how to import source code into Eclipse from a jar file?

Question

I got a jar file that is packaged with source code in it. I want to load it as a top-level project and start working on the source code. How can I do that in Eclipse?

For example: if I have helloworld.jar, when I import this jar. I want to have the project name as helloworld, with all the packages and src inside it.

I do not want that code on build path.but on my IDE to work with.

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 07 '14 at 19:59

3

Create a directory named "helloworld" and unpack the JAR into that directory:

mkdir helloworld
cd helloworld
jar xvf ../helloworld.jar

You can then create a project from existing sources and start operating on that. I don't think Eclipse will let you create a project and change files directly in the JAR.

answered Jul 07 '14 at 19:59

Erik Gillespie

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Thanks. I was struggling with ways to see if eclipse automatically does it. but nevertheless, what you suggested is not very tedious – eagertoLearn Jul 07 '14 at 20:04

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

3

@eagertoLearn Yes. Eclipse does this in a very easy way than suggest by @Erik Gillespie.

Use Import from archive file feature in eclipse. Refer this post https://stackoverflow.com/a/11983201/1391924

Supported archive file types:

*.jar
*.zip
*.tar
*.tar.gz
*tgz

edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

Community

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answered Jul 08 '14 at 06:41

Chandrayya G K

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 07 '14 at 20:01

0

Right click on the .jar and choose open with -> winrar (or another archiver) and then click extract.

From there you can import the folder in Eclipse as a new project.

answered Jul 07 '14 at 20:01

Nicolas

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 02 '21 at 16:58

I was able to import the jar file contents using the following steps:

Create a new java project
Import jar file using file>import>general>archive file option
Move the folder containing source code into the src folder using drag and drop
Run the class containing the main method

how to import source code into Eclipse from a jar file?

4 Answers4