Open Source For Geeks: How to install Eclipse plugin manually from a local zip file

Thursday, 11 October 2018

How to install Eclipse plugin manually from a local zip file

Background

Eclipse is an integrated development environment (IDE) used in computer programming and is the most widely used Java IDE. It contains a base workspace and an extensible plug-in system for customizing the environment. You can download Eclipse from their official site -

https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

It also supports installing the plugin to customize your IDE environment. If you have already used Eclipse you might know how you can install a new plugin. All you need is the sites link where the plugin is hosted and you are all set. You can do this from

Help -> Install new Software

In this post, I will show you how to install a plugin downloaded as a zip file from the local disk.

How to install Eclipse plugin manually from a local zip file

First, make sure your zip file is a valid Eclipse plugin. To verify that you can simply view contents of that zip. You should see two folders-

features,
plugins

The new version of Eclipse might also have following files -

content.jar,
artifacts.jar

Eg.

If above files exist then it means this is an archived update site. Once you have verified that your plugin zip file is correct it's time to get it installed.

Now go back to

"Help" -> "Install New Software"

Now click on "Add"

Now click on "Archive"

Now select the zip file you downloaded earlier. You can leave the name blank. Now click on Ok.

You can now see the plugin details. Select it for installation. Make sure you unselect "Contact all update sites...." checkbox as it can sometimes create problems.

Click "Next", accept terms and conditions and click "Finish".

You should now see a warning that you are installing unsigned content.