If I have an Eclipse project already in my workspace (say downloaded from version control), how can I open it in Eclipse?
5 Answers
It is kind of funny/misleading, but Eclipse doesn't provide an "Open" command. You need to use "File"->"Import"->"General"->"Import Existing Project" to be able to use your existing project.
you have to uncheck 'Copy projects into workspace'
if the project is already in the workspace
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7you have to uncheck 'Copy projects into workspace' if the project is already in the workspace – robasta Mar 09 '12 at 08:50
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5I am using eclipse on mac, it is not allowing me to import an existing project in workspace. – Nuraiz May 25 '12 at 11:02
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4i am using eclipse in mac. I unchecked 'Copy projects into workspace' but it is still not working. – Nuraiz May 25 '12 at 11:23
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1@Nuraiz I have given an answer for your problem. See it below – interboy Jan 28 '13 at 00:28
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If unchecking 'Copy projects into workspace' doesn't work, try the refresh button on right and then uncheck it. – Atul Goyal Apr 11 '14 at 09:38
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switch the radio button either from "Select root directory" to "Select archive file" or the other way round and switch it back afterwards. THIS WORKS ! – shailesh Oct 22 '14 at 10:54
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in new eclipse Mars.1 `File->Import->General->File system` – pawciobiel Nov 04 '15 at 12:15
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Sorry to revive an old section, but is there any headlines to do exactly that from the command line? If Batch it would be nice, if not, any direction would be really appreciated. – Daniel Luz Mar 22 '16 at 21:17
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If you still got problems because Eclipse doesn't want to import projects in your workspace (i.e. grays them out), even if "copy" is deselected: close eclipse, goto `
/.metadata/.plugins` and delete the `org.eclipse.core.resources` folder. Now restart eclipse and try to import again. – cheppsn Oct 26 '17 at 12:10
If you are using Eclipse for Mac, you have to create a new project with the same name as the folder that contains the project, which is already in the workspace. Do nothing else (no imports), just finish the wizard, and you will find all the subfolders and files in the new project created.
It's very misleading though, I had the same problem and it got me half an hour to solve it.

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It would have saved me a lot of headaches if I had found this earlier. – Matthias Grabmair Jan 05 '17 at 18:42
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I am on Eclipse for Linux, and I had to right click on the folder and click refresh. – Hielke Walinga Apr 06 '18 at 14:32
I had the same Problem as Nuraiz but i was able to work around.
You have to select the project you want to open and uncheck the 'Copy projects into workspace'. Then switch the radio button either from "Select root directory" to "Select archive file" or the other way round and switch it back afterwards.
You can now magically select your project or maybe it is already selected.

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1You help me a lot! But I think it's a bug that we have to switch the radio button in order to comlete the process. – duleshi Jul 08 '13 at 01:59
It is already open, but your windows "Package explorer" and "Project explorer" are closed and you do not see it. Go to Tab Window then Show view and chose any of them.

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You will see the same in Project Explorer. As If you do any checkout , it will fall in Project explorer syn with your workspace.

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