openxava / documentation / Eclipse with OpenXava 6

If you're using OpenXava 7.0 or newer look at the new instructions
Since v6.4 OpenXava includes OpenXava Studio, so you don't need an additional IDE to work with OpenXava. OpenXava Studio is based on Eclipse but is lighter and more beautiful. Moreover, you can install any Eclipse plugin you need on top of OpenXava Studio and change or customize the visual theme, to have a light theme or color icons, for example. Anyways, if you prefer to work with your own Eclipse you can. Moreover, OpenXava projects are WTP projects, so if you use Eclipse IDE for Enterprise Java Developers, you can add a Tomcat server in the Servers tab and add your OpenXava applications to it.

Install Lombok

OpenXava does not require Lombok, however since v6.5 we use it in the Getting Started guide and the OpenXava course, so we recommend you install it. Follow the official doc to install Lombok into your Eclipse.

Use OpenXava workspace

After starting your Eclipse it will ask you to select the workspace, select the workspace folder included in your OpenXava distribution:
switch-workspace_en.png
Probably Eclipse will complain about the Eclipse workspace version (newer or older) with a dialog like this:
newer-workspace-version-message.png
Don't worry, just click on Continue.
If you have done it right, you will see the Addons and OpenXava projects on the left, inside the Package Explorer, in this way:
initial-openxava-workspace-with-eclipse.png
If not, you're not in the OpenXava workspace, use File > Switch Workspace to look for the OpenXava workspace again.
In order that OpenXava workspace works nicely you have to select Dark theme. In the top menu select Window > Preferences > General > Appearance:
eclipse-change-to-dark-theme.png
Choose Dark for Theme and click on Apply and Close button.

Create a new Java project

You have to create a new regular Java project, for that choose File > New > Project in the menu:
create-new-project-menu.png
Then select Java Project and click on Next:
select-java-as-type-project.png
Now type the project name, Invoicing for example, and click the Finish button:
create-new-java-project-wizard_en.png
If you're using Java 9 or better with a recent version of Eclipse, it will ask you:
Asking for module name
Just click on Don't Create.
After this step you have an empty Java project named Invoicing:
bare-java-project_en.png

Turn the project into an OpenXava project

Now you must convert your plain Java project into an OpenXava project. Inside OpenXava project you have a CreateNewProject.xml file, execute it as an Ant build, in this way:
run-create-new.project.png
Now refresh your project with F5 and you're ready to follow the getting started guide:

Follow the Getting Started guide