Locating the ProductivityBlocks JAR File for Portable Install

Overview

ProductivityBlocks is the open-source, Java-based graphical block programming add-on for the Arduino IDE that AutomationDirect bundles with its Productivity Open industrial controller platform. The tool is designed primarily to program the P1AM-100 CPU, which mimics the Arduino MKRZero footprint while exposing industrial-grade I/O, removable terminal blocks, and a ruggedized form factor intended for cabinet mounting.

The ProductivityBlocks tool itself is distributed as a single executable JAR file plus a small set of supporting resources that the Arduino IDE discovers through the standard tools folder convention. When IT policy prevents a standard install, the tool can be relocated to a USB drive and the Arduino IDE launched in portable mode, provided the directory structure is preserved exactly.

Prerequisites

1. Arduino IDE 1.8.x (ProductivityBlocks is built against the classic IDE toolchain and is not compatible with Arduino IDE 2.x out of the box).
2. ProductivityBlocks plug-in installed at least once on a reference machine, or the GitHub repository source build.
3. Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 8 or newer; the ProductivityBlocks JAR is invoked through javaw by the IDE shim.
4. P1AM-100 CPU and a compatible ProductivityOpen base (P1AM-START or P1AM-ETH).
5. Write access to a USB drive formatted as NTFS or exFAT with at least 500 MB free.

ProductivityBlocks Installation Architecture

The Arduino IDE enumerates third-party tools by scanning subfolders of tools/<toolname>/tool/ located in the IDE installation directory. ProductivityBlocks follows this exact convention. The default Windows install path is:

When the Arduino IDE starts, it looks for any directory under tools/ and registers a menu item under Tools → ProductivityBlocks when it finds the JAR. The JAR exposes a main class that the IDE shells out to via a small wrapper script. The entire tool is self-contained; no registry entries, services, or background processes are created.

Locating the ProductivityBlocks JAR File

To harvest the JAR for relocation:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools\.
2. Confirm the ProductivityBlocks subdirectory exists. If it is missing, the ProductivityBlocks plug-in was never installed on this machine and you must obtain it from the AutomationDirect Productivity Open programming page or the GitHub repository.
3. Drill into ProductivityBlocks\tool\. The deliverable you need is ProductivityBlocks.jar.
4. Verify the file is a valid JAR: right-click → Properties. The file size is typically 1.5–3 MB, and Windows will report it as an Executable Jar File.
5. Copy the entire ProductivityBlocks folder (not just the JAR) so the IDE retains access to the block-definition resources, language files, and launcher.

Portable Installation Procedure

Arduino IDE 1.8.x supports a portable mode triggered by the presence of a portable directory beside the IDE executable. Combine this with the relocated ProductivityBlocks folder to produce a fully USB-resident environment.

Step 1: Stage the portable IDE

1. Copy the entire Arduino IDE directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\) to the root of the USB drive, producing E:\Arduino\.
2. Create a new, empty folder named exactly portable directly inside E:\Arduino\. The IDE checks for this folder on every launch.
3. Verify the layout: E:\Arduino\arduino.exe and E:\Arduino\portable\ must both exist.

Step 2: Relocate ProductivityBlocks

1. Copy the harvested ProductivityBlocks folder into E:\Arduino\tools\.
2. Final layout: E:\Arduino\tools\ProductivityBlocks\tool\ProductivityBlocks.jar.
3. Do not rename any internal files; the IDE matches on the directory name and the JAR main class.

Step 3: First launch

1. Run E:\Arduino\arduino.exe.
2. The IDE writes its sketchbook, preferences, and installed library index into E:\Arduino\portable\, keeping the host machine clean.
3. Open the Tools → Board menu and select Arduino MKRZERO (the board profile the P1AM-100 emulates).
4. Open Tools → ProductivityBlocks. The block editor should appear within a few seconds.

P1AM-100 CPU Compatibility

The P1AM-100 is the industrial target for ProductivityBlocks. It exposes an MKRZero-compatible MCU section and is paired with discrete and analog I/O modules on a backplane.

Verification

1. In ProductivityBlocks, drag a Setup block with a digital pin (e.g., D2) to OUTPUT and a Loop block containing Digital Write toggling D2 every 1000 ms.
2. Click Upload in ProductivityBlocks. The IDE should compile and flash the P1AM-100 over USB.
3. Open the Arduino Serial Monitor at 9600 baud to confirm the upload banner reports the MKRZero bootloader.
4. Measure pin D2 on the P1AM-100 with a meter; it should toggle 0–3.3 V at 0.5 Hz.
5. Close and reopen the IDE from the USB drive with no network access to confirm true portability.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Field-Proven Notes

• The ProductivityBlocks tool folder is safe to copy between machines; there is no machine-bound licensing in the open-source build.
• Multiple Arduino IDE versions can coexist as long as each carries its own tools\ tree.
• Always match the ProductivityBlocks plug-in release to the IDE minor version; mismatches occasionally surface as NoClassDefFoundError on launch.
• The portable install does not require administrator rights on the target machine, which is the principal reason IT departments accept it.

FAQ