Check a jar to make sure all the javac -target versions of the class files are what you expect. to use: java.exe -jar jarcheck.jar jartotocheck.jar 1.1 1.8 where jartocheck.jar is the name of jar to check. It will check all the class files in it. In this example: 1.1 is the lowest acceptable target version number. 1.8 is the highest acceptable target version number. Returns errorlevel 0 = all ok 1 = one or more class files bad 2 = jar unreadable or syntax error Errors are directory to System.err and messages about correct entries go to System.out. Currently, only version numbers 1.0...1.8 are supported. The program does not currently test minor version numbers. Why would you use this utility? To make sure that a jar intended to run under an old 1.1 JVM contains no classes accidentally compiled with javac -target 1.5. Passing this test does not guarantee the jar will work on an old JVM. The jar still might use methods not bundled with old JVMs. This should catch however, classes normally compiled with target 1.1 that were accidentally compiled with 1.5 as a side effect of compiling some 1.5 class. You can download it from http://mindprod.com/products1.html#JARLOOK To install, Extract the zip download with WinZip, available from http://www.winzip.com (or similar unzip utility) into any directory you please, often C:\ -- ticking off the "user folder names" option. To run as an application, type: java.exe -jar C:\com\mindprod\jarcheck\jarcheck.jar adjusting as necessary to account for where the jar file is. Don't confuse jarcheck with a similar simpler CMP utility called jarlook. Why the coffee bean in a jar icon? This is Sun's logo to represent Java in a jar file.