NetBeans User FAQ

This is the user oriented FAQ for NetBeans IDE 4.x. If you have questions regarding 3.x series please look at NetBeans 3.x Knowledge Base.

Installation

• NetBeans installer fails with "Suitable JVM cannot be found". Why?
• I do have JDK installed correctly. How can I make the installer use it?
• Installer fails with "The wizard cannot continue... could not load wizard specified in /wizard.inf (104)". What's the problem?
• Installation of AppServer fails on MacOS 10.4. w/ JDK 1.5.x. What to do?
• What is the admin username/password of the built-in Tomcat?

Configuration

• What is userdir and where can I find it?
• Can I run NetBeans with an alternate userdir?
• Can I run multiple IDE instances simultaneously?
• What are the NetBeans startup parameters?
• How do I make my custom startup parameters permanent?
• Can I specify the JDK to run NetBeans on?
• Can I run NetBeans using JRE?
• The default font size used in menus, dialogs, views, etc. is too small. Can I make it bigger?
• Can I run NetBeans with a custom look and feel?
• Can I associate a file type with NetBeans to open files of that type from File Explorer?
• NetBeans doesn't work on multiple monitors: context menus are displayed on the wrong screen

Performance

• What are memory requirements of Netbeans IDE?
• What is the usual memory usage of Netbeans IDE?
• How do I set the JVM's heap size to be smaller?
• Can I have my files on network drives?
• Can I disable Netbeans modules to speed up startup?
• Can I eliminate pauses caused by garbage collection?
• What can I do if Netbeans IDE runs out of file descriptors?

Project System (General)

• Why aren't my projects referring to each other using relative paths?

Ant

• Can I pass parameters into the Ant Script?
• My build script has lots of "private targets", can I prevent these from appearing in the Run Target menu?

Navigation

• Can I view the package structure of my project as a tree?
• How do I quickly find the current file in Projects/Files/Favorites view?
• I want to view/edit a file on my disk, but I don't want to set up a project for it. Is there a way to open random files?

Editing

• I cannot type some characters. The IDE simply ignores them.
• The code completion shortcut (Ctrl-Space) doesn't work or causes problems. Is there an alternative?
• Scrolling in editor under Linux is slow. Is there any possibility to make it faster?
• Can I use back references when using regular expressions in the Find/Replace dialog?
• Is it possible to split editor and edit one file in two editor windows?
• Can NetBeans display errors in the whole file on the right side of the editor?
• What is hyperlinking and how can I use it?

J2SE Development

• NetBeans 3.x used to remind me about methods to be added when implementing an interface. Is this feature gone in 4.x?

Database Connectivity

• My database driver is in WEB-INF/lib but I still can't access the database. What do I do?
• "Cannot create JDBC driver of class '' for connect URL 'null'". What do I do?
• "Cannot load JDBC driver class 'org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver'". What do I do?

Debugging

• Can I step into the JDK code during debugging?
• How do I debug an applet?
• How do I debug an applet remotely?
• I'm running into problems when trying to debug. What can I do?
• Why can't I step into my source code when using the Ant debug target that I generated in the IDE for my free-form project?

GUI Editor

• Can I edit the blue, guarded blocks of code when developing a GUI?
• How can I associate an icon with a bean added to the palette?
• What is the .form file?
• Can I generate the .form file for an existing class?
• Can I distribute AbsoluteLayout with my application?
• How can I design forms with GridBagLayout?
• How do I create a custom container bean?
• How do I create a radio button group?
• How do I set tab names in a JTabbedPane?
• Can I change the type of already created forms?
• Is there a way to restore the default palette?
• Can I create forms by extending other forms?

J2EE Development

• Why do I get the 404 error message "The requested resource is not available"?
• How do I change the web browser for JSP and web module execution?
• Are the Enterprise Resource Wizards (e.g., Call EJB), available from JSPs as well as servlets?
• How do I create CMP bean that uses automaticaly PK generation feature

Version Control System

• Which version control systems do you support?
• An easy way to set up a local CVS repository

Profiler

• When selecting part of an application to profile, is it possible to set the filter at the package level (rather than at the method level)?

J2ME/Mobility

• Why can't I open existing source files in the Visual Designer?
• How do I specify a MIDlet icon?
• Why isn't the Mobility Pack available for Solaris and MacOS?
• Where can I find emulators that I can use with the Mobility Pack?
• How should I structure my project in NetBeans if I am using both Java ME and Java SE elements?
• Can I change my MIDlet project's dist destination, so it puts the jar and jad straight onto a server rather than in my local dist directory?
• Does the IDE generate the necessary Ant targets to launch my J2ME app in the various configured emulators?

NetBeans Community

• I can't find answer to my question in this FAQ. What can I do?
• Can I add new or update existing entry in this FAQ?
• Why do I need to register to submit a bug?
• Why is the bug reporting process so difficult? It should be quick and easy to submit a bug!

Mailing Lists

• Why should I join a mailing list?
• How do I subscribe?
• There are so many lists - which do I subscribe to?
• How do I unsubscribe?
• I can't unsubscribe!
• How do I find out which of my email addresses is subscribed?
• How do I send a message to the list?
• Can I post messages via the web?
• Can I access the lists via NNTP?
• I posted my question but nobody answered!
• My message didn't show up on the list!
• My messages sometimes take hours or days to show up on the list!
• I'd like to help out - can I help moderate a list?

Licence

• NetBeans is released under the Sun Public License. What is it and why was it chosen?
• Sun Public License (SPL) in a nutshell
• Source Code (new files or modified files) contributed to the NetBeans repository must be covered under the SPL. Why can't code be contributed under some other open source license?
• What if a NetBeans module needs to use source code that is not licensed under the SPL, such as a library or another application?
• Do I need anything besides NetBeans source code to be able to compile and run the NetBeans IDE?
• Does Sun package community contributed enhancements into their SunOne Studio products?
• Can I modify NetBeans source code files and distribute the IDE for free or sell it?
• Can I sell the IDE with my custom modules added without disclosing my source code?
• Can I distribute the NetBeans IDE on a CD-ROM that I sell?
• Can I redistribute the Java Software Development Kit (SDK), any version, royalty-free with the NetBeans IDE?
• Is NetBeans configured only for the Sun SDK, or are there any other SDKs or compilers that NetBeans can work with?
• Would NetBeans consider a commercial support agreement with us for a particular version of the IDE?

Contributor Agreement

• What is the Contributor Agreement ("CA")?
• Do I have to fill out a CA?
• I've already signed a JCA; do I still have to sign the CA?
• I've already signed a CA for another Sun project, do I need to sign another one for NetBeans?
• How do I file a completed CA?
• Can I file my completed CA by e-mail?
• Do I have to file a CA for every contribution?
• Once I have a CA on file, can I change my mind and cancel?
• I tried to make a contribution to netbeans.org and signed a CA, but my contribution was not accepted. What is the result?
• Why does NetBeans request a CA?
• I have a CA or JCA on file and I have made a code contribution to netbeans.org. Can I get listed on the copyright notice?
• If my company wants me to contribute changes, who should sign the CA, me or my company?
• Can my company sign a blanket JCA for all its employees?
• Can Sun make my contribution exclusively closed source?