Introduction

This section will explain how to use the Eclipse IDE with the CVS.
CVS client is available as a default in the eclipse. All you need is to configure it to use the required CVS server. You can either checkout a Java module from the CVS with eclipse or you can add the already checked out module to the CVS. The procedures are discussed below.
The version of eclipse discussed are Eclipse Europa and Eclipse Galelio. These procedures may also work with other versions of Eclipse.

Fresh checkout of Java files

1. From menu Click File->New->Project
2. Expand CVS list and select Projects from CVS and click Next
3. Earlier if you have given any settings then select Use existing repository location and select the required settings from the list below.
   
4. If you have NOT given any setting previously select Create a new repository location and click Next
   
1. Give the required parameters and click Next
5. Specify a module name to checkout by selecting Use Specified Module Name or if you are not sure about the module name select Use an existing module and browse to get the folder where the java  package is. Click Next
6. Select Checkout as a project using the New Project Wizard, Click Next
7. Click Finish
   
8. A new project wizard will open, from that select Java Project, Click Next
   
9. Give a project name, say Project1 and click Next
   
10. In the Source Tab, right click on the parent project folder (In this case Project1) and select Use as Project Folder
    
11. Click Finish
12. If you see an orange drum like icon on the on the Package Explorer and file icons (), then your settings are correct. 

Already having the Java files checked out

1. From menu Click File->New->Java Project
2. Give a project name, say Project1
3. Select Create project from existing source, browse  to find the folder where your package is and click Next
4. Click Finish
5. In the Package Explorer pane (usually on the left side of the window) right click the project folder (Project1 in this case) Select Team and click Share project. If you didn't find the item Share project and instead you find a menu with lots of options such as Commit, Update etc. don't worry, your project is already shared and you can go to step 8.
   
6. Click Finish
7. It will ask for a password, Give it, check the Save Password box and click OK
8. If you see an orange drum like icon on the on the Package Explorer and file icons (), then your settings are correct. 

How to Add/commit/Update/Tag

1. Right click the file(s)/package(a) you want to do CVS operations such as add,  commit, update  Tag etc.
2. Select Team. There you can find options for CVS operations.

Setting the output folder

You may need to keep the bin folder in or out of the CVS directory. To change the default output folder.

1. In the Package Explorer pane, right click the required project folder and select properties
2. In the left pane, select Java Build Path
   
3. Select Source from the Tab. 
4. At the bottom of that Tab there is an option to set the output folder. Click Browse, Choose a folder where you need to put the output files.
   
5. If you need to put it in other system directory, Click Create New Folder and then click Advanced. 
6. Mark the check box Link to folder in the file system and Browse to select the location for the output folder.

More tips

1. If a file is modified, the mark '>' will appear before the file/package name in the package explorer.
2. The version number will be shown along with the file names in the package explorer.

Here is a sample  

Limitations

1. Eclipse doesn't show error for CVS error such as permission denied for tagging.

Problems you may face

If you have configured proxy in the eclipse and your CVS Server is in the local LAN, you need to add the CVS Server Host in "proxy bypass" or "No Proxy For" setting in the Network Connection Settings. To set that

1. From Window menu select Preferences
2. Expand General on the left pane, and click Network Connections. 

On Eclipse Galileo the proxy settings seems a bit complicated. On the Active Provider menu in the Network Connections, select manual to set the proxy bypass.