BRIDGES (Java): Getting Started (Using jGRASP)

Step 1: Install jGRASP
  • If you do not have jGRASP installed, download it from the jGRASP site and install it on your computer.
  • jGRASP requres Java 1.6 or higher to be installed, else you will get the error "Unable to locate a java executable. Java 6 or higher must be installed to run jGRASP."
Step 2: Create Bridges Account
  • Visit the Bridges main page and create an account by clicking the login button on the top navigation bar.
  • In the new window, click 'Sign Up!' near the bottom of the page.
  • Make sure your user ID is free of spaces!
  • After creating your account, click on the profile tab in the upper-right corner. In this view, you will see your account details and API Key; you will need this API key later in the tutorial(as well as in every BRIDGES program you write).

  • NOTE: Make sure to remember your password. There is no password recovery option, and you can only have one account per email address.
Step 3: Create a Java Project
  • In JGRASP, Open Project-->New
  • Follow the Project menu directions and create a Java Project at a convenient location. This will create a new folder on your drive.
Step 4: Import Jar File into project
  • Download the Bridges (Java) from the BRIDGES website and save it in a convenient place on your drive.
  • In jGRASP, Open Settings-->PATH/CLASSPATH-->Project and select the CLASSPATH tab.
  • Click the New button, and enter the path to the Bridges JAR file.
Step 4: Create, Build, Execute a BRIDGES Java Program
  • Open File-->New-->Java
  • Go to this BRIDGES Tutorial and copy/paste the Java tutorial program into the main window by creating a new file. Save the file and make sure file name matches the class name.
  • Set an assignment number, and your credentials (user name, API key) in the line that creates the Bridges object at the beginning of the program.
  • Compile the program by hitting the Build-->compile button followed by hitting the Buile->Run button .
  • If there are no errors, you will see a link printed on the console. Use that to visualize the output as seen in the image.