Jar manifest error – java.io.IOException: invalid header field

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Often times, this error is causing by the mismatch order between “m” and “f” Jar options.

For example,

 
jar -cvfm manifest.txt example.jar com/mkyong/awt/*.class

The above command will causing the following error :


java.io.IOException: invalid header field
	at java.util.jar.Attributes.read(Attributes.java:406)
	at java.util.jar.Manifest.read(Manifest.java:199)
	at java.util.jar.Manifest.<init>(Manifest.java:69)
	at sun.tools.jar.Main.run(Main.java:150)
	at sun.tools.jar.Main.main(Main.java:1044)

Did you spot the error? The “m” and “manifest” is not match, the system is consider your manifest file as “example.jar” 🙂

The letters “m” and “f” must appear in the same order that “manifest” and “jarfile” appear.

The working command should be

 
jar -cvmf manifest.txt example.jar com/mkyong/awt/*.class

Please read this article about the correct way to add manifest into your Jar file.

mkyong

Founder of Mkyong.com, passionate Java and open-source technologies. If you enjoy my tutorials, consider making a donation to these charities.

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divya
8 years ago

java.io.IOException: invalid header field
at java.util.jar.Attributes.read(Attributes.java:410)
at java.util.jar.Manifest.read(Manifest.java:199)
at java.util.jar.Manifest.(Manifest.java:69)
at sun.tools.jar.Main.run(Main.java:172)
at sun.tools.jar.Main.main(Main.java:1177)

i don’t get this error with edit plus but i get this when the same work done with notepad
what is the reason?

3
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AVS
10 years ago

saved my day. Thanks

2
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Titus Kurian
6 years ago

Hi M K Yong

This will happens if there is a enter line in Manifest file

For Eg:-

Class-Path: . lib/mail.jar
lib/log4j-1.2.17.jar
lib/poi-3.17.jar
lib/serializer.jar
Main-Class: com.mypack.MyMain

Solution is Make the class path attributes in one line seperated by space like as follows:

Class-Path: . lib/mail.jar lib/log4j-1.2.17.jar lib/poi-3.17.jar lib/serializer.jar
Main-Class: com.mypack.MyMain

0
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Ahmed
12 years ago

Hallo Sir,

I still have the same problem.

a:HelloWorld ahmed$ jar -cvfm HelloWorld.jar Manifest.txt HelloWorld.class
java.io.IOException: invalid header field
at java.util.jar.Attributes.read(Attributes.java:406)
at java.util.jar.Manifest.read(Manifest.java:199)
at java.util.jar.Manifest.(Manifest.java:69)
at sun.tools.jar.Main.run(Main.java:172)
at sun.tools.jar.Main.main(Main.java:1177)

0
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Ahmed
12 years ago
Reply to  Ahmed

I fixed it! 🙂

I was using the Mac program “TextEdit” and that’s why i had the error..

TextWrangler fixed the problem! 😀

1
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sites
13 years ago

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0
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TereBentikh
13 years ago

YOU ARE MARVELOUS, I HAVE BEEN 2 DAYS SEARCHING FOR THIS ANSWER

0
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Maddy
14 years ago

Thanks… you saved me sometime! 🙂

0
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