Click: How to Add Jars to Project Build Paths in Eclipse (Java)

This updated guide examines Click: How to Add Jars to Project Build Paths in Eclipse (Java) and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Part 1of 5:

Adding Internal JARs

1. Create a new folder namedlibin your project folder. This stands for "libraries" and will contain all the JARs you'll be using for that project.
2. Copy and paste the JARs you need tolib. Select the JAR files you need and right-click them. Select them and click copy. Then paste them into the lib folder by clicking File then Paste or using Control or Command V.
3. Refresh your project. Do this by right-clicking the project name and selecting Refresh. The lib folder will now be visible in Eclipse with the JARs inside.

Part 2of 5:

Configuring Your Build Path

1. Expand thelibfolder in Eclipse. Click the arrow to the left of the folder to expand it.
2. Select all the JARs you need. Hold⇧Shiftand click the JARs in the expanded folder.
3. Right-click the JARs. This opens a pop-up menu to the right.
4. Navigate toBuild Path. Placing the mouse cursor over "Build Path" displays a submenu to the left.
5. SelectAdd to Build Path. The JARs will disappear from lib and reappear in Referenced Libraries .

Part 3of 5:

Configuring Your Build Path (Alternative Method)

1. Right-click the project name. This displays a pop-up menu to the right.
2. Navigate toBuild Path. It's in the pop-up menu that displays when you right-click on the project name. This displays a sub-menu to the right.
3. ClickConfigure Build Path. The project properties window will appear showing your build path configurations.
4. Select theLibrariestab. It's at the top of the project properties window.
5. ClickAdd JARs. It's on the right side of the project properties window.
6. Select the JARs you want and clickOK. The JARs will now appear in the list of libraries in the build path.
7. ClickOKto close the properties window. The JARs will now be in Referenced Libraries instead of lib .

Part 4of 5:

Adding External JARs

1. Right-click the project name. This displays a pop-up menu to the right.
   • Note: It is much better to reference JARs that exist in your project or in other projects - this allows you to check in all of your dependencies to your version control system.
2. Navigate toBuild Path. This displays a sub-menu to the right.
3. ClickConfigure Build Path. The project properties window will appear showing your build path configurations.
4. ClickAdd Variable. It's to the right of the project properties window.
5. ClickConfigure Variables. It's at the bottom of the New Variables window.
6. ClickNew. It's at the bottom of the preferences window.
7. Type a name for the new variable. For example, if these are JARs for Tomcat, perhaps you could call it "TOMCAT_JARS".
8. Browse to the directory that contains the JAR for the path. Click the Folder button and browse to the directory that contains the JAR path.
   • You can also Click File and select a specific jar file for the variable, if you prefer.
9. ClickOK. This defines the variables.
10. ClickOK. This closes the preferences dialog.
11. Select the variable from the list. Click the variable to select it.
12. ClickExtend. It's the button to the right of the list of variables.
13. Select the JAR(s) that you want to add to the classpath. Click to select the JARs. Hold⇧Shiftto select multiple JARs.
14. ClickOK. This closes the extend dialog window.
15. ClickOK. This closes the new classpath variable dialog.
16. ClickOK. This closes the build path setup dialog.
    • If you share the project with someone else, they must also define the variable. They can define it under Window -> Preferences -> Java -> Build Path -> Classpath Variables .

Adding External JARs (Alternative Method 1)

1. Right-click the project name. This displays a pop-up menu to the side.
   • Note: If you use this method, the external JAR will need to be in the same location on the hard drive for anyone who uses this project. This can make sharing a common project more difficult.
2. Navigate toBuild Path. This displays a sub-menu to the right.
3. ClickAdd External Archives. It's in the Build Path sub-menu.
4. Select the JARs you want and clickOpen. The JARs will now appear in Referenced Libraries .

Part 5of 5:

Adding External JARs (Alternative Method 2)

1. Right-click the project name. This displays a pop-up menu to the right.
   • Note: If you use this method, the external JAR will need to be in the same location on the hard drive for anyone who uses this project. This can make sharing a common project more difficult.
2. Navigate toBuild Path. It's in the pop-up menu that appears when you right-click the project name.
3. ClickConfigure Build Path. The project properties window will appear showing your build path configurations.
4. Select theLibrariestab. It's at the top of the project properties window.
5. ClickAdd External JARs. It's on the right side of the project properties window.
6. Select the JARs you want and clickOpen. The JARs will now appear in the list of libraries in the build path.
7. ClickOKto close the properties window. The JARs will now be in Referenced Libraries .