Using the Chilkat Java Library in Eclipse

A step-by-step guide for adding the Chilkat Java library to an Eclipse project on Windows, Linux, and macOS. The Chilkat Java library has two parts — a JAR (the classes) and a native library — and both must be set up.

Examples: Chilkat Java Examples  ·  Documentation: Chilkat Java Reference

1. Download and unzip the Chilkat Java library

   From Chilkat Java Downloads, get the build for your OS and JDK, and unzip it. Each download contains the JAR and the platform's native library:

   chilkat.jar                 the Chilkat Java classes
   chilkat.dll                 native library (Windows)
   libchilkat.so              native library (Linux)
   libchilkat.jnilib          native library (macOS)

   (Your download contains the JAR plus the one native library for your platform.)

2. Add chilkat.jar to the build path

   In Eclipse, right-click your project → Build Path → Configure Build Path…. On the Libraries tab, select Classpath, click Add External JARs…, and choose chilkat.jar. Click Apply and Close.

   (Or copy chilkat.jar into a lib folder in your project, then right-click it → Build Path → Add to Build Path.)

3. Point the JVM at the native library

   The native library must be on the JVM's java.library.path at runtime. The easiest way in Eclipse is to set it on the JAR you just added:

   Expand chilkat.jar in the Package Explorer, select Native library location, click Edit…, and choose the folder that contains the native library.

   Alternatively, add a VM argument in your Run Configurations → Arguments → VM arguments:

   Windows

   -Djava.library.path=C:\path\to\chilkat

   Linux / macOS

   -Djava.library.path=/path/to/chilkat

   Point it at the directory containing chilkat.dll / libchilkat.so / libchilkat.jnilib — not at the file itself.

4. Load the library, unlock, and use Chilkat

   Load the native library once (a static block is convenient), unlock, then use any Chilkat class:

   import com.chilkatsoft.CkGlobal;
   import com.chilkatsoft.CkZip;
   
   public class Main {
   
       static {
           System.loadLibrary("chilkat");   // no "lib" prefix, no extension
       }
   
       public static void main(String[] args) {
           CkGlobal glob = new CkGlobal();
           glob.UnlockBundle("Anything for 30-day trial");
   
           CkZip zip = new CkZip();
           System.out.println(zip.version());
       }
   }

5. Run

   Run the project (Run → Run As → Java Application). If the Chilkat version prints, the JAR and native library are both set up correctly.

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /path/to/chilkat

← Chilkat Java Downloads