Cannot Change Java Version Using Java Preferences

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Cannot Change Java Version Using Java Preferences

When I attempt a change of the current Java version (say, switching from 1.5 to 6) using Java Preferences, the change is reflected in the preferences, but the update does actually occur and java -version continues to report Java 1.5 as the current version.

If I create another account, this work just fine and I can switch versions at will. Anyone have any idea what might be missing from my account?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 22, 2009 1:00 AM

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Answer 1

stonehippo Author

Level 1

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Jun 22, 2009 5:17 AM in response to stonehippo

Ok, I figured out what was going on: I had explicitly set my JAVA_HOME in ~/.bash_profile, pointing to the symlinked path for the current JSE. It turns out there a new CLI tool /usr/libexec/java_home that can be used to assign JAVA_HOME like this:

export JAVA HOME=`/usr/libexec/javahome`

Using this will ensure that JAVA_HOME is set to the correct value when the shell starts up (if you don't have JAVA_HOME set at all, you can switch the JSE versions in the Terminal 'on-the-fly' when changing the Java Preferences setting).

http://lists.apple.com/archives/java-dev/2009/Jun/msg00139.html

Message was edited by: stonehippo

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