saving eclipse perspective layout and other things

Question

every time I throw away my .metadata (due to some corruption or something) and start with a new one, first thing I do is:

1. Import my saved preferences
2. Load existing projects from disk

BUT there are still some things I must configure manually in order to have my setup as I have before, specially in my case (there are probably other things):

1. I have to add the Perspectives I use and remove the ones I don't
2. I have to configure the layout of those Perspectives (specially java one, to use properly two monitors).
3. Add a bugzilla task repostiry for mylyn, and configure a couple of queries

Is there a way to save those thigns so I can load them back when I need? I wish they were stored in preferences...

I am on latest 3.6.

Answer 1

Two solutions :

1. MENU -> File -> Switch workspace -> Other -> Copy Settings of
   • Workbench Layout
   • Working Sets
2. Copy/backup and replace following folder to new created Workspace.
   • [workspace]/.metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.ui.workbench/
   • [workspace]/.metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.core.runtime/.settings/

Personally I prefer (2).

Answer 2

As of Eclipse Neon (and possibly Mars, as well), you can copy the following two directories, to share your workbench and settings/preferences amongst your different workspaces:

    [workspace]/.metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.core.runtime/.settings
    [workspace]/.metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.e4.workbench

(Side Note: The Copy Settings dialog would not work for me, as it wouldn't permit me to select either checkbox.)

Answer 3

Good info here - 'Share Eclipse perspective layouts across multiple workspaces'

I use their 'Method #2', listed below.

Method 2: Use Copy Settings

The other method of saving your window layout is to use the Copy Settings feature when switching to another workspace.

• Open the workspace that contains your customized layout
• Select File > Switch Workspace > Other… which will open a dialog prompting you for an existing/new workspace
• Select the workspace, then click the Copy Settings collapsible section
• Select the Workbench Layout checkbox and click Ok
• Your workspace will open and should reflect the customised layout of the previous workspace.

Here’s what the dialog looks like:

Give it a shot, quite easy!