Setting JAVA_HOME

[CM <wham@crashmedia.com>]

Hi all,

I'm having a problem setting my path for java? I use RH 6.2 at work but now 
have a laptop (running debian) and I can't seem to get the classpath set 
properly. I've tried adding the appropriate lines to export $JAVA_HOME to 
these files /etc/profile and to ~/bash_profile. What am I doing wrong here? 
I'm wondering if someone can help me set the path for debian woody? Or a doc 
or website that details the unique features of configuring debian which I now 
think is the best distro : )

Also if someone can give me a quick run down of the /etc/alternatives/ 
directory what it is and what it does?

Obviously, the path is already set when configured by apt, because I can type 
java and get the expected result, but the app I am using does not find it 
when i try to fire it up gives me an error along the lines of set 
PATH=$JAVA_HOME.

Thanks for your time,

CM