Eclipse: Attach source/javadoc to a library via a local property

Question

I have a third-party library in my SVN repository and I'd like to associate source/javadoc with it locally in Eclipse. I.e., there should be some local setting (for example, an entry in the local.properties file) that associates the source/javadoc with the JAR file, but which doesn't introduce local dependencies into the repository via .classpath. Ideally I'd have

lib_src_dir = /my/path/to/lib/src

in local.properties and then

<classpathentry kind="lib" path="lib.jar" sourcepath="${lib_src_dir}">

in .classpath. Can this be done?

[EDIT] @VonC's answer is helpful... Is there a way to load Path Variables from a text file (e.g., local.properties) instead of going through Window -> Preferences -> General -> Workspace -> Linked Resources?

Answer 1

You can do this with classpath variables.

Each developer creates a couple of new variables at Window -> Preferences -> Java -> Build Path -> Classpath Variables.

Define a variable (say, JAVA_LIB_DIR) that points to a directory containing the third-party JAR (or JARS). Define another variable that points to a directory containing the third-party source code (JAVA_SRC_DIR). You can set this up how you like, but we have a structure like this:

common/   
  lib/
    java/       <-- JAVA_LIB_DIR variable points to this directory
      axis/
      bitronix/
        1.0/bitronix.jar   "extension" is "bitronix/1.0/bitronix.jar"
      ...

In your project's build path, use the "Add Variable..." option to add the library. Then you when "attach source," you'll be prompted for a variable and extension to the source code.

This way, a single, shared .classpath file can be checked-in, while allowing each developer to locate their own library and source directories where they like.

Answer 2

Take a look at Improving Linked Resources in Ganymede