Configuring Eclipse for production rule editing - CMUCTAT/CTAT GitHub Wiki

Configuring Eclipse for production rule editing

The configuration steps apply to Eclipse 4.0 and greater.

  1. (Optional) Install the Eclipse module to support the plugin
  2. Install the Eclipse Jess editor plugin
  3. Create an Eclipse project for use with CTAT
  4. Verify that the Eclipse Jess editor plugin is working

If you do not already have Eclipse installed, we recommend using the Kepler (4.3) release of the Eclipse IDE. Refer to the Requirements section of the Quick Start guide for more infomation.

Install the Eclipse module to support the plugin

Required only for Eclipse 4.4 (Luna) or greater. If you have Eclipse 4.3 (Kepler) installed, you can skip this step.

The Jess Editor plugin is not recognized in newer versions of the Eclipse IDE. To enable the plugin, you need to install an extra module that provides support for older plugins.

  1. In Eclipse, select "Install New Software..." from the Help menu.
  2. In the Work with field of the Install dialog, select
  3. Expand the Eclipse Tests, Examples, and Extras category, select Eclipse 2.0 Style Plugin Support and install it.

Install the Eclipse Jess editor plugin

  1. If you did not complete the Eclipse plugin installer while installing CTAT, launch PluginInstaller.exe (Windows) or PluginInstaller.app (Mac), located in the folder in which you installed CTAT. The plugin installer will open.
  2. Check the checkbox next to Eclipse is installed on this computer.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Click Select location, locating the folder in which you installed Eclipse. Click OK when you've selected it.
  5. Click Finish to run the last step of the plugin installer. If no errors were encountered, a message will appear informing you that the Eclipse Jess editor plugin was installed successfully.

Create an Eclipse project for use with CTAT

  1. Launch Eclipse.
  2. If asked to select a workspace, click OK to accept the default workspace for Eclipse. For example, C:\Users\sdemi\eclipse-workspace. Do not choose your CTAT workspace directory.
  3. Open the Project menu, and ensure that the Build Automatically option is unchecked (disabled).
  4. Select File > New > Project to open the Project Wizard.
  5. Select Java Project and click Next.
  6. Enter a project name (e.g., CTAT Workspace)
  7. Uncheck "Use default location", and browse for your CTAT workspace directory.
  8. Click Finish. If asked if you want to switch to the Java perspective, click No.

Verify that the Eclipse Jess editor plugin is working

  1. Copy a Jess example tutor from your CTAT installation to your CTAT workspace folder. On Windows, for example, copy the HTML FractionAddition folder in C:\Program Files (x86)\Cognitive Tutor Authoring Tools\Projects\ to CTAT\FractionAddition.

  2. In Eclipse's Package Explorer or Navigator view, expand a cognitive tutor package such as FractionAddition. A Jess icon should appear next to the Jess files productionRules.pr, wmeTypes.clp, and each .wme file, as shown below.

  3. Open a Jess file such as productionRules.pr. The syntax of the Jess file should be highlighted appropriately, and an outline of the file should appear in the Outline view (Window > Show view > Outline).

    If these features are not present, verify that the Jess Editor was used to open the file: in Eclipse, right-click (Windows) or CTRL+click (Mac) on productionRules.pr and examine the items in the Open With menu. Jess Editor should appear at the top of the list. If it's not, quit Eclipse and try running the plugin installer again. Note that Eclipse needs to be restarted for plugin changes to take effect.