Windows exe launcher for Java app with JRE check

Question

I need to distribute a Java application and I want an installer to install it in all cases. I need to create an `*.exe` launcher that will check the installed JREs and - if the required JRE isn't installed, show a window with a proper link. - if required JRE is installed, launch the properly executable jar file.

Accepted Answer

I'm pretty happy with WinRun4J: http://winrun4j.sourceforge.net/

It's under active development and some improvements I suggested were quickly implemented.

The only thing that is currently lacking (from my point of view) is to specify a "relative" path to the JRE to allow bundling a JRE with the application.

To spare you the effort of reading the manual, this is what I do for my launcher:

Rename `WinRun4j.exe` to `MyApp.exe`, then:

```
rcedit /C MyApp.exe
rcedit /I MyApp.exe myapp.ico
rcedit /N MyApp.exe MyApp.ini
```

Put into a nice little batch file and there is no "manual" stuff to do.

You only need to do this once (and if your library path changes)

Windows exe launcher for Java app with JRE check

Solution

Problem