How to upgrade new version of Eclipse instead of using new downloaded package?

Question

I am looking for steps to upgrade my current Eclipse version (Mars) to latest version (Oxygen) because I have been using Mars for past long time so that contains all the settings, plugins and all the histories so I would like to retain the same and also upgrade to new version.

Is this possible?

Note: It can be any type of Eclipse for any kind of development like Java, C/C++, PHP, JavaScript and Testers.

Poolroom

Answer 1

1. In Window > Preferences: Install/Update > Available Software Site make sure that the Latest Eclipse Simultaneous Release (or Latest Eclipse Release) update site exists and is checked. Otherwise (in older versions or when this update site has been removed in newer versions), click Add..., enter the update site location https://download.eclipse.org/releases/latest and click OK.
2. Help > Check for Updates

See also Eclipse Wiki - FAQ How do I upgrade Eclipse IDE?

Reardon

Yes, you are correct, I can see the site location for Mars (download.eclipse.org/releases/mars), thanks @Reardon – Poolroom

Unfortunately the software update mechanism may download at abysmal rates making this a pain. Much faster to download a new, and import settings from the old. – Mazza

@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen Updating is not slower than downloading a new package and you don't lose a plug-in that you have installed. If you observe "abysmal" download rates on update, please report this as an bug to Eclipse. – Reardon

@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen What did you do years ago that didn't help? – Reardon

@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen m2e-wtp was not an Eclipse project at this time. So you couldn't download it from Eclipse at that time. The Eclipse Marketplace lists also software that has to be downloaded from somewhere else. Adding an update site and Help > Check for Updates are not related to the Eclipse Marketplace client/server. – Reardon

Say for a feature like this - eclipse.org/eclipse/news/4.7/jdt.php#step-show-methodresult, is there a way to tell what update you need to install for this feature? I don't want to install every update from Oxygen – Seaward

@Seaward Yes, in Help > Install New Software... work with https://download.eclipse.org/releases/latest and choose Programming Languages > Eclipse Java Development Tools only. But as far as I known, also in the Update dialog you can choose the items to upgrade. – Reardon

As of release 2021-12 (and perhaps earlier releases) the update site is called "Latest Eclipse Simulteneous Release", not "Latest Eclipse Release" – Shoreless

Answer 2

This might be useful.

https://wiki.eclipse.org/FAQ_How_do_I_upgrade_Eclipse_IDE%3F

There are some package structural changes from Eclipse Neon.

Spencerianism

Answer 3

I don't think updating from Update Site will update the eclipse.ini file: you need to fix it.

-startup
plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher_1.4.0.v20161219-1356.jar
--launcher.library    plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher.win32.win32.x86_64_1.1.500.v20170531-1133

However, if you simply want to keep your preferences and your plugin, I suggest you to use Eclipse for that:

In Oxygen.1 (or the updated Eclipse), you can install feature/plugins

1. using an existing installation (go to File > Import then select *Install > From Existing Installation)
2. using an exported software item (go to File > Import then select *Install > Install Software Items from File)

For the second option, you need to export it first on the previous Eclipse using File > Export > Install > Installed Software Items to File.

Note: the Eclipse directory store little configuration (at least, it store the known workspaces/update site). This link here might be of interest.

Mavilia

Updating from p2 update site updates also the eclipse.ini file (via the so-called Eclipse Touchpoint Actions). – Reardon

Ok. That must explain why I often have a lot of duplicate parameters in my eclipse.ini :o – Mavilia