Installing a RAP Target

The latest RAP target can be installed using the target installer included in the RAP Tools. But you can also install a target manually, e.g. if you want to develop against a different version of RAP or combine RAP with other bundles. See this Eclipse wiki article for more information about target definitions.

Create a Target Definition

To select a target platform you can either use the Target Platform preferences page (Window > Preferences > Plug-in Development > Target Platform) or create a target definition file. The latter is preferable, as target definition files can be checked in into your source code repository and shared among team members.

  1. First, you may want to create a project to host your target definition files. A plain project will do (File > New > General > Project).
  2. In this new project, create a new target definition: New > Plug-In Development > Target Definition. Chose a name like rap-custom.target and press Finish.
  3. The target editor will open and show the contents of this target definition. Now, add the RAP runtime from a p2 repository a.k.a. software site: press Add, select Software Site. You'll be confronted with another dialog, named Add Software Site.
  4. Again press Add and enter the URL of the RAP runtime repository. You find these URLs on the RAP download page, e.g. Hint: You can also install the RAP runtime directly from a download zip archive. In this case, press Archive… and select the zip file.
  5. For a basic RAP target, select the category Rich Ajax Platform (RAP). This category contains two features: The RAP runtime itself (RAP Target Components), and a set of Eclipse bundles needed for a basic RAP target (Basic Target Requirements).
  6. Important: Before you click finish, make sure the checkbox Include required software is not checked.
  7. Activate the target platform by clicking the link Set as Target Platform in the upper right corner of the target definition editor.