Import the Struts framework (into Eclipse)

This document gives instructions how to install the Struts framework into an Eclipse IDE.

The Struts framework contains all Struts specific Java classes and sets up a project-structure.
The imported framework is a base for the development of own projects.

Prerequisites:

• Operating-system installed ;-).

• Eclipse installed.

Installation-instructions:

The installation is split into
   a Base-Installation and
   an Improved Configuration .

The Base-Installation creates a project and imports the Struts-framework into the just created project.

The Improved Configuration
◊  sets up additional directories to separate source-code and generated files and
◊  imports additional Java-Archive- (JAR-)Files containing additional classes.

Base-Installation:

The most current version (1.2.7 at the time of the last revision of this document) can be downloaded as zipped file from the following internet-site:
http://archive.apache.org/dist/struts/binaries/.

Download the zipped file to a directory of your choice (furtheron referred as download_directory).

After the download is complete, change to the download_directory and unzip:
cd /download_directory
unzip struts-1.2.7.zip

Import the framework (struts-blank.war) into an Eclipse project

Create a new project (named JS_Struts00) in Eclipse:

• Select >File>New>Project.



• In the New Project window select >Java Project and press the [Next >] button thereafter.



• Enter the Project Name (JS_Struts00), leave all other values unchanged and press the [Finish] button thereafter.



Import the Struts framework (struts-blank.war) into the project:

• Select >File>Import.



• Select the type of file (Zip file) and press the [Next >] button thereafter.



• Select the 'From zip file' using the [Browse...] button or
type it into the entry-field (/download_directory/struts-1.2.7/webapps/struts-blank.war).
Check the project to import (if not already checked)
and verify, that the 'Into folder' entry-field contains the correct project (JS_Struts00).
Press the [Finish] button to start the import.



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Test:

• Verify that the framework was imported by expanding the project (click onto the triangle left of the project name).

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Improved Configuration:

Create separate directories for the source-code:

This step is a prerequisite for the Tutorial 'JS_Struts01 – HTML in a WAR' .

First, the existing directory 'pages' is deleted.
It is intended to hold the web-pages (*.html, *.jsp). This directory will be replaced by an adequate one under the directory 'src' (source).

• Right click onto the directory 'pages' and select >Delete.



Confirm on the next window (not shown in this documentation by clicking the [Yes]-button.

Next, new directories for the source (Java-code and Web-pages) are created
A source directory for Java-Code is not already a prerequisite for 'JS_Struts01 – HTML in a WAR', but it is easier to create it now in one go.

• Right click onto the project 'JS_Struts00' and select >New>Folder.



• On the next window select the parent-folder ('JS_Struts00'), enter the name of the new folder ('src') and click the [ Finish ]-button.



• Repeat the two previous steps to create the folders 'java' and 'web-pages' under the parent-folder 'src'.
Hint: to expand the structure and to see sub-folders, click onto the triangle left of a folder.



Next, the 'Build Path' (were the compiler looks for Java-source-code) is defined.

• Right click onto the Project 'JS_Struts00' and select Properties.



• On the next window, the root-folder ('JS_Struts00') has to be removed from the Build Path.
To do so, select 'Java Build Path', Tab 'Source', mark the project ('Java_Struts00') and click the [Remove]-button



• To avoid a collision of the folder structure for source and output-folders, the output-folder is moved from the root of the project ('JS_Struts00') to a subfolder named 'gen/classes' (gen – for generated).
To do so, enter JS_Struts00/gen/classes in the entry-filed 'Default output-folder'.



• On the same window click the [Add Folder... ]-button



• On the next window expand the structure until you can see the folder 'java' under the folder 'src'.
Check the folder 'java' and click the [ OK ]-button



• Next, the folder for the generated classes (JS_Struts00/gen/classes) is entered at the field 'default output folder'.
To finalize your work, click the [ OK ]-button.



Finally, the 'index.jsp'-file in the root-folder is deleted.
(It will be created again in the folder 'src/web-pages' in the following lessons.)

• expand the project ('JS_Struts00') by clicking onto the triangle left.
Right click onto the file 'index.jsp' and select >Delete.



Confirm your request for deletion on the following window.

To verify the changes, expand the project ('JS_Struts00') by clicking onto the triangle left.
You should see, that the 'src/java' folder is displayed directly under the project-folder.

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