Extending an existing Eclipse IDE

Depending on the package you are installing, you might be able to extend a compatible Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE) already installed on your system by adding the functionality contained in the installation package.

Each package that you install with IBM Installation Manager is bundled with a version of the Eclipse IDE or workbench. However, for some packages you might have the option to extend – add to the IDE the additional functionality provided in the installation package – an existing Eclipse instance installed on your workstation. If the Extend an existing Eclipse IDE option is enabled on the Location page, then the package or packages that you are installing can be used to extend an existing Eclipse IDE.

You might extend your existing Eclipse IDE, for example, because you want to gain the functionality provided in the installation package, but you also want to preserve the preferences and settings in your current IDE as well as any plug-ins you have installed that already extend the Eclipse IDE.

Your existing Eclipse IDE must be version 3.2 or greater to be extended. Installation Manager checks that the Eclipse instance you specify meets the requirements for the installation package.

When you extend an existing Eclipse IDE, Installation Manager allows the functionality in the installation packages to be used within the existing Eclipse IDE; however, the files that provide the functionality are still installed in the directory of the package group that you selected.

When you extend an existing Eclipse IDE, Installation Manager creates a new Eclipse executable file (eclipse.exe or eclipse.bin) and a new entry in your Start menu for starting the application. However, when you start this new Eclipse executable file, your existing Eclipse IDE is started along with the plug-ins containing the new functionality you installed.


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