Why does my java code not compile -

the file compiles , works expected when try use in file keeps saying when attempt compile. don't know how import code file correctly. how import file use within , have read many explanations require ide don't plan on using, using notepad++.

you import readfile.*; readfile not package name class name. package allows categorize classes. take @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/java_package more details.

put readfile.java package (for example: package org.your-company.io) in second class:

import org.your-company.io.readfile; 

the instruction import somepackage.* indicates can use classes package somepackage in current class. example, if do:

import java.sql.*; 

i able call, in code, directly:

date dsql = ... // java.sql.date drivermanager driver = ... // java.sql.drivermanager etc. 

edit

as dukeling mentionned in comment, if classes in same "folder" (i mean package), can remove instruction import readfile.* wrong , useless.