Straightforward download. Install in C:\Program Files\. The extractor will create the Eclipse subdirectory. Eclipse takes quite a while to load up (especially the first time) so be patient. It will create a workspace and ask you to confirm it.

Having more drive space than common sense, I downloaded the “classic” version (140 megabytes). The much smaller load for Java developers (78 megabytes) would probably work as well but, as yet, I haven't tried it.

The procedures in the following paragraphs will be done automatically when you update from Eclipse 3.2 to 3.3. That is, version 3.3 will pick up plug-ins like Sysdeo along with the current JDK and set the Eclipse parameters as they were in the earlier version.

You must configure Eclipse to recognize the Java JDK you installed above rather than the Java JRE Eclipse installs as the default. The Tomcat plugin requires the JDK. First, in Eclipse, select Window --> Preferences --> Java --> Installed JREs. In the screen capture on the right select Add.

In the Edit JRE window (shown below) enter “JDK” (or anything that makes sense) in the textbox marked JRE name (remember, the JDK includes a JRE in its structure). Use the browse button across from JRE home directory to navigate to the JRE directory in the Java JDK directory from above (the default is C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_06).

Back to the previous window and select the checkbox for the Java JDK you just added. As the window instructions note -- Eclipse will now use the JDK by default. This is required by the Tomcat plugin you will be loading up next.

Once Eclipse is installed go to Help --> Welcome. There are several valuable help files including tutorials to acquaint you with Eclipse. If updating to a new version, select the “What's New” icon to see the new features which, in the instance of the update to 3.3, take advantage of the enhanced graphical features of the Microsoft Vista operating system.

Eclipse should now be working (without the benefit of the Tomcat server plugin in the next section).

Eclipse and Vista Security

This is similar to the comments in the Tomcat section above. Vista with User Account Control (UAC) running causes a problem. Vista normally runs everybody -- including administrators -- in a non-administrative role. This provides additional security and makes it more difficult for intruders to run programs requiring administrative privileges. You can right click on the Eclipse desktop shortcut if you made one and chose “Run As Administrator”.

For a more permanent solution, right-click on the shortcut and chose “Properties --> General --> Advanced” and check the box to run the program as administrator.