How to open and edit multiple projects in the same window?

Question

I build in maven multiple projects (let's name them A,B,C). Project A uses .jar of project B which uses .jar of project C.

I am modifying the code of all A/B/C projects, (A is MVC app, B are business services and C is some shared layer).

The thing is, in Eclipse/NetBeans I can see all of them at once and it's comfortable to modify them. In IDEA though, I have to open 3 instances (or n instances) of IntelliJ IDEA.

Am I missing something? Is there better approach when using IntelliJ? This is the biggest downside of IntelliJ for me atm.

Looking through the answers to date, the basic gist I see is that IntelliJ defines what Eclipse calls "projects" as modules, and "workspaces" as projects. The idea is to ensure that modules in the same project are fairly related. So if project A depends on project B, but both are totally unrelated to project C, it would be good to open projects A and B as modules in the same IntelliJ project, while opening C in a separate project in a second IntelliJ instance. You can agree or disagree with the design, but (assuming I've correctly captured the idea) I honor the thought behind it. — John Chesshir, Dec 19 '17 at 15:42
It has been changed now, you can follow this tutorial. https://codedaily.in/how-to-open-multiple-projects-in-intellij-idea/ — DeepanshuJ, Sep 28 '22 at 02:23
@DeepanshuJ, "Merge All Project Windows" is available only for macOS according to https://blog.jetbrains.com/idea/2022/07/intellij-idea-2022-2/ — Leponzo, Dec 21 '22 at 20:24

score 529 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '18 at 06:29

529

I think this has improved with recent versions of IntelliJ. In my current version (12.0.2), you can add any number of separate Maven projects to the same "workspace".

The simplest way I've found to do this is to click the little + icon in the "Maven Projects" window (View > Tool Windows > Maven Projects) and then select the additional pom file you want to import.

edited May 23 '18 at 06:29

Weslor

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answered Feb 01 '13 at 00:32

Viktor Nordling

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Just to add: once the Maven Project is added it will load in the Project panel if it's a local project. – Aram Kocharyan Jan 04 '14 at 12:14
Is there a way to save such state in order not to repeat all POM opening later? – Cleankod Nov 26 '14 at 07:31
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If these projects are located in different git repositories, you can check 'Control repositories synchronously' in the settings (Settings > Version Control > Git). IntelliJ will keep pushes, updates and branch selection synced over the multiple projects. – Tim Van Laer Jul 13 '15 at 15:25
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For those that are new to IntelliJ and don't know where the "Maven Projects" window is: top right corner. – dustin.schultz Mar 08 '16 at 22:55
You should also modify the iml file in your main project to make sure that it picks up the module dependency rather than library dependency. – anirus Jan 26 '17 at 14:24
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With 2017 version it's different, refer to https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/2017.1/maven-projects-tool-window.html – vikramvi May 29 '17 at 09:58
File > Import project, or right mouse-click > Import project in the project explorer was too difficult I guess. Lol. – html_programmer Oct 14 '18 at 13:53
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Also, make sure that the `version` in the project B's pom.xml matches the version in Project A's pom.xml. So that IntelliJ can open the source file when you click on a class in Project A that has its source in Project B, otherwise you'll get the `.class` file opened instead. – Miguel Reyes Nov 14 '18 at 19:54
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So if you need multiple projects open, but they're Gradle or Ant projects, you're still out of luck. No thanks... I need to be able to have all 3 open, like NetBeans and Eclipse allow. Lack of a proper workspace is the #1 reason I still don't use IJ. – Manius Jan 23 '19 at 06:44
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View > Tool Windows > Maven > An inline Window Opens > Click on Plus(+) Sign > Choose POM File of the Project You want to add in Workspace/Window > OK – Karan Kaw Apr 12 '21 at 07:16

Tho · Answer 2 · 2022-03-09T23:01:56.960

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Step 1: open "Maven Projects"

Step 2: select the project you want to import:

edited Mar 09 '22 at 23:01

answered Nov 18 '15 at 10:19

Tho

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I don't see the option in my instance: `2019.3 community` – Marinos An Dec 10 '19 at 13:12
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Thanks! What are the advantages over adding other parts as "module" as described in the other popular answer? – Karussell May 07 '20 at 12:39
after adding I need to know how to "remove" it again. – anand krish Mar 26 '21 at 07:42

score 203 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 10 '21 at 14:08

203

Prequisite

Having all the related projects in the same root directory can be helpful.

Steps

1) First you create a new Empty project

2) Then you select the root directory of all your projects.

This will create a empty project, with a .idea directory that will simply remember the module organisation we are about to do in the next step

3) Then, in the next window, you import the different projects as modules

4) In the next window, to import each project, simply double click on the build.gradle, or pom.xml

The project will be imported as a new module.

5) Done, you now have all your projects as modules, opened on the same IntelliJ project

edited Nov 10 '21 at 14:08

mrbela

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answered Nov 26 '16 at 12:57

ThisIsFlorianK

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you have THE solution. But your 'Prequisite Having all the related projects in the same root directory.' is NOT required. I tried for maven projects and it works OK with Intelllij version 2017.3. I haven't tried with intellij standard modules though. – Gauthier Peel Feb 28 '18 at 18:52
This is what I've been doing for Maven, Gradle and SBT projects. Adding multiple SBT projects seems to be broken though for more than a year now. You can still add but when you refresh SBT projects in the sbt panel, they get messed up. – Nader Ghanbari Nov 25 '18 at 21:04
do you know what is this `maven-archiver` project that is added along with the module? – vault Dec 18 '18 at 12:42
Still seems like another poor solution. Why should I need to place a framework library project and derivative projects into the same folder? Particularly if I use that framework lib for multiple unrelated derivative projects, you'd need multiple clones... – Manius Jan 23 '19 at 07:25
Now I see this works even if they aren't in the same folder - but I wonder if it has any bad side effects, such as rebuilding *all* projects when you only want to build one "module" (project). – Manius Jan 26 '19 at 18:02
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Worked for me with Intellij Idea 2018.3 and Gradle. – incises Mar 11 '19 at 09:35
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What if you have run configurations? All macros are pointing to the "true" project root, not on the root of the module you imported, which means you have to use absolute paths in your VM Options. Anyone got a solution for this? EDIT: Yes, I just used $MODULE_DIR$ for that, and it worked. – Roger Aug 28 '19 at 09:18
This solution does not allow importing one module into another. Gradle recognizes if you add implementation project(":project") and put it in settings.gradle as well, but IntelliJ IDE shows "unresolved reference". <- Anyone else facing this? Did you find the solution? – Aditya Anand Feb 02 '20 at 16:29
This is NOT multiple projects in one window! When you hit Build, it recompiles ALL projects, instead of only the active project. (because there IS only one active project, as opposed to Eclipse) – Mark Jeronimus Mar 19 '23 at 10:02

score 164 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 07 '12 at 23:38

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Yes, your intuition was good. You shouldn't use three instances of intellij. You can open one Project and add other 'parts' of application as Modules. Add them via project browser, default hotkey is alt+1

answered Jan 07 '12 at 23:38

ŁukaszBachman

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I'm doing the same: import the main project, then I import my second project using 'import module', but later than - I got "These modules have been removed from maven structure:... Do you want them to be removed from the project too?" - Then I press 'No'. But this dialog appears many times. What can I do? – Sep 25 '14 at 01:46
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@redDevil which one? – Piotr Findeisen Nov 15 '16 at 05:20
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@redDevil No! This answer is more general, if you have non-maven projects this answer is better since the top voted answer simply does not cover them. The two answers tackle different situations and are equally relevant, no one is *better* than the other. – luk2302 Jul 13 '17 at 07:48
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This is better than the "Maven only" answer but it doesn't help if you have unrelated projects that you want simultaneously visible (ex. easy access to refer to another project's code), or if you support a library which is a dependency of the project you're focused on. Extremely frustrating how IJ didn't use the Eclipse/NetBeans model here, it's the main thing preventing me from switching to IJ. – Manius Jan 26 '19 at 17:48
What I'd like to see in IntelliJ is not listing all the projects in the project explorer as it just makes things more complicated but I want to see a new option say "Open Project" with which is shows a smart view of my workspace and then I select my project. Currently the Open menu item displays the open dialog similar to the file system open dialog and then I have to look for the directory that I know has my project in it. – xbmono May 11 '21 at 00:41
How do I "Add them via project browser" - could you specify details, please? – nsandersen Aug 03 '21 at 21:48

score 71 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 14 '15 at 23:04

71

In IntelliJ 14.1.2, I did it like following:

Select File->Project Structure->Modules.

Select + and Import Module and select the directory of your project(or directory where pom exists) and click OK.

Follow through the next flow of screens and after you click Finish, you should see the project alongside your existing one.

enter image description here

answered Jul 14 '15 at 23:04

Neo

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cannot add the module like this. `Cannot import anything from C:/Projects/` – ever alian Sep 17 '15 at 03:33
@everalian, do you have the pom.xml in C:/Projects or elsewhere? – Neo Sep 26 '15 at 23:39
No I don't have pom.xml file. Because I use `Gradle` build. – ever alian Sep 30 '15 at 03:24
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This should be the accepted solution. Not all projects use maven. – Babken Vardanyan Jun 14 '17 at 09:30

gmode · Answer 6 · 2017-12-12T10:23:44.180

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None of the solutions worked for me, since I am not working on Maven projects. There is a simpler solution. Go to:

File->Project Structure->Modules.

Instead of adding module, simply click the third option (copy). Browse your local directory and select the project you would like to add. Module name will resolve automatically. That's it.

Update: When you want to reopen to project with multiple sub-projects, in order to avoid re-doing steps as described above, just go to File->Open Recent->'Your Big Project'.

edited Dec 12 '17 at 10:23

answered Nov 08 '17 at 08:24

gmode

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Yes ... oh Yes .... This is the solution that I'm looking for. Importing as maven module or project do not generate `.idea` and `xxx.iml` files. This may causes problems with **apache tiles**. I'm using with version `2018.1.5`. Thank you very very much. – Cataclysm Jun 23 '18 at 20:28
This is amazing! Only downside is using the IDE only as an editor and still having to navigate to the correct folder to compile and run. Anyone have an easy way to use this solution for multiple folders (copied modules) and still compile and run in the editor? – Greg Hilston Sep 08 '19 at 19:20
Stop looking around and follow this. This is the correct answer for the question. – Lincoln Oct 23 '20 at 23:07

score 32 · Answer 7 · answered Jan 27 '21 at 11:28

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Since macOS Big Sur and IntelliJ IDEA 2020.3.2 you can use "open projects in tabs on macOS Big Sur" feature. To use it, you have to enable this feature in your system settings:

System Preferences -> General -> Prefer tabs [always] when opening documents

After this step, when you will try to open second project in IntelliJ, choose New Window (yes, New Window, not This Window).

It should result with opening new project in same window, but in the new card:

answered Jan 27 '21 at 11:28

pitagoras3

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unfortunately this feature stopped working for me. is anyone facing this issue? – Spartan Jan 06 '22 at 04:35
It kind of works and is kind of broken. For example if I open two projects in different windows and choose File|Project structure it always shows the structure of the first project I opened even if I do this in the second window, and these modal dialogs are modal to all open windows. – bikeman868 May 13 '22 at 19:59
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@Spartan, "Merge All Project Windows" is available in [2022.2](https://blog.jetbrains.com/idea/2022/07/intellij-idea-2022-2). – Leponzo Dec 21 '22 at 20:25

score 14 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 02 '15 at 01:14

To expand @Neo answer: after choosing your directory. select import module from external model and choose your model (maven in this case).

Then check keep project files option from next dialog. It will keep all files in original directory.

Your final project structure would be something like this.

Now you can add your module as dependency to other module's pom.xml and if you change the source code of your dependencies, Intellij takes care of updating your project (there is no need to run mvn build manually for dependencies)

score 11 · Answer 9 · answered Mar 13 '17 at 05:35

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new empty project
File -> New -> Module from Existing Sources

answered Mar 13 '17 at 05:35

1lOtzM291W

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score 9 · Answer 10 · answered Jan 21 '19 at 23:03

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For who uses Gradle can also avail the same:

Go to: 1. View --> Tool Windows --> Gradle 2. Click on the + button and add your build.gradle file

answered Jan 21 '19 at 23:03

Abhishek Ransingh

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Are you using the Community Edition or the Ultimate Edition? I am new to Intellij and have only got CE (2019.3.3). This does not have Gradle in that menu. – mike rodent Mar 07 '20 at 17:13

score 8 · Answer 11 · answered Mar 13 '17 at 09:43

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Open preference -> appearance & behaviour -> System settings -> select (open project in new window) then apply.

Then you could open and edit multiple projects.

answered Mar 13 '17 at 09:43

Raymond

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This is exactly what the OP is trying to avoid. He wants them in the same window, all three projects at once. – Simon Forsberg Aug 04 '17 at 07:37
@SimonForsberg yes, but he also needs to change the settings here to run many projects in the same window that other posts don't show. – Arefe Apr 09 '21 at 11:05

score 6 · Answer 12 · edited Nov 07 '16 at 00:37

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You can use Armory plugin which makes switching between projects comfortable. The default shortcut for Project List is Alt + A.

By default currently opened projects are displayed at the top of this list (with bold style).

edited Nov 07 '16 at 00:37

krock

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answered Nov 06 '15 at 15:37

PHPLego

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Turned out to be "Not compatible with the version of your running IDE (IntelliJ IDEA 2021.2.3)". I was surprised at this. – WebComer Mar 10 '22 at 12:37

score 5 · Answer 13 · answered Feb 26 '19 at 06:58

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Use the button for the add maven projects and go inside the folder of the project. Then, select the pom.xml file and add them in the IntelliJ.

answered Feb 26 '19 at 06:58

Arefe

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score 4 · Answer 14 · answered May 03 '17 at 09:55

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Press "F4" on windows which will open up "Project Structure" and then click "+" icon or "Alt + Insert" to select a new project to be imported; then click OK button...

answered May 03 '17 at 09:55

Akshay Lokur

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perhaps, write what the F4 suppose to do as people use key mapping and that makes it different for everyone. – Arefe Jan 31 '22 at 06:15

score 3 · Answer 15 · answered Mar 28 '20 at 22:27

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To Intellij IDEA 2019.2, F4 + click on module, click to + for add any project from your HDD, above this menu yo can edit the IDE with you create the project and more options, very easy

answered Mar 28 '20 at 22:27

danilo parada

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score 2 · Answer 16 · answered Jul 09 '22 at 21:38

"IntelliJ IDEA 2022.1.1 (Community Edition)" you have to navigate To Add Exiting Module to same window navigate "File -> New -> Module from Existing Sources" then it will allow you to select pom.xml and then click "Create" button next window then project will be added to your current workspace.

Note :: Who ever switches from Eclipse to Intellij this is the first problem

Jenn · Answer 17 · 2015-08-04T18:20:10.593

For people not using maven to build and wanting to add a new project (I am using intellij 14.1.3):

Right click the top level folder in the project view, select new -> Module
Name the module the same name as the project to be added
From the top menu select File->New->Project. Enter the same name as the new module, same folder locations as well.
Open the Project, and wait for intellij to create the project structure.
Close this new project, and open the original project the module was added to in step 2

Depending on your builder, additional steps will be needed to add it to the build process.

For SBT, and in the top level project I modified the Build.scala file to aggregate the new project, and added the project in the SBT projects window. More info on SBT multiproject builds: http://www.scala-sbt.org/0.12.2/docs/Getting-Started/Multi-Project.html

IntelliJ added support for adding sbt modules to a project and it was working really nice, but it seems to be broken since 2017 versions. You can still add multiple sbt modules but when you refresh, you end up losing all but one. — Nader Ghanbari, Nov 25 '18 at 21:00

score 1 · Answer 18 · answered Apr 11 '22 at 10:54

For IntelliJ Idea 2021.3.3 users, The below solution didn't work for me, although I was selecting my project main folder, I've gotten only the main and test folders imported!

Peoject Structure => Modules => Import module

The solution is:

view => tool Windows => Maven => click the + icon => add the project POM.xml file

score 1 · Answer 19 · answered Mar 27 '23 at 16:31

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Try the menu item Window -> Merge All Project Windows

this works on MacOS on IntelliJ 2022.2.3 Community Edition

answered Mar 27 '23 at 16:31

James Wierzba

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score 0 · Answer 20 · answered Dec 22 '14 at 15:50

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you can use import module option which will open it just like eclipse in the same navigator.

answered Dec 22 '14 at 15:50

SMHasnain

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it says cannot open .ipr into project – ever alian Sep 17 '15 at 02:26

score 0 · Answer 21 · edited Sep 05 '22 at 06:18

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Assuming they are under the same folder, click File-Open File or Project-<parent folder>.

edited Sep 05 '22 at 06:18

Yunnosch

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answered May 10 '22 at 11:11

user19085032

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As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please [edit] to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). – Community May 13 '22 at 03:49

score -1 · Answer 22 · answered Jan 10 '18 at 18:19

I am new to maven and did not understand how I could work with local maven project added through Viktor Nordling's answer and still have a proper dependency in pom.xml file. The answer is simple: intellij first looks at your locally added module and if it doesn't find one it goes to get the project remotely. You can check this by looking at "external libraries" under your project browser when you add or remove maven module.

Hope this helps anyone.

score -1 · Answer 23 · answered Mar 15 '23 at 11:03

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Intellij by default doesn't provide feature for multiple project in same windows, but mac provides.

For mac 2021(macos ventura):

System settings > Desktop & Dock > Windows & Apps

Enable Prefer tabs when opening documents as Always

answered Mar 15 '23 at 11:03

Preeti Sharma

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score -2 · Answer 24 · answered Jan 07 '20 at 16:03

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As of release 2019.2, this is as easy as File->Attach Project.

See: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/WEB-7968

answered Jan 07 '20 at 16:03

Jeremy John

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Are you using the Community Edition or the Ultimate Edition? I am new to Intellij and have only got CE (2019.3.3). This does not have Attach project in that menu. – mike rodent Mar 07 '20 at 17:14
AFAICT this is PhpStorm-specific functionality: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/phpstorm/opening-multiple-projects.html?_ga=2.202850905.93262654.1604249137-237327076.1542215793 – Ivan Vergiliev Nov 02 '20 at 09:39

Java_Arc · Answer 25 · 2023-02-04T00:35:37.230

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After importing project into IntelliJ, Go to pom.xml of each module -> right click -> Click on Add as Moven Project. It will add the module as Moven project, do this for all the modules in the Project. Refer this

edited Feb 04 '23 at 00:35

answered Feb 04 '23 at 00:22

Java_Arc

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