IDL 7.0.6 and ENVI+IDL 4.6/4.6.1 Workbench will not launch (Java dependency issue)

The IDL Workbench relies on the presence of version 5.0 of the 32-bit Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in your operating system's path. In many cases, you will already have a JRE installed independent of IDL; if you do and if the IDL Workbench can locate the appropriate executable file, you do not need to take any additional action.

If you attempt to start the IDL Workbench and receive an error dialog that looks like:

   A Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK)
   must be available in order to run Idlde. No Java virtual machine
   was found after searching the following locations:
   [ list of locations searched ]

then proceed with the following instructions.

Related Help Articles: 4441: Help systems for Windows ENVI 4.6.1, ENVI 4.6 , or IDL 7.0.6 will not launch (Java dependency issue) 4442: Help systems for ENVI 4.6.1/4.6 or IDL 7.0.6 on Mac, Linux, Solaris won't launch (Java dependency)

1. Download and install the 32-bit Java Runtime Environment version 5.0 update 11 (JRE 1.5.0._11). The JRE is a free download available directly from Sun Microsystems at:
   
   
   http://java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/5.0_11/index.html

   Note: If your system already has 32-bit JRE version 5.0 update 11 (1.5.0_11) (or a later compatible version), proceed to step 3 to configure IDL to use the installed version.
   
   Note: 32-bit JRE 1.5.0_11 has been tested and confirmed to be compatible with the IDL 7.0.6 and IDL 7.0.8 Workbench.
   
   

2. In many cases, the JRE installation process will place the required files in your system path, where they are available to IDL. In this situation, the IDL Workbench will now start without errors, and you do not need to take any additional action.
   
   If you attempt to start the IDL Workbench and receive the same error dialog, proceed to step 3.
   
   
3. Modify the IDL Workbench initialization file to use the JRE installed on your system. You will need to modify the IDL Workbench .ini file located in the idlde subdirectory of the main IDL directory of your ENVI+IDL 4.6.1, ENVI+IDL 4.6, or IDL 7.0.6 installation. Do one of the following:
   
   
   • Windows Systems
     
     Open the idlde.ini file, for example:
     
     
     C:\Program Files\ITT\idl706\idlde\idlde.ini
     -or-
     C:\Program Files\ITT\idl708\idlde\idlde.ini

     with Notepad or other plain text editor, and add the following two lines to the beginning of the file:

        -vm
        C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin

     where the second line is the directory that contains the file javaw.exe on your system.
     
     Note: If you are using ENVI+IDL, make the same modification to the envi_idl.ini file located in the same directory.
     
     

   • Macintosh Systems
     
     The Macintosh Operating system supplies its own version of the JRE. No additional configuration should be necessary.
     
     
   • Linux Systems
     
     Open the idlde.linux.x86.ini file, for example:
     
     
     /usr/local/itt/idl706/idlde/idlde.linux.x86.ini
     -or-
     /usr/local/itt/idl708/idlde/idlde.linux.x86.ini

     and add the following two lines at the beginning of the file:

        -vm
        /usr/java/jre/bin

     where the second line is the directory that contains the 32-bit binary version of the file
     javaws on your system.
     
     

   • Solaris Systems
     
     Open the idlde.solaris2.sparc.ini file, for example:
     
     
     /usr/local/itt/idl706/idlde/idlde.solaris2.sparc.ini
     -or-
     /usr/local/itt/idl708/idlde/idlde.solaris2.sparc.ini

     and add the following two lines at the beginning of the file:

        -vm
        /usr/java/jre/bin

     where the second line is the directory that contains the file javaws on your system.
     
     

   After installing and configuring the JRE, the IDL Workbench should work as expected.