Activity Changer Problem

[Colr48]

I am the original op and the main problem was AC not accepting or finding Java, I did send an email to the author of AC wondering if he had done any updates but had only one reply where he asked what Windows version I had, since then no reply.

The part above about RR, was where someone said they had the same problem with that program not finding Jave and someone posted the fix, which I did and that was sorted, are you with me so far?

OK the fix for RR was to put a file inside Java, so I thought/wondered if a similar fix could be done with AC that's all, so sorry if it confused some of you, it wasn't meant to, but it just might have been possible.

I have had AC running and working on my old PC with no problems but on this one it isn't having it, I have WindowsXP 32 bit version and Java is installed where it should be.

Reading on the Net it is a common fault where other people are saying the same thing where programs can't find Java so it isn't so strange as some of you think, just type it in Google and you will see.

Col.

[gswindale]

We are now on to RR and the problem is with AC!!!!! So confused

You are not the only one.

I am still puzzled why my initial input about getting the path environment variable set correctly has been passed by in favour of complicated file copying.

I have never had problems with Activity Changer / Route Riter / Activity Analyser / JMRI and numerous other programs that need Java but then again I have the environment variable set.

You can lead a horse to water and all that .....

John,

Can you confirm exactly which environment variable it is that needs to be set & how to check it please? I've run the "set" routine in a command prompt & cannot see my Java installation being referred to anywhere; however Java & AC all run fine for me.

[slipperman12]

Hi Geoffrey,
As you've already typed 'set' in the Command Prompt box, you've got a list of all the Environment Variables - scroll down to the Path entry, and that's it!

The Path Environment Variable is used by Windows whenever you click on an executable, as a list of folders to examine for that file; when it's located, it's run; if it's not found, an appropriate error message is displayed.

The Environment Variables can also be found via Windows, in the Advanced tab of System Properties (applies to Windows 7, but XP will be similar).

Extra care must be taken if editing this variable

Cheers,
Ged.

[gswindale]

Hi Ged,

That's what I thought but

Code: Select all

Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Windows Performance Toolkit\;c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\AGL;C:\texlive\2012\bin\win32
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.MSC

shows no mention of Java that I can see?

I'm well aware of the risks which is why I was trying to find out exactly where it is referenced before tinkering

[slipperman12]

Hi Geoffrey,
No, there won't be any reference to Java itself in that list as It's only a list of folders which, I believe, are applicable when a program name, like cmd or msconfig, is entered into the Run box.

I think the reference to the Path Environment Variable ** was a red herring (apologies if I'm wrong), but I believe it's more likely to be the Registry which is used to locate applications.

As a check on Activity Changer, I've discovered that, if the OS is 64 bit, AC expects to find Java in Program Files - it doesn't 'see' it if it's in Program Files (x86)!

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : ** Thinking about this takes me back to the good (?) old days of DOS, when there had to be Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files; the latter contained a Path parameter which had to list all the possible folders where programs were located This may have been what John was harking back to! If you look at the current Path Environment Variable, there is no mention of Program Files or Program Files (x86) (by itself) which is where most programs will be, or, certainly in my case, the separate folder I use for MSTS programs, like Route Riter, Conbuilder, etc.

[lateagain]

Thinking about this takes me back to the good (?) old days of DOS, when there had to be Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files; the latter contained a Path parameter which had to list all the possible folders where programs were located This may have been what John was harking back to!

They didn't call it DROSS for nothing

[gswindale]

Hi,

There won't be a generic Program Files set in the path as the search is not recursive. Thus you need the full path of the executable to be set to allow it to run from anywhere.

[PeterPeddlesden]

Thinking about this takes me back to the good (?) old days of DOS, when there had to be Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files; the latter contained a Path parameter which had to list all the possible folders where programs were located This may have been what John was harking back to!

They didn't call it DROSS for nothing

The Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8 operating systems still have the equivalent of config.sys buried in the system under ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES.

For Java to work successfully you DO NEED the PATH Environment Variable set correctly AND you need a JAVA_HOME Environment Variable.

So lets see if these two Environment Variable are set up and CORRECTly pointing to your Java installation.

Launch a Command Prompt Window.

Type SET PATH [ENTER]
This will display the complete content of your current PATH, it should include the path to your Java Installation BIN folder.
As an example C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21\bin
If the PATH does NOT include the Java BIN folder, you WILL need to edit the PATH Environment Variable to include it.

Now Type SET JAVA_HOME, this will display the JAVA Home folder (1 level up from the BIN folder)
As an example C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21
If the JAVA_HOME Environment Variable IS NOT set then you will need to create it.

How to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable

http://wso2.org/project/wsas/java/1.1/d ... -home.html

Having followed the instructions in that link REBOOT your machine.

Re-check that the PATH environment variable includes Java

Launch a Command Prompt Screen and type

SET PATH [ENTER]

The full contents of the PATH Environment Variable is displayed.
Ensure that it includes the path to your Java BIN folder.
Double check that it doesn't include TWO or more paths to different Java BIN folders.

To check that the JAVA_HOME Environment Variable is set, now type

SET JAVA_HOME [ENTER]
This should display the content of the Environment Variable and it should
be the same as the entry in the PATH Environment Variable without the \bin at the end.

If you want to see ALL the Environment Variables then type

SET [ENTER]

This will list ALL the Environment Variables that are set on your machine.

[Colr48]

Thanks for that Peter, I did as instructed, it told me where Java was and the computer knows it is there but Activity Changer still has a problem knowing it is there.
Back to the drawing board for me I'm afraid.

[michaelhendle]

Hi Ged,
There was nothing wrong with DOS in the prehistoric days,way back in 1965 when BOAC got the IBM 360\40 and 360\65A when tape drives were almost as tall as you and disc were great big heavy things,Punch Card readers and sorters,now that was computer operating.

The 360\40 was mostly used for DOS or emulation programmes that used to run on the IBM 1401\1410,the 3 65A's were run in MVT and MFT Realtime, Realtime was used for reservations and flight plans,MVT was used for every thing else like Payroll,Stock control,Aircraft overhaul schedules.
Oh well showing my age now

[slipperman12]

Hi Mike,

Punch Card readers and sorters,now that was computer operating

Off-topic, I know!!
That was my era as well, except we, at BR, used ICT (later ICL) equipment

Peter: Many thanks for that very detailed post - it's clarified the Java situation, at least, for me

Cheers,
Ged

[gswindale]

The Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8 operating systems still have the equivalent of config.sys buried in the system under ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES.

For Java to work successfully you DO NEED the PATH Environment Variable set correctly AND you need a JAVA_HOME Environment Variable.

Now I am thoroughly confused!

I have checked and get the following

Environment Variable JAVA_HOME not defined

however Activity Changer, Route Riter & Java itself all appear to work fine on my W7 installation.

So we now have, in this topic, 1 machine which is correctly reporting the information as per your post (Colr48) but AC is not working; and 1 machine (mine) where AC does work; but the settings to allow Java to work appear to all be missing.

[slipperman12]

Hi Geoffrey,
Although I said that Peter's explanation clarified things, I have since very carefully checked the output of the Set command on my PC. There is absolutely no mention of Java or jre (being the folder name) in my list, even though Route Riter and Activity Changer both work without problem.

I don't know which OS Peter is using, but could it be that Win 7 is different to earlier versions? (I am using the 64 bit version). - I think that's very unlikely!!

I've followed the link that Peter included in his post, but as it refers to the System Development Kit (SDK), don't think it applies to us who are not using it.

Cheers,
Ged

[Colr48]

I even sent an email to Java explaining the situation and like i said earlier, if you google about Java not being found on PC's it is a common problem, not related to MSTS or AC but other programs too.
There are a lot of people reporting that even though they have Java installed and the in the right place the PC or program that requires it can't identify it being there.

From what I have read there are a few versions of Java that can be downloaded, also the different versions of Windows all add to this I'm sure.

Col.

[abclare]

The Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8 operating systems still have the equivalent of config.sys buried in the system under ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES.

For Java to work successfully you DO NEED the PATH Environment Variable set correctly AND you need a JAVA_HOME Environment Variable.

Now I am thoroughly confused!

I have checked and get the following

Environment Variable JAVA_HOME not defined

however Activity Changer, Route Riter & Java itself all appear to work fine on my W7 installation.

So we now have, in this topic, 1 machine which is correctly reporting the information as per your post (Colr48) but AC is not working; and 1 machine (mine) where AC does work; but the settings to allow Java to work appear to all be missing.

That is what i get also i am on XP and it wont run just a quick flash.