How to listen/determine for active/topmost editor in Eclipse RCP?

Question

Is there a notion of active or topmost editor in Eclipse?

I wrote a view and want it to show some data about active editor.

Currently I am using selection service, while editor is providing selection information. Unfortunately, this way I can't distinguish if editor was deselected or closed. So I am showing last selected editor information even after it was closed.

Answer 1

Use an IPartListener (or IPartListener2 ) to be informed about all the changes to active parts.

IPartService service = PlatformUI.getWorkbench().getActiveWorkbenchWindow().getPartService();

service.addPartListener(listener);

IPartService also has a getActivePart() method - the active part may be a view as well as an editor.

The above is assuming an Eclipse 3.x style RCP, Eclipse e4 is different.