[ Update: Open Explorer 1.3.0 and 1.4.0 were released, the latest version can be downloaded here. ]
Share a recently developed Eclipse plugin:
The idea is simple.
Assume you are already familiar with “Package Explorer” and “Navigator” view in eclipse, which can help us a lot in viewing the directory structure during development.
But have you had a chance to want to open the directories and files there in the system file browser, say “Windows Explorer”?
I usually do, and I almost repeat the same routine everyday (Right click the directory-> Choose Properties -> Copy the Location-> Open Explorer(e.g. “My Computer”) -> Paste the Location -> Enter), which make me feel boring and silly.
That’s also why I create the plugin. (MyEclipse seems have included that function too, but the bad news is it’s huge and it’s not free)
The plugin makes things easy and quick, just select the directories or files and click the button, and you will get what you want.
Not only save my time, but also let me focus on what I was doing :)
So I shared it with you guys, hope this could also save your time.
HOW TO INSTALL
The installation is pretty simple.
Download the jar file below, which currently support Eclipse 3.2 and later, both Linux (with nautilus) and Windows.
(Change “openexplorer_100.jar” to “openexplorer_1.0.0.jar”, wordpress seems doesn’t support multiple “.”)
Put it into your Eclipse plugin directory, which is:
“$ECLIPSE_HOME/plugins”
Restart Eclipse workbench, and that’s it.
To uninstall, just remove the jar.
Good Luck, and hope it could help.

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very good ,thanks!
Thanks a lot!!!
I am looking for it a million times。。
thanks
Thanks! However, this plugin would be 10x nicer if it selected the file in Windows Explorer rather than just opening the folder containing the file. See http://www.eclipsezone.com/eclipse/forums/t77655.html — this has the opposite problem. Opening a with a folder selected opens the parent folder and selects the folder you had selected, making you have to hit Enter to navigate to where you intended.
Thx for the feedback. This is a really nice feature, I will definitely take a look later and make the changes when I have some time. Will reply to your comment when it’s done.
fixed, pls download the new version here:
http://github.com/downloads/samsonw/OpenExplorer/OpenExplorer_1.1.0.v201010021600.jar
all the code has been checked in to github as well:
http://github.com/samsonw/OpenExplorer
Perfect! Works like a charm! Thanks for the very fast turnaround on my request/comment!
Thanks for a very nice plugin. Will it be possible for you make it open the file when I click on the icon when I’m editing a file (Not just from the package explorer)
Thanks again for your effort. Appreciated!!!
Thanks for the nice suggestion, I will take a look when I have some time. Will reply to your comment once it’s done.
Hi Ashok,
Do you mean open current editing file in system explorer?
Looks promising..
Is this compatible with eclipse 3.5.1 on windows xp?
I see the button but pressing it nothing happens. No errors in the Error View in eclipse.
It should be compatible. Did you select a folder or file in package explorer before clicking the button?
Hi Samson,
Yeah.. Thats right, Current editing file
Hi Ashok,
Pls download the new version here:
https://github.com/downloads/samsonw/OpenExplorer/OpenExplorer_1.2.0.v201101172217.jar
Let me know if there’s any problem.
Thanks a lot man, exactly what I needed. 3 Thumbs up!
Thank you man, I was looking for it for ages!
in CDT(eclipse-cpp-indigo-incubation),cannot use this plugin,why
OpenExplorer requires JDT (org.eclipse.jdt.core), please make sure it’s installed.
thank you !
thanks a lots and it’s really useful~
Great minds think alike… seems we had quite the same idea. Check out StartExplorer at http://startexplorer.sourceforge.net/ for a very similar plug-in. It offers the same option (open Explorer, Nautilus, Konqueror, Mac Finder, …) plus some extra stuff like open shell/cmd.exe and user customizable commands.
Samson, since our plug-ins have a lot in common, maybe we can merge them into one plug-in and combine our development efforts? I just browsed through your code, a lot of things seemed quite familiar to me :-))
Would be glad to hear your opinion on this.
Kind regards
Bastian
I have a problem with the latest version 1.5.0 with Eclipse Indigo and KDE 4.8.
It happens when I open a folder (dolphin) and from that folder I open a file: the dolphin window freezes and I have to kill it manually.
Regards,
Jacopo
Is this one problem that you can reproduce it every time? It’s kinda inconvenient for me to reproduce the bug in the env you indicated, so just to be sure.