Eclipse : Importing Existing Projects into workspace

Question

We have a Existing project downloaded from server which was build on Maven . (this is in the form of Folder Structure )

While import that project in Eclipse , should i use

Existing Projects into workspace

Or

File System

Please guide me

Thank you .

Answer 1

File -> Import... -> General -> Existing Project into Workspace -> Select the archive file by clicking Browse button -> Select the checkbox * Copy projects into workspace. (this answers user462990's question). This way the project is copied into the workspace and the main project is not affected.

If you use "File -> Import... -> Maven -> Existing Maven Projects" you don't get the option to copy projects into workspace.

Answer 2

If you import a project into the workspace the files remain in their original locations. I do not know how to avoid this. Often (always) I would like to have a copy of the files in the workspace and leave the project I imported it from in its original location untouched. A frequent use-case is that I have a project and wish to make some changes to it to test out something without affecting the main project. Thanks John

Answer 3

If you really have an existing project, then you must have a .project file. Check for that, and if you do have, you should use the Existing Projects into workspace option, and select the root folder of your project.

Since you have a Maven project, you could also import it as Existing Maven Projects, given that you have the Maven plugin installed in your eclipse.