How to stop a running *.JAR file with a batch script?

Question

Hello everybody!

We are facing trouble restarting closing a running *.JAR file started with the "java -cp".

Killing java.exe worked fine.

But... isn't there any smoother way for the application? (It saves data on shut-down)

Also, how can one simulate any key input at the following message "Enter any key to continue..." with a batch file?

Thanks for all help!

Answer 1

Use the PAUSE [message] to wait for a key press:

PAUSE Hit any key to continue..

As for killing your app, there are JMX ways to do it - but I find an easy way to have a socket listening on a local port and then you can easily send a kill commnad to it and let your program handle the shutdown.

Answer 2

The excellent Java Service Wrapper will let you effortlessly install signal handlers for your Java app.

Answer 3

The following set of batch scripts can be used to start/stop jars/any program

start-jar.bat

start "win_title" java -jar [jar file] [jar options]

this basically starts your jar(the program) in a window with title set to "win_title".

you could use another batch to kill the window started

stop-jar.bat

TASKKILL /FI "WINDOWTITLE eq win_title

Answer 4

Have your app create a temp file on startup and periodically check if it still exists. Your batch script can just delete that file to terminate the app.

Answer 5

If you need to do some cleaning up before your process is shutdown, take a look at Shutdown Hooks.

from the Q&A in the link:

Okay, but won't I have to write a lot of code just to register a simple shutdown hook?

No. Simple shutdown hooks can often be written as anonymous inner classes, as in this example:

Runtime.getRuntime().addShutdownHook(new Thread() {
    public void run() { database.close(); }
});