Can somebody help me with java, it says...
For this section, you will have to copy the file 'element.jar' from http://www.mhhe.com/javaelements and put it in your CLASSPATH:
(a) I don't understand what CLASSPATH is and why it is so important (I do get that it is important though)
(b) How do I do it? I have downloaded the zip file, but now what? By the way I am using Eclipse.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Also very-little-to-almost-no technical jargon might help.

Question

Can somebody help me with java, it says...
For this section, you will have to copy the file 'element.jar' from http://www.mhhe.com/javaelements and put it in your CLASSPATH:
(a) I don't understand what CLASSPATH is and why it is so important (I do get that it is important though)
(b) How do I do it? I have downloaded the zip file, but now what? By the way I am using Eclipse.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Also very-little-to-almost-no technical jargon might help.

rsmith6559 · Answer

You'll need to unzip the file.  You want a .jar (Java ARchive) extension.  TBH, finding CLASSPATH is a pain.  I'd start my project and try the jar file right next to my files.

javk · Answer

I'm sorry for the delay, my computer crashed. but if you're still willing to help can you pleeeaaase tell me what to do next. I tried placing it next to my project files but now what? It's still not working.

rsmith6559 · Answer

First thing:  Have you opened the zip file and have element.jar?

I don't have Eclipse on any of my working machines.  Does it have an Import in the menu to get the jar file into your project? 

CLASSPATH is an environmental variable that tells Java where to look for class files.  It would have the directory where your compiled (executing) classes are.