I keep a set of different extensions locations in
C:\eclipse\extensions
(each extension location is in a subdirectory of that directory). Suppose I want to install foo into the new extension location C:\eclipse\extensions\foo
. - I start eclipse with:
-configuration C:\eclipse\extensions\foo\eclipse\configuration
- I install foo using the update manager.
- Now I can use the extension by creating a
foo.link
file inside thelinks
directory of an eclipse installation (you might have to create thelinks
directory) containing:path=C:/eclipse/extensions/foobar
Note: You have to the forward slashes on windows in the links file.
Note: This procedure works for eclipse 3.4 and 3.5.
Note: You don't have to create any directory specified by the
-configuration
parameter. Eclipse will do that for you.Note: It is important to follow the pattern
EXTENSION_NAME/eclipse/configuration
for the -configuration
parameter because p2 will put the plugins one directory above the configuration
directory and link files require that the directory that contains the plugins is called eclipse
.Note: With this structure I can update plugins into the extension locations by running eclipse with the
-configuration
and then do the update.Advanced use: If I want to install bar based on my foo extension, I create a link file to foo in the bar extension location
links
directory:C:\eclipse\extensions\bar\eclipse\links\foo.linkand follow my standard procedure described above (the links directory can be populated before the first run of eclipse)...
Note for eclipse 3.4: If you are using eclipse 3.4 and you want to use the eclipse default update sites, you have to run eclipse without
-configuration
and export them (Help->Software Updates->Available Software (tab)->Manage Sites->Export), so you can import them into the -configuration
eclipse.Note for eclipse 3.5M6: You have to add an (empty)
.eclipseextension
file next to the plugins and features directory of the extension location.