How to use .jar files in NetBeans?

Question

I am completely new to Java development so bear with me...

I have downloaded the Joda time library which consists of three files:

• joda-time-1.6.jar
• joda-time-1.6-javadoc.jar
• joda-time-1.6-sources.jar

Firstly, how do I use this library in one of my own NetBeans projects?

Secondly, generally speaking, what is the distinction between the three files above? What do the labels 'javadoc' and 'sources' signify? How are these jars different from the 'joda-time-1.6.jar' library?

Many thanks for any help.

Answer 1

You would add the JAR file to the Libraries in your project:

_{(source: netbeans.org)}

As for the different JARs,

• joda-time-1.6.jar just contains the compiled classes (this is the JAR you need in order to use Joda in your project)
• joda-time-1.6-javadoc.jar contains the documentation for all the classes
• joda-time-1.6-sources.jar contains the source code for all the classes