The <genjar> task provides an easy method to package a standalone jar file including all dependencies and referenced classes. A basic example specifies a root class (often the class which defines a main() entry point) and a classpath which will be searched for referenced classes. <genjar> traces through references and packages a jar file which contains all classes which will be required at runtime.

```

<taskdef classpath="lib/genjar.jar" resource="genjar.properties" />

<target name="a">
    <genjar jarfile="a.jar">
        <class name="A" />
        <classpath>
            <pathelement location="build" />
        </classpath>
    </genjar>
</target>

```

<genjar is particularly useful in conjunction with the cltool4j project, to simplify developing and building standalone Java tools (see the genjar-targets.xml file available in that project's Downloads).

This project modifies and extends the now-defunct SourceForge genjar project (http://genjar.sourceforge.net/) to use Ant's jar syntax and to package source jars as well.

All attributes and contained elements from Ant's jar task are available, and the following contained elements are added:

• class : Specifies the primary root class. This class is assumed to contain the main() entry point, and will be specified as the primary entry point for use with java -jar using the Main-Class attribute in META-INF/MANIFEST.MF.

<class name="Foo" />

• classes: Specifies other root classes. These classes and their dependencies will also be included in the generated jar. <class name="Foo" /> <!-- The primary entry point is 'Foo' --> <classes names="B,C,D,org.genjar.util.E"> <!-- these classes and all their dependencies will be added as well -->

• classpath, classpathref - Specifies the classpath which will be searched for dependencies

• runtimeclasspath, runtimeclasspathref - Specifies other directories or jar files which should included at runtime via the jar file MANIFEST.MF, but not included in the generated jar. <runtimeclasspath> <fileset dir="lib includes="*.jar" /> </runtimeclasspath>