After downloading the BIRT SDK, import the feature files, plug-in files, and source files to your workspace. A single Eclipse import operation imports the files into a workspace and builds the projects.
How to import and build the BIRT project
Use the Java perspective to import and build the BIRT project.
1 Choose Window➛Open Perspective➛Other➛Java. The Java perspective opens.
2 To import the BIRT SDK projects, choose File➛Import.
3 In Import, expand Plug-in Development. Select Plug-ins and Fragments, as shown in Figure 6‑3.
Figure 6‑3 Import showing expanded Plug-in Development node
Choose Next.
4 In Import Plug-ins and Fragments, choose Directory and next to that, choose Browse.
5 Navigate to the directory into which you extracted the SDK. Select the eclipse subdirectory and then choose OK.
6 In Import As, choose Binary projects with linked content, as shown in Figure 6‑4. Then, choose Next.
Figure 6‑4 Selecting the BIRT SDK plug-in directory
To prepare for changing BIRT source, import using the Projects with source folders option. This option automatically extracts the source from the JAR file into a source folder. To reduce the number of warning messages and make the build as efficient as possible, only use this option for the plug-ins whose source you intend to modify.
7 In Selection, choose Add all to import all found plug-ins, as shown in Figure 6‑5. Then, choose Finish.
Figure 6‑5 Selecting the BIRT SDK plug-ins
Eclipse imports the SDK plug-ins into the workspace and builds all the projects in a background process that can take several minutes. Progress on the process is displayed in the lower right corner of the Eclipse window. When the build finishes, the problem area shows warnings and possibly some errors if you are building a provisional release.
How to test the BIRT project
To test the BIRT project, run the org.eclipse.birt package as an Eclipse application.
1 In Package Explorer, select the org.eclipse.birt package.
2 Choose Run➛Run Configurations.
3 In Run Configurations, select Eclipse Application, then New.
4 In Name, type EclipseApplication.
5 Choose the Arguments tab and ensure that the following arguments are entered:
6 Choose Run. Eclipse builds a new default workspace. On a Windows system, the name of the workspace is C:\Users\<user-name>\runtime-EclipseApplication. Eclipse opens a new instance of the Eclipse Workbench that shows the welcome page.
7 Close the welcome page.
8 Open the Report Design perspective. Choose Window➛Open Perspective➛Report Design. If Report Design is not available, choose Other. On Open Perspective, select Report Design, then choose OK.
To test this perspective that Eclipse built from the BIRT SDK source code, create report projects and report designs.
Program arguments: