Converting a Java project to a Dynamic Web project in Eclipse

Once a project is created in Eclipse Europa of a certain type, it’s not the most straight forward process of changing the project to a different type. For example you have a project that Eclipse considers to be a Java project, but it’s actually a Web Project, you don’t get to take advantage of all of the features available for Web Projects, such as deploying to a local tomcat server, unless Eclipse is aware that it’s a web project. This has to do with the project settings and what eclipse considers the “Nature” of the project.

For example to convert a Java Project to a Web Project switch to or open the Resource Perspective of the project, in the root of the project. Open the .project file and make sure the builders and natures are present that are needed for a web project. See the example below, the name should be the name of your project, the most important nodes are the nature children in the natures node:

	testProject
	

	
	
		
			org.eclipse.jdt.core.javabuilder
			
			
		
		
			org.eclipse.wst.common.project.facet.core.builder
			
			
		
		
			org.eclipse.wst.validation.validationbuilder
			
			
		
	
	
		org.eclipse.wst.common.project.facet.core.nature
		org.eclipse.jdt.core.javanature
		org.eclipse.wst.common.modulecore.ModuleCoreNature
		org.eclipse.jem.workbench.JavaEMFNature
	

Once you’ve updated the .project file you can close the file and right click and choose properties on the project. When the properties window opens click on Project Facets. The Facets grid is probably empty, click the Modify Project button. Check the Dynamic Web Module and Java Facets, choose the Java and Servlet version that applies to your project. Click Next and specify the existing or new location of your src and web content directories. Click Finish.

As a final step I would recommend modifying the build path to compile your source directly into your /WEB-INF/classes directory by selecting Java Build Path and modifying the Default output directory.

Now you should be able to create a local tomcat server, or if you’ve already created one you should be able to add the project to the server by right clicking the server and choosing Add and Remove Projects.