jad does not always work for classes?

Question

I have set Jad for eclipse. I am able to decompile the java source code so I assume that the configuration is setup properly.

The problem is that some jars I include seem not to be decompiled. I.e. when I press on the class name that has been introduced from one of my jars I don't see the source but the class file editor complaining that the "Source not found".

Why could this be happening?
If I am able to view the java source code, doesn't that mean that decompiler has been properly setup?

Answer 1

See the Wikipedia page pointed at by Celeritas: "The most recent version of JAD says it supports only Java class file versions 45.3, 46.0 and 47.0, not ones produced by Java 5." We can suppose you are trying to open modern class files...

You might want to install JD | Java Decompiler instead. It has an Eclipse plug-in of its own (which I use), but it seems that JadEclipse also supports it. JD supports up to Java 7 bytecode format.

[EDIT] Currently JD-Eclipse has hosting problems, the plugin being flagged as virus by the host...

You can install it the old way, ie. by downloading the zip file (jdeclipse_update_site.zip) and dropping the features and plugins folders in the Eclipse installation folder... Don't forget to set the Class File Editor (the name of the JD editor) to *.class and *class without source in Preferences > General > Editors > File associations and set it as default.