java - Use JARs of linked projects instead of .class -

i building desktop application netbeans 8.0.2. application, have manage 3 differents projects : main project, , 2 "tool" projects linked main.

when run main project, check jars present in classpath in order retrieve manifest files , work with.

in order have application run correctly, has see 2 linked projects' jars doesn't, because netbeans deals compiled classes of project instead of jar (for debugging purposes presume).

i found nothing on oracle documentation, , thing looking bit search create big-fat-jar using component.

is there way tell netbeans "compile linked projects , use jars instead of .class" files ? in advance

edit : here example when add project "add project .." option

/c:/users/xxxxx/documents/guiceprojectsrd/xxxreaderref/build/classes/

and here example when add jar

/c:/users/xxxxx/documents/javalib/xxxreaderref.jar

when add jar, have ".jar" extension helps me identify jar , manifest. when add project, there no path jar compiled classes, , can't work that.

i not depend on manifests in jars since kind of issues.

have @ typesafe config library. it's small 100% pure java library work json/hokon configuration. instead of relying on manifest, create 'reference.conf' in each tool project. in application, create 'application.conf' (if needed). load config via 'configfactory.load()'. automatically search available reference.conf's, , application.conf, on classpath, whether in jar or not, , merge configs single configuration.

i use approach in project able plugin extension. have example in tool a configuration like

tool.a.class = 'my-tool-a.class' 

or used nested structures like

tool {   {     class = 'my-tool-a.class'   } } 

do similar voor tool b. in application, config, can list of 'tool' configs , detect available tools that.