called jabadex.err in the directory you start it in. This is a critical place to look, since you can't diagnose a Java program without knowing the exception that caused it to fail.

If you get an exception

 java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: com/darwinsys/util/Debug

it is because the com.darwinsys.util package jar is not in your CLASSPATH. I will shortly have this produce a better error message!

General

First, please be sure you are running with a correct version of Java. JabaDex version 0.4 should work with any Java version. JabaDex version 0.8 needs a JDK1.1 version of Java. Versions 0.9.* and greater require JDK1.2. All need some additional APIs; see the download section for details.

If running as an application under MS-Windows/Win32/Win95/WinNT, please be sure you've started the program using "java JDMain" instead of using "javaw", since javaw throws away error messages! Under Netscape, please be sure you have the Java Console visible so you can see any error messages.

If you email me for help, I need some specific information. Such as:

What version of JabaDex are you trying to run? Hint: Look for the string VERSION in the code
What Java Runtime do you have installed? jdk1.0.2? jdk1.1.5? Netscape 4.0.3+patch? J2SE 1.3 or 1.4?
How are you invoking Jabadex? be specific
What messages you get, if it fails be specific; quote the messages. Use cut and paste. If you send a message like "it doesn't work" or "I get an exception when trying to run it", your mail will be summarily deleted.
What misbehaviour you find; if you are reporting a bug the minimal sequence of keystrokes needed to reproduce it.

Also, be aware that this is a volunteer project; if you want a fully supported Rolodex-type program there are any number of those that you can buy in the corner computer store (for Windows only, of course; for Solaris UNIX, visit http://www.amh.com and look for ActionManager).

Thank you

Ian Darwin

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