Here are the instructions for downloading JDK (Java Development Kit) and the JCreator IDE (Integrated Development Environment). You may prefer to download JDK as a step in the downloading of JCreator. Both of these programs are free.

The JDK bundle, also called the Java SE (Standard Edition) contains the java compiler (javac) which produces java bytecode; and contains the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) which in turn contains the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) which executes the bytecode, i.e., runs and interprets the java byte code for your platform. It also contains the API (Application Programmers Interface). The API consists of many programs usefull in developing applications.

We say that JCreator is a "thin layer" above the JDK. This means that it does not contain the compiler or the interpreter (it points to JDK); but it will enable you to compile, debug and run your programs by chosing menu options. For instance, if you make a compilation error, JCreator displays the error messages in a separate window. When you double click a given error message, JCreator will point to the offending line in your program. This is very helpful, especially for long programs.

Both of these programs are downloaded in zipped form. In order to unzip them you need WINZIP. If you don't have it, download it from http://www.winzip.com/downauto.cgi?winzip80.exe.

DOWNLOADING THE JDK BUNDLE

1. Go to the javasoft URL:
   http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp The JDK instructions change frequently. Here is the current set.
2. Go to : JDK 6 update 7 and click the DOWNLOAD button..
3. Click the square at the middle of the page to agree to the licensing agreement. On the same page under Platform drag down until Windows is selected. Then hit Continue. On the next page click the Windows Off-line Installation box which is to the left of JDK-6u7-Windows-i586-p.exe. Then double click the link. A dialog box will open with Save it to Disk clicked. Click OK. The system will automatically choose a directory for you for the download, or you may choose your own.
4. After some time the download is complete. Then after closing all applications, go to the jdk directory or the one the program setup for you, and click the jdk-1_6_7-win icon or similar icon. Click the Wizard button at the upper right of the Winzip window. This will automatically unzip the jdk bundle.
5. Follow the wizard instructions, clicking next and yes when appropriate; also choose the desired directory and hit save. Finally click finish.

DOWNLOADING JCreator

1. On your browser get the URL www.jcreator.com/download.htm. www.jcreator.com/download.htm If you are using Windows XP, do the following: To the right of JCreator Classics you will see JCreator LE 3.50. Hit the down arrow and select JCreator LE 2.50. Click the download button and the Jcreator zip file will be downloaded by the browser manager.
2. If you are using Windows Vista, you should download JCreator LE v4.50 instead.
3. After some time the download is complete. The WINZIP program will then take over and unzip JCreator. (If not, using the Windows explorer find and then click the JCrea250.zip icon.) Click the Wizard button at the upper right of the Winzip window and click the Next button until the file is unzipped. Then after closing all applications, start the setup program and JCreator will be installed.
4. After the installation is complete, launch JCreator from the icon that was placed on the desk top.
5. The first window to appear is File associations. Just click next.
6. The next window asks for JDK home directory. Browse for the directory and click next.
7. The final window asks for JDK JavaDoc directory. If you already downloaded the JavaDoc file, browse for it and click finish. Otherwise click finish to continue on without the documentation.
8. To compile and run a program, use the "Build" menu.

If for some reason, you haven't pointed JCreator to the JDK, do the following:

1. To point JCreator to the JDK folder, start by clicking Configure/Options/Editor.
   
   
   
   Click JDK Profiles. In the JDK Profiles window, the Default classpath of the selected JDK profile slot must have information in it. If not, click the JDK version 1.3 , JDK version 1.4 or JDK version 1.5 profile at the top of the window. The following screen captures have JDK 1.3 in them. Your's will have JDK 1.5.
   
   
   
   Then click Edit, and in the Classes window click Add and then
   
   
   
   choose Add Path and select the folder containing the JDK documentation,
   
   
   
   and click OK. Then in the Classes window, the JDK directory will appear at the bottom of the list:
   
   
   
   Then click Up until the selected version appears at the top of the page. The click OK and finally, OK in the original window.

   The reason, in the above, if when you first clicked on JDK Profiles and all the JDK versions appear in red, is that JCreator is no longer pointing to actual directories. To correct this, hit the New button and browse until you find Program file\java then click on the directory that is labelled the latest version of JDK. Then hit OK twice, and when you reach the original JDK Profiles window, click the Up button until the active JDK version is at the top of the window.

USING THE COMMAND LINE IN JCREATOR

DOWNLOADING THE DOCUMENTATION

1. Go to the URL: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index_jdk5.jsp and click the download button for J2SE 5.0 Documentation towards the bottom of the page.
2. Agree to the licensing agreement by clicking the ACCEPT button so that a dot appears in it..
3. Click the box to the left of the J2SE(TM) Documentation ..English version link so that a check appears in it. Then double click this link.
4. On the next page that appears, repeat the previous step.
5. Choose a directory for the download to be stored.
6. After the download is complete, unzip the file by clicking the Wizard button at the upper right of the UNZIP window.
7. To have JCreator point to the Java docs, go to Configure/options/Editor. Click JDK Profiles. In the JDK Profiles window, the Default classpath of the selected JDK profile slot must have information in it. If not, click the JDK version 1.3, JDK version 1.4 or JDK version 1.5 profile at the top of the window.
   
   
   
   Then click Edit, and then the Documentation tab. In the Documentation window click Add and then choose Add Path and select the folder containing the JDK documentation, and finally hit OK. Finally click the OK buttons until all the windows are closed.
8. You will then be able to access the documentation supplied by Sun by going to the Help menu in JCreator.