How to change JDK version for an Eclipse project

I need to write a project that's only compatible with Java 1.5. I have Java 1.6 installed. Is there some form of backwards compatibility to get Eclipse to compile with 1.5?

Do I have to install Java 1.5 to get it to show here? Or maybe there is another way?

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Click on the Add Library button. It brings your screen to point to the Java location.

Select "Directory", button right besides JRE home and point to the installed folder location.

Even though you want to just 1.5 compiler project, you can achieve it by changing compiler settings in Eclipse instead of removing 1.6 JRE and add 1.5 JRE.

GOTO -->JAVA--Compiler---> and change compiler level to `1.5` instead of `1.6`

As davidfmatheson suggested,

Just be careful, especially if you're setting this up for a team of people to work on. If anyone uses anything that is new or changed in 1.6, it will compile, but not run in an environment with JRE 1.5.


Click on the Window tab in Eclipse, go to Preferences and when that window comes up, go to JavaInstalled JREsExecution Environment and choose JavaSE-1.5. You then have to go to Compiler and set the Compiler compliance level.

Changing JRE

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Right click project -> Properties -> Java Build Path -> select JRE System Library click Edit and select JDK or JRE after then click Java Compiler and select Compiler compliance level to 1.8

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If you are using maven build tool then add the below properties to it and doing a maven update will solve the problem

<properties>
    <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
    <maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>