Eclipse (a Java IDE) - First Steps

(Free Web Tutorial)

by Michael Thomas

In this tutorial you will install Eclipse SDK, create your first Java Project and then create the Java Cert project for the "Free Java Core & Certification Training Web Tutorial".

Note: On the Eclipse Home page, you can download the whole Eclipse site (all content, tutorials & examples) !!!

This tutorial covers:

Eclipse Mars.1 (4.5.1) (June 2015 release) as of 12/24/2015

Prerequisites

Have a JDK installed. (Website Suggests: At or higher than: Java SE 7)
This tutorial has been tested in the following environment:
Date: 12/24/2015
OS: Win 7
JDK: Java SE 8u66

Objectives

Install Eclipse SDK,
Create your first Java Project
Create a Java Project from an existing source.
(Note: You will download all of the files for the Java Cert project for the "Free Java Core & Certification Training Web Tutorial" and setup a project.)

Terms

IDE - Interactive Development Environment
JDK - Java Development Kit
SDK - Software Development Kit

Eclipse Download

Prerequisites - JRE (Java Runtime Environment)
Download Eclipse
- www.eclipse.org - (for older versions of Eclipse use: http://archive.eclipse.org )
  - Click "Downloads" button at the top to go to the "Main Eclipse Download" page.
  - In the burnt orange bar at the top select the OS. This tutorial is for "Windows".
  - Eclipse now has an "Installer" option, however, I will cover the ZIP install.
  - Locate the section: Eclipse IDE for Java Developers
    Download (~170meg): Click 32 bit or 64 bit depending on your OS
    64 bit File name: eclipse-java-mars-1-win32-x86_64.zip
  - FYI Information:
    - Older versions of Eclipse: http://wiki.eclipse.org/Older_Versions_Of_Eclipse
    - Documentation: http://help.eclipse.org/mars/index.jsp
If updating Eclipse to a newer version - if you are upgrading your Eclipse version read these notes.
- I like to launch my current version of Eclipse, click "Help", then "About Eclipse SDK" and write down the version.
- Next, I'll rename my current directory from "c:\eclipse" to "c:\eclipse_x.x.x" (using the version # for the Xs). This way you can still launch the old version if you want to.
- Note: Normally all of your projects will still show up because you will specify your eclipse workspace which has the meta data.

Eclipse Install

Install Eclipse
- The zip file has the directory "eclipse" that has all of the files in it.
  Extract the zip file to: C:\
  Note: The files will be extracted to: C:\eclipse\... Make sure that zip programs "Use folder names" is enabled.
Create an Eclipse Workspace

Create a directory for your workspace: c:\eclipseworkspace\MyEclipseTestWS

Launch Eclipse
- WARNING: When you launch Eclipse do NOT check "Use this as the default and do not ask again."
  
  You'll soon learn that it is nice to have many workspaces.
  The last workspace you used is the default and you can choose ones in the past with the drop down select.
  - If you do click the check box here is how you put the option back.
    Windows, Preferences, in the box type "workspace". Click on the first "workspace".
    Uncheck: Prompt for workspace on startup.
- Launch Eclipse by running the executable: C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe
  (Note: I use Win Explorer to launch the executable.)
- Workspace = c:\eclipseworkspace\MyEclipseTestWS
  (Default for Win7 is: C:\Users\<username>\workspace)
- Click OK.
- Close the "Welcome" Screen by clicking the X. (Note: You can display it at any time: Window, Welcome)
Optional: Create a Shortcut
- Win 7 - Create an entry in "Start"
  - Using Windows Explorer, navigate to: c:\eclipse.
  - Right click on the file "eclipse.exe" and choose "Create Shortcut".
  - Now left click on the file "eclipse.exe - Shortcut" and drag it on top of the Windows "Start" icon in the very bottom left corner of your computer.
    Windows will "pin" it to the "Start" button.
  - Note: You can do the same thing to your Desktop.
- Win XP - Create an entry in "Start", "All Programs"
  - Right click on "Start", choose "Explorer all users",
  - Click on "Programs"
  - Click "File", "New", "Shortcut"
  - For location of item, browse to: C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe
  - Click next.
  - Name for the shortcut: Eclipse
  - Click "Finish"
  - Click "Start", "All Programs"
  - Click "Eclipse" to launch the program.
- Test your shortcut.
You have installed Eclipse!
Now visit the "Must Know ASAP" section of the "EclipseSurvival Guide" page.

Create a Test Java Project & Java Class

Create a test Java Project
- File, New, "Java Project"
- Project name: MyJavaTest
- Note the other Defaults:
  "Use default location" should be checked so the project will be located: c:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest
  JRE - notice the location of the JRE. (JavaSE-1.8)
  Project Layout: Select - "Create separate folders for sources and class files.
- Click "Next"
- Click "Finish"
- Note: Use Windows Explorer and look at the directories and files that were created under the new directory!
  C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\.classpath
  C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\.project
  <DIR> C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\.settings
  <DIR> C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\bin
  <DIR> C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\src
  C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\.settings\org.eclipse.jdt.core.prefs
Create a new Java Class
- File, New, Class
- Source Folder: should be defaulted to: "MyJavaTest/src".
- Name: MyApplication
- Which method studs would you like to create?
  Check - public static void main(string[] args)
- Click "Finish"
- Make the java class have the following code:
  public class MyApplication {
  public static void main( String [] args ) {
  System.out.println("Hello World from an Application.");
  }
  }
- Save the application with "Ctrl-S".
- Click "Run" (the green play button)
  (Or click the black down arrow, "Run As", "Java Application")
- In the "Console" window at the bottom you should see the following:
  Hello World from an Application.
- Click the "Clear Console" icon (Paper with an X in it) in the panel of icons to the top right of the console output.
- Congratulations - you have created and tested you first Java Application.
- Notes
  - C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest - has the files you just created.
    You just added these two:
    C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\bin\MyApplication.class
    C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest\src\MyApplication.java

Create a Java Project from an Existing Source ("javacert" project from this website)

You can setup Eclipse to access all of my Java Certification examples that I have at my web site on your local PC.
Click on the link below and look for the section titled "Download Files".
Free Training: Sun Certified Java Programmer Exam
Extract the zip file into the directory: C:\eclipseworkspace (When you extract the file it will create a directory called "javacert".)
Example: C:\eclipseworkspace\javacert (Note: You can place it in a subdirectory of some other directory if you want. I have mine elsewhere!)
Launch Eclipse
Create a Java Project from an existing source.
- File, New, Java Project, Next
- Project Name: javacert
- UnCheck - Use default location.
- Location: Click browse and navigate to the directory. (ie: C:\eclipseworkspace\javacert )
- Click "Next"
- Verify "Default output folder" has this value: javacert/classes
- Click "Finish"
Test your new Java Project
- Expand "src".
- Expand "(default package)"
- Double click on "MyHello_Application.java"
- In the System.out.println() add your name. ex: System.out.println("Hello World from an Application by Michael Thomas.");
- Ctrl-S to save. Then click Run (Green play button). See if the console has your change!
- Now you can edit and run the source code at my web site on your local PC using Eclipse - HAVE FUN.