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<a href="part6.html" class="part-prev">Part 6</a>
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<h2>The main Method and Running Outside BlueJ</h2>
<p>Complete Java programs usually have a method called "main". So far in this tutorial, a main method has not been necessary: BlueJ intentionally lets you create objects and invoke methods interactively without needing a main method. If you add one, BlueJ can invoke that too, but it does not treat it specially; it is just like any other invocable method.</p>
<h3>Running outside BlueJ</h3>
<p>The time when you will need a main method is if you want to run your program outside BlueJ. BlueJ lets you export your application to a stand-alone JAR file which can be run on any computer which has Java, without needing BlueJ. This is available from the Project menu, by using the <span class="menu">Create JAR file...</span> menu item. This will ask you to select a main class. You will either need to select a JavaFX Application sub-class, or select a class with a <tt>public static void main(String[] args)</tt> method.</p>
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