Adding Jar files to IntellijIdea classpath

Question

I have created a new Intellij project. But I can't use the third party jars in my project. I have the jars in a directory structure as follows:
repository/commons-logging/commons-logging-1.0.4.jar
repository/commons-lang/commons-lang-2.1.jar
etc.

I want to add them just by pointing to the repository directory, but couldn't find any ways to add them. But when I am using classes or API from that jars, the editor can't resolve the classes. I have tried from Project Structure but can't configure it.

Answer 1

Go to File-> Project Structure-> Libraries and click green "+" to add the directory folder that has the JARs to CLASSPATH. Everything in that folder will be added to CLASSPATH.

Update:

It's 2018. It's a better idea to use a dependency manager like Maven and externalize your dependencies. Don't add JAR files to your project in a /lib folder anymore.

Answer 2

If, as I just encountered, you happen to have a jar file listed in the Project Structures->Libraries that is not in your classpath, the correct answer can be found by following the link given by @CrazyCoder above: Look here http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/webhelp/configuring-module-dependencies-and-libraries.html

This says that to add the jar file as a module dependency within the Project Structure dialog:

1. Open Project Structure
2. Select Modules, then click on the module for which you want the dependency
3. Choose the Dependencies tab
4. Click the '+' at the bottom of the page and choose the appropriate way to connect to the library file. If the jar file is already listed in Libraries, then select 'Library'.