Assigning a keyboard shortcut for a specific Eclipse build configuration

Question

In our Java project in Eclipse, we have several build configurations, as we have an engine that when run, builds installation jar for a specific projects according to the parameters it gets, so each build configuration run the same build with different parameters to build installation for a specific project.

Currently, I have to go to the Run Configuration drop-down button in the toolbar to start the engine, and I need to select the build configuration from the list in order to run (or debug) the engine with the required parameters.

I have configured Eclipse to run the last run execution if the button is run instead of selecting from the drop-down menu, but I would really like to have separate buttons in the toolbar for each build configuration (or for my favorite configurations), and even better, have a keyboard shortcut to run (or debug) a specific build configuration. Is that possible?

For plugin development, the simplest way to grab some informations is still the eclipse help pages: http://help.eclipse.org/galileo/index.jsp?nav=/4 — VonC, Sep 21 '09 at 18:19

score 25 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 08 '16 at 12:29

I was able to put together specific steps based on splintor's thread and get this working (I also added a loop at the top that finds any existing launch with the same name and terminates it, effectively making this a "restart" macro):

To assign keyboard shortcuts to specific Eclipse launch configurations, perform the following steps:

Install https://sourceforge.net/projects/practicalmacro/, which you can inside Eclipse via Help->Software Updates: http://puremvcnotificationviewer.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/PracticallyMacroGoogleUpdateSite
Restart Eclipse and open Eclipse Preferences. You will have a new section called "Practically Macro Options", expand that section.
Click on "Editor Macro Definitions"
Click on "new..."
In the list of available commands, scroll down to "Editor Macro script (Beanshell)", select it and then click "Add->"

When the script editor pops up, add the following code to the existing code:

import org.eclipse.debug.core.DebugPlugin;
import org.eclipse.debug.core.ILaunchConfiguration;
import org.eclipse.debug.core.ILaunch;
import org.eclipse.debug.ui.DebugUITools;
    try
    {
      // Terminate process if it already exists from a previous launch 
      org.eclipse.debug.core.ILaunch[] allLaunches=DebugPlugin.getDefault().getLaunchManager().getLaunches();
      for (ILaunch l : allLaunches)
      {              
        if (l.getLaunchConfiguration().getName().equals("YOUR CONFIG NAME HERE"))
        {
          console.write("terminating launch: " );
          console.writeln(l.getLaunchConfiguration().getName());
          l.terminate();
          break; 
        }
      }

        org.eclipse.debug.core.ILaunchConfiguration[] allConfigurations=DebugPlugin.getDefault().getLaunchManager().getLaunchConfigurations();
        for (ILaunchConfiguration config : allConfigurations) {
            if (config.getName().equals("YOUR CONFIG NAME HERE"))
            {
                DebugUITools.launch(config, "debug");
                break;
            }
        }
    } catch (CoreException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
    finally{}

Note line 11 that checks the configuration name, replace with whatever you want
Also note DebugUITools.launch command on line 15, you can pass either "run" or "debug"
In the "Macro info" section at the bottom of this dialog, specify a macro name
IMPORTANT!: If you want to be able to see this macro in the standard Eclipse key binding dialog, you need to assign an id. I started with 1...
Click OK
Expand the "General" section and click on "Keys"
You can now search the possible key bindings for your new macro's name and assign it to any key you want.
NOTE: After assigning a key I often had to close and restart Eclipse before the key binding was respected.

Was working great in Indigo, but I'm not able to make it work in Juno! Nothing happens when I press the keys associated with the macro. Any idea? — electrotype, Dec 21 '12 at 17:40
Excellent answer, although the row lines you mention do not reflect the script you have added to your answer. — Erik Živković, May 15 '14 at 07:20
Thanks Erik. Line 11 reference was correct, but 13 was not. Updated. — Jeremy Mullin, May 15 '14 at 14:20

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 04 '09 at 08:50

9

I was able to do it using Practically Macro - see this thread.

answered Oct 04 '09 at 08:50

splintor

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Interesting (+1). Could you detail this answer with some specific extracts from the thread you mention? – VonC Oct 04 '09 at 09:46
4

I inspected the thread to get this working and provided an answer with the exact steps listed. – Jeremy Mullin Nov 18 '11 at 14:37

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 08 '16 at 12:30

You could define a plugin with some launchShortcuts in it.

This thread is a good illustration.

But to actually bind it, you would need to define a command running that configuration, and bind that command to a key (like in this plugin.xml configuration file)

the shortcut definition of a launch configuration:

  <shortcut id="org.maven.ide.eclipse.pomFileAction"
            category="org.maven.ide.eclipse"
            class="org.maven.ide.eclipse.actions.ExecutePomAction"
            icon="icons/m2.gif"
            label="%m2.popup.pomFile.label"
            modes="run,debug">
     <contextualLaunch>
       <contextLabel label="%m2.popup.pomFile.label" mode="run"/>
       <contextLabel label="%m2.popup.pomFile.label" mode="debug"/>
       <enablement>
         <with variable="selection">
           <count value="1"/>
           <iterate>
             <and>
               <test property="org.maven.ide.eclipse.launchable"/>
               <adapt type="org.eclipse.core.runtime.IAdaptable"/>
             </and>
           </iterate>
         </with>
       </enablement>
   </contextualLaunch>
 </shortcut>

Then the command:

 <extension point="org.eclipse.ui.commands">
    <command id="org.maven.ide.eclipse.pomFileAction.run"
             categoryId="org.eclipse.debug.ui.category.run"
             name="%m2.shortcut.description.run"
             description="%m2.shortcut.description.run"/>
     ...
 </extension>

Then the key binding for a keyboard shortcut:

<extension point="org.eclipse.ui.bindings">
    <key sequence="M3+M2+X M"
         contextId="org.eclipse.ui.globalScope"
         commandId="org.maven.ide.eclipse.pomFileAction.run"
         schemeId="org.eclipse.ui.defaultAcceleratorConfiguration"/>
 </extension>

Thanks VonC for the quick reply. I'm a plain Java developer, and never defined a plugin. Can you explain how do I do it? Thanks. — splintor, Sep 21 '09 at 18:09
OK, I installed the eclipse SDK and read some plugnis tutorial, and once I have time for it I'll get into writing this plugin. I just don't understand why it has to be so complicated to simply have a command to run a configuration. I guess I really need to add a wish to the eclipse team (or write it myself...) — splintor, Sep 22 '09 at 07:28

score 5 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:46

5

One alternative is to use the accelerator keys to navigate the Run menu and select the right run configuration.

On my computer it is:

Alt + R, H, Number

Alt+R gets you to get to Run menu, then H for Debug History, then one of the numbered alternatives.

To make a run configuration always be visible in the Debug or Run history menus and retain its position one can do the following:

Select the Run menu -> Run Configurations -> [some config] -> Common, then check Display in favourites menu box.

(This answer is a copy of one of my previous answers.)

edited May 23 '17 at 11:46

Community

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answered Mar 21 '15 at 14:50

Lii

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Easy, fast and clean. Works for me! – Rombus Jul 27 '15 at 00:09

Assigning a keyboard shortcut for a specific Eclipse build configuration

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