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"Open Project" grayed out [message #527631]

Thu, 15 April 2010 16:00

Eclipse User

This must be a *very* common problem because I found questions on this going back almost 10 years. Unfortunately, none of the answers made any sense.

Can someone explain how I can make "Open Projects" active? I started Eclipse with the -showlocation option, so I know it's looking at my workspace folder. In my workspace folder, I have 3 other folders containing projects. I've imported those projects into Eclipse -- well, at least I think I have. When I tried to import them again, it said "Some projects cannot be imported because they already exist in the workspace", and all 3 of my projects that were listed were grayed out. So, again, I'm pretty sure I've imported them.

Any ideas how I can make "Open Projects" active? Also, any idea why this whole situation isn't documented in the online Help system??

Thanks.

Dave

Re: "Open Project" grayed out [message #527728 is a reply to message #527631]

Fri, 16 April 2010 05:29

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: hpatzke.hotmail.com

On 4/15/2010 10:00 PM, DHeadrick wrote:
> Any ideas how I can make "Open Projects" active?

"Project"->"Open Project" is only active if you have selected a
(non-open) project in "Project Explorer".

You might have to open the "Project Explorer" first ("Window"->"Show
View"->"Project Explorer").

(Ran into the problem myself yesterday - after reshuffling some
collapsed windows, my "Project Explorer" view was gone.)

Re: "Open Project" grayed out [message #527850 is a reply to message #527728]

Fri, 16 April 2010 12:22

Eclipse User

PERFECT!!

My "Project Explorer" tab was indeed gone and your tip allowed me to find it. Somewhat counter-intuititively, I then had to click "Close Project" before I could open it. Since this was a new project that I had never opened before (imported yes, but not opened), I'm not sure why I had to close it first.

Oh well, I now know how to make this all work.

[OPINION ON]
It *seems* like "Open Project" should *never* be grayed out -- that is extremely counter-intuitive and frustrating. Instead, clicking "Open Project" should either list what projects can be opened *or* explain why there are no projects that can be opened -- and tell the user what they can do about this.

When I searched the Help index on "Open Project", the first link is to "Closing projects", and it goes downhill from there. I would guess 90% of Eclipse users have encountered the "Open Project" issue at some time. Seems like there's a simple fix, just make "Open Project" always active and provide the necessary information when they click it.
[OPINON OFF]

IN ANY CASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP, I'M BACK IN BUSINESS!!!

Dave

Re: "Open Project" grayed out [message #528077 is a reply to message #527850]

Mon, 19 April 2010 05:01

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: hpatzke.hotmail.com

> Somewhat counter-intuititively, I then had to click "Close Project"
> before I could open it. Since this was a new project that I had never
> opened before (imported yes, but not opened), I'm not sure why I had
> to close it first.

Imported projects are already "opened" (you can have open more than one
project in Eclipse at the same time). :-)

> It *seems* like "Open Project" should *never* be grayed out -- that
> is extremely counter-intuitive and frustrating.

Most menus in Eclipse are context sensitive, and it does usually make
sense to gray out options that do not apply to the current selection.

> [Solution not found in "Help"]

Yes, I agree, it would be nice if
(a) we had the behavior
IF "Project Explorer" view is closed
AND someone selects "open project"
THEN a "Project Explorer" view opens
(b) if a kind soul would update the help system with a useful
description of the problem and its remedy.

=> The biggest problem is likely to find someone who has got time to
implement and check this in. See: http://www.eclipse.org/contribute/

Dave, please help to improve Eclipse here:
- draft a help system entry for this problem/solution
- send it to one of the help system maintainers
- add a Bugzilla feature request for (a) (after checking that none
already exists)

Thanks!-Hagen

Re: "Open Project" grayed out [message #1270274 is a reply to message #528077]

Wed, 12 March 2014 15:48

Eclipse User

I literally made an account for this post.

I gave up....

I have hacked and recompiled kernels it shorter time -.-

I failed and gave up on "open project"

"import project" worked..

I had the project explorer open... which atleast should be TOTALLY irrelevant... ESPECIALLY if non is open -.-

Re: "Open Project" grayed out [message #1271382 is a reply to message #1270274]

Fri, 14 March 2014 21:29

Eclipse User

On 03/12/2014 02:22 PM, leathan AxE wrote:
> I literally made an account for this post.
>
> I gave up....
>
> I have hacked and recompiled kernels it shorter time -.-
>
> I failed and gave up on "open project"
>
> "import project" worked..
>
> I had the project explorer open... which atleast should be TOTALLY
> irrelevant... ESPECIALLY if non is open -.-

I'm sorry your experience went so badly.

We need more information. What OS platform are you running on? What
version of Eclipse? Etc.

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