Universe - Notes on Version 0.12

Release Date: May/June 1999

Version 0.12 is development software. Please download version 0.11.2 unless you want to test new software.

Change Log

Fix bug 75.
Fix bug 78.
Fix bug 66.

Installation Instructions

Windows 95/98/NT Users

JDK 1.2 has been released by Sun. If you wish to run Universe, I recommend installing JDK 1.2. Then running Universe is a breeze. Follow these steps:

Download JDK 1.2 from Sun Microsystems. (20+ MB - sorry)
Install JDK (run the .exe you download.)
Reboot your machine
Download the latest Universe.jar file and UniverseData.jar file. Both must be in the same directory.
From a DOS prompt, type in: java -cp C:\Universe.jar Universe (or use the directory you placed your jar files)
Make a shortcut for the above command line!

Non Windows Users

You need to install the ability to run Java Applications on your computer. Some operating system have this ability built in (OS/2, MacOS, Unix(some)), but some do not (Win95, Win98, WinNT, Unix(some)). Available for free is the Java Development Kit (JDK) from Sun Microsystems (at http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1) for operating systems that don't have the ability to run Java Applications (this includes Windows 95.) Follow the directions from Sun carefully. Note that your web browser does not have the ability to run Java Applications.

You also need to install the Java Foundation Classes (JFC). JFC is available from Sun Microsystems at http://java.sun.com/jfc. JFC 1.1 with Swing 1.1 is required.

In addition to Java, you need the jar executable file and jar data file. The jar files can be placed anywhere on your computer, but both should be in the same directory.

Jar executable (Universe.jar)
Jar data file (UniverseData.jar)

After the jar file is downloaded, to run Universe you must type in the following command at a prompt (make sure you are in the directory where the jar file is located):

jre -cp Universe.jar Universe

Note that the "U" on Universe must be upper case.

If you have the JDK (instead of the JRE), the following command should work:

java -classpath %CLASSPATH%;Universe.jar Universe

If you are on a Unix system, use the proper variable substitution and replace the ";" with a ":" ($CLASSPATH:Universe.jar).

If you wish to create the Galaxy using the Gliese Star Catalog data, you must first download the GlieseCatalog.jar file. Put this file the same place you put the Universe.jar file.

Gliese Star Catalog (GlieseCatalog.jar)

The program will automatically detect this file, if it is located in the same place as the Universe.jar file.

Please feel free to contact me if you have problems with installation or running of the Universe Gaming System.

Return to: Universe

Created: 22 Apr 1999
Updated: 21 May 1999