How to add local jar files to a Maven project?

Question

How do I add local jar files (not yet part of the Maven repository) directly in my project\'s library sources?

Answer 1

Step 1: Configure the maven-install-plugin with the goal install-file in your pom.xml

    org.apache.maven.plugins
    maven-install-plugin
    
        
            install-external-non-maven-jar-MWS-Client-into-local-maven-repo
            clean
            
                default
                com.amazonservices.mws
                mws-client
                1.0
                ${project.basedir}/lib/MWSClientJavaRuntime-1.0.jar
                jar
                true
            
            
                install-file
            
        
    

Make sure to edit the file path based on your actual file path (recommended is to place these external non-maven jars inside some folder, let's say lib, and place this lib folder inside your project so as to use project-specific relative path and avoid adding system specific absolute path.

If you have multiple external jars, just repeat the for other jars within the same maven-install-plugin.

Step 2: Once you have configured the maven-install-plugin as shown above in your pom.xml file, you have to use these jars in your pom.xml as usual:

    
        com.amazonservices.mws
        mws-client
        1.0
    

Note that the maven-install-plugin only copies your external jars to your local .m2 maven repository. That's it. It doesn't automatically include these jars as maven dependencies to your project.

It's a minor point, but sometimes easy to miss.