m2e ignores the testOutputDirectory for test resources

Question

I have a requirement to output my build to a different directory to target .

Using the project.build.directory , output and testOutputDirectory properties works correctly from the command line using mvn clean install , but when I build from eclipse it creates an empty target/test-classes directory if I have a src/test/resources directory.

A simple pom file that has the same behavior looks like:

<project>
    <groupId>com.example</groupId>
    <version>1.0.0</version>    
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
    <artifactId>reproduce</artifactId>
    <packaging>war</packaging>
    <properties>
        <project.build.directory>differentTarget</project.build.directory>
        <project.build.outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/classes</project.build.outputDirectory>
        <project.build.testOutputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/different-test-classes</project.build.testOutputDirectory>
    </properties>

    <build>
        <directory>${project.build.directory}</directory>
        <outputDirectory>${project.build.outputDirectory}</outputDirectory>
        <testOutputDirectory>${project.build.testOutputDirectory}</testOutputDirectory>
    </build>
</project>

My directory structure looks like:

   |-src
   |---main
   |-----webapp
   |-------WEB-INF
   |---test
   |-----resources

The simplest way I can reproduce the behavior is with all the directories empty except for a web.xml with <web-app /> inside it.

When I have actual test classes it creates folders inside the target/test-classes directory but then puts the actual class files in differentTarget/test-classes .

I am using Eclipse Indigo , m2e 1.2.0 and Maven Integration for WTP 0.15.3 on Debian

Edit

If I remove the properties and hard code the outputs:

<build>
    <directory>differentTarget</directory>
    <outputDirectory>differentTarget/classes</outputDirectory>
    <testOutputDirectory>differentTarget/different-test-classes</testOutputDirectory>
</build>

Then I get the correct behavior when I go Maven > Update Project... but I still get the incorrect target folder when I go Project > Clean or more importantly have it on Build Automatically .

Answer 1

Try checking your output folders for your Java Build Path. The m2e plugin might be failing to update all the output paths:

Right click your project -> Build Path -> Configure Build Path.

On the Source tab expand each entry, edit the Output Folder and switch each one back to the project default.

Answer 2

By default all maven POM inherit the Super POM. If you have a look at the Maven Super POM , you can see testOutputDirectory is defined as an element under project/build. I'm not sure if you meant to set it as a property. Try override the element <testOutputDirectory> directly under your <build> section

Answer 3

Sometimes m2e does not pick up changes.

So select your project, right mouse click -> Maven -> Update Project .

If that doesn't help, remove the .settings folder and try again.

Edit:

Maybe it can't translate the properties used in the build section. Try hardcoded:

 <build>
    <directory>differentTarget</directory>
    <outputDirectory>differentTarget/classes</outputDirectory>
    <testOutputDirectory>differentTarget/different-test-classes</testOutputDirectory>
 </build>