Missing .classpath file in Eclipse project

Question

I have recently returned to a project after not using it for a couple of weeks. The project was not created in Eclipse it was imported, and there is no '.classpath' file in the project workspace.

I am sure that previously I successfully added new .jar files by simply right clicking them and going to 'Add to build path', but thanks to an unrelated error I had to re-add the files to the build path, and now whenever I try to add a new .jar file I get the following error:

Error while adding a library

Reason:
Could not write file C:\Users\Charles\workspace\hive\.classpath

Or, if I try to add a file using Configure build path, I get the following error:

'Setting build path' has encountered a problem.

Could not write file:
C:\Users\Charles\workspace\hive\.classpath

I have earlier versions of this project prior to adding .jar files, and there is no .classpath file for any of them either, so I haven't accidentally deleted it at any point.

If anyone can help me out at all, I'd be ever so grateful (I desperately need to add these .jar files so I can do some actual work).

The thing that annoys me the most is I'm sure it worked before, but I have tried to do the same in earlier versions of the project and I am always getting the same error now.

Answer 1

I had the same problem. I had just setup a new PC, I transferred my projects to the new PC, clicked on the workspace directory, and changed the permission so that I (the 'me' on my new PC) owned all the files in all all sub-directories. However, even after doing this, eclipse couldn't write to the .classpath files. I verified that I could write to them using notepad, and that worked fine. I also verified that the O/S knew I was really the owner, but it didn't help. I also tried running as admin, but that didn't help either.

Then I found this link: http://blog.ryanrampersad.com/2010/03/03/setting-build-path-has-encountered-a-problem-in-eclipse/ , which indicates that when you copy files to a windows7 machine, windows may set the 'hidden' attribute on the file, and when this happens, eclipse can't work with it. I did a find files from the workspace directory, looking for '.project' (and subsequently '.classpath'), and selected all the files, right-clicked, and un-checked the 'hidden' attribute. This fixed my problem.

Answer 2

The .classpath file in eclipse is a configuration file (in XML) which stores the project classpath properties. If it can't be written, perhaps it's an access problem. Right-click the file in windows explorer and check under the security tab to see if you have write permissions. You may have to run Eclipse as administrator.

Answer 3

Go to your Project in WorkSpace. And then change your files' attribute from hidden.

Also, then close-open your project and then clean it.

This should work.

Answer 4

右键单击 Project >> Source >> Format - 对我有用！

Answer 5

Go to the project folder and remove hidden property for the ".classpath" file. Hope this helps. Thanks.

Answer 6

The below solution worked for me.

Go to your project folder --> Right click folder --> Properties --> In general tab, Uncheck the attribute(last field), Read-only (Only applies to this folder) option.

Then try adding jars in eclipse.

Hope this helps

Answer 7

As doc_180 mentioned, the .Classpath would be hidden. Right click > Properties and Unhide the file, you should be ok.

Answer 8

Just had the same issue after trying to create my view on a new PC. The cause of the issue for me was that .classpath file was marked as read-only, for whatever reason. To resolve this I did the following:

Go to workspace directory --> Java Source folder --> Project Directory --> right click on .classpath and select Properties from the list --> uncheck 'Read-only' and/or 'Hidden' attribute checkbox(es) --> Click 'Apply' button.

Answer 9

I had a similar problem after changing my project to Gradle. When I right-clicked on javaw.exe->Properties in the 'debug' view, I saw the classpath was (mostly) missing, for instance the 'bin' directory containing the classes wasn't there.

Solution for me was just to delete the 'run debug configuration' and create a new one. After that the classpath was included and I could run it from Eclipse again.

Hope this helps someone out there.

Answer 10

An intern here just had this problem. He put the project on the user Document folder. I moved his project to the Eclipse workspace folder, removed the project from Eclipse and imported it again. Then the .classpath file was generated.