Eclipse - Explore Windows

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Parts of an Eclipse Window

The major visible parts of an eclipse window are:

• Views
• Editors (all appear in one editor area)
• Menu Bar
• Toolbar

An eclipse perspective is the name given to an initial collection and arrangement of views and an editor area. The default perspective is called java. An eclipse window can have multiple perspectives open in it but only one perspective can be active at any point of time. A user can switch between open perspectives or open a new perspective. A perspective controls what appears in some menus and tool bars.

A perspective has only one editor area in which multiple editors can be open. The editor area is usually surrounded by multiple views. In general, editors are used to edit the project data and views are used to view the project metadata. For example the package explorer shows the java files in the project and the java editor is used to edit a java file.

The eclipse window can contain multiple editors and views but only one of them is active any given point of time. The title bar of the active editor or view looks different from all the others.

The UI elements on the menu bar and tool bar represent commands that can be triggered by an end user.

Using Multiple Windows

Multiple Eclipse Windows can be open at the same time. To open a new window, click on the Windows menu and select the New Window menu item.

Each window can have a different perspective open in them. For example you could open two Eclipse windows one in the Java perspective and the other in the Debug perspective. The window showing the Java perspective can be used for editing the java code and the window showing the debug perspective can be used for debugging the application being developed.