To view the Java console, right click on the Java icon in the system tray (assuming you're using Windows) and choose "Open console" - as pictured at the bottom of this page

Steps to fix this error in windows 10/8/7

1.Check your javac path on Windows using Windows Explorer C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02\bin and copy the address.

2.Go to Control Panel. Environment Variables and Insert the address at the beginning of var. Path followed by semicolon. i.e C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02\bin; . Do not delete the path existent, just click in and go to the left end and paste the line above. Do not try anything else, because you just need to link your code to "javac.exe" and you just need to locate it.

3.Close your command prompt and reopen it,and write the code for compile and execution.

Alternate method of launching Java Control Panel:

Click Windows Start button.
In the Start Search box, type:

• Windows 32-bit OS:

  C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\javacpl.exe**
  

• Windows 64-bit OS:

  C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin\javacpl.exe**
  

Ref: Docs

I found this while looking for an answer myself, I ended up writing this bit:

/**
 * This opens a command line and runs some other class in the jar
 * @author Brandon Barajas
 */
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
import java.net.URISyntaxException;
public class Main{
    public static void main (String [] args) throws IOException, InterruptedException, URISyntaxException{
        Console console = System.console();
        if(console == null && !GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()){
            String filename = Main.class.getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().toString().substring(6);
            Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{"cmd","/c","start","cmd","/k","java -jar \"" + filename + "\""});
        }else{
            THEMAINCLASSNAMEGOESHERE.main(new String[0]);
            System.out.println("Program has ended, please type 'exit' to close the console");
        }
    }
}

not sure if my answer is still relevant, but feel free to use it with the comment kept in o/

Only flaw I can think of is that it leaves the cmd window open after the program completes.

Usage: place this class in the same package as your main class and set it as the main class, it will open a command prompt window if one is not open, or if one is open launch the main class. Name / location of jar file is automatic. Designed for windows, but if you want it for another system just message me and I'll fix it. (I could do OS detection but I'm lazy and just making this so I can turn in a double-click jar file to my professor who uses windows).

Source: javaindos.

Let's say your file is in C:\mywork\

Run Command Prompt

CopyC:\> cd \mywork

This makes C:\mywork the current directory.

CopyC:\mywork> dir

This displays the directory contents. You should see filenamehere.java among the files.

CopyC:\mywork> set path=%path%;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_09\bin

This tells the system where to find JDK programs.

CopyC:\mywork> javac filenamehere.java

This runs javac.exe, the compiler. You should see nothing but the next system prompt...

CopyC:\mywork> dir

javac has created the filenamehere.class file. You should see filenamehere.java and filenamehere.class among the files.

CopyC:\mywork> java filenamehere

This runs the Java interpreter. You should then see your program output.

If the system cannot find javac, check the set path command. If javac runs but you get errors, check your Java text. If the program compiles but you get an exception, check the spelling and capitalization in the file name and the class name and the java HelloWorld command. Java is case-sensitive!

Try this:

control "C:\Program Files\Java\jre\bin\javacpl.cpl"

Replace path with your Java installation.

Alternatively, you can also use javaws -viewer.

Note that you might need an elevated command prompt (Run as Administrator) instead of "regular" one.

Java doesn't actually have to be installed. You can run any Java that's available to you.

This is sometimes useful for running Java from a network share.

Try running the java.exe program by fully qualifying it. If it runs that way, your problem is with your PATH.

To illustrate that you can run any Java by qualifing it, I have 9 JDK's and 1 JRE installed:

• 32-bit JDK: Versions 1.4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
• 64-bit JDK: Versions 5, 6, 7, and 8
• 32-bit JRE: Version 8

Copied from a single command prompt window:

C:\>"C:\prog\java32\jdk1.4.2_19\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.4.2_19"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_19-b04)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_19-b04, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\prog\java32\jdk1.5.0_22\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.5.0_22"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_22-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_22-b03, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\prog\java32\jdk1.6.0_45\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.6.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_45-b06)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 20.45-b01, mixed mode, sharing)

C:\>"C:\prog\java32\jdk1.7.0_79\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.7.0_79"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_79-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 24.79-b02, mixed mode, sharing)

C:\>"C:\prog\java32\jdk1.8.0_51\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.8.0_51"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_51-b16)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.51-b03, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\prog\java64\jdk1.5.0_22\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.5.0_22"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_22-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 1.5.0_22-b03, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\prog\java64\jdk1.6.0_45\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.6.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_45-b06)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.45-b01, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\prog\java64\jdk1.7.0_79\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.7.0_79"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_79-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.79-b02, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\prog\java64\jdk1.8.0_51\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.8.0_51"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_51-b16)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.51-b03, mixed mode)

C:\>"C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_51\bin\java.exe" -version
java version "1.8.0_51"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_51-b16)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.51-b03, mixed mode, sharing)

I know that people recommend staying away from rt.exec(String), but this works, and I don't know how to change it into the array version.

rt.exec("cmd.exe /c cd \""+new_dir+"\" & start cmd.exe /k \"java -flag -flag -cp terminal-based-program.jar\"");