How to create WAR file for Java web application in Eclipse

In Java enterprise development, WAR (Web ARchive) is the standard container file format for packaging Java EE applications as a single, deployable unit which can be deployed on Java EE-compliant application servers like Tomcat, JBoss, Glassfish...

Eclipse IDE provides robust development environment for Java EE applications, including the ability to package and create WAR file. Following are the steps to create WAR file for a Java dynamic web project in Eclipse:

-          Select project name in the Project explorer view, we can access the export WAR function by either:

1. • • Click File > Export… from main menu (shortcut: Alt + F + O), then select WAR file in the Exportdialog like in the following screenshot:

        

     • Or right click on the project name, select Export > WAR file from context menu:

        

-          The WAR Export dialog appears, we have to specify two required information:

1. • • Web Project: Select the Java dynamic web project to export. The currently selected project is displayed as default.
     • Destination: Specify path of the WAR file to be exported. The file must end with “.war” extension.

-          In addition, there are three optional checkboxes:

1. • • Optimize for a specific server runtime: Let Eclipse optimize the generated WAR file for a server runtime environment. Don’t check if you are not sure which server on which the WAR file will be deployed.
     • Export source files: include Java sources file in the generated WAR file. This is usually left unchecked.
     • Overwrite existing file: overwrites if the specified WAR file already exists. This option is checked by default.

Now click Finish then Eclipse will create the desired WAR file.

Related Tutorials:

• How to create JAR file in Eclipse
• How to deploy a Java web application on Tomcat

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About the Author:

Nam Ha Minh is certified Java programmer (SCJP and SCWCD). He began programming with Java back in the days of Java 1.4 and has been passionate about it ever since. You can connect with him on Facebook and watch his Java videos on YouTube.