private boolean validate()
    {
        String projectName = projectName_.getStringValue();
        if (projectName.trim().equals(""))
            return false;
        IProject project = Util.getProject(projectName);
        if (project.exists() && project.isOpen())
            return true;
        else
        {
            ErrorDialog.openError(Display.getCurrent().getActiveShell(), "Speculation Error!", "Project " + projectName + " does not exists in the workspace.", Status.CANCEL_STATUS);
            return false;
        }
    }

// where projectName_ is the text field in the preference page that the user writes on and
// where Util.getProject(...) is defined as:
    public static IProject getProject(String name)
    {
        IWorkspace workspace = ResourcesPlugin.getWorkspace();
        IWorkspaceRoot root = workspace.getRoot();
        IProject project = root.getProject(name);
        return project;
    }