Is there a way to upgrade eclipse and keep all the installed plugins?
This is the best option I've found so far. Dropins directories work, but they're a pain to maintain, because Eclipse wants to install new plug-ins in the Eclipse directory.
I. To transfer your list of update sites:
- Run your old Eclipse one last time
- Go to
Window->Preferences->Install/Update->Available Software Sites - Select all update sites (click on one, then Ctrl-A), click
Export, save the file somewhere - Run your new Eclipse, select your workspace
- Go to
Window->Preferences->Install/Update->Available Software Sites - Click
Import, choose the file from step 3
II. To copy across your old plug-ins:
- In the new Eclipse, select
File->Import->Install->From Existing Installation - Select your old eclipse directory, eg
~/apps/eclipse-jee-indigo-SR1-linux-gtk-x86_64/eclipse/ - Select the plug-ins/features you want to install, click
Finish - When it finishes, you can archive/delete your old Eclipse directory
In the latest Eclipse, you can keep all previously-installed plugins by running Eclipse, selecting File → Import…, continuing with Install → From Existing Installation, and then selecting the older Eclipse’s path.