eclipse: how to debug a Java program as a .jar file?

Question

I use ant for creating .jar files in Eclipse. Works great.

I have a .jar file I am working on that expects the code to be in a .jar file (it looks for .properties files in the same directory as the .jar file) -- the standard Eclipse "Run" and "Debug" menus execute the main() method of a specified Java class... but they do it from the directory containing the compiled class files, not a jar file. Is there a way to change this behavior so Eclipse runs code from the appropriate .jar file instead?

(My workaround right now is to run the .jar file externally, with it suspended waiting for a debugger, per Dave Ray's answer to one of my other questions.)

Answer 1

You could use remote debugging by running your jar like this

java -Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=n,address=5005 -jar yourJar.jar 

And then connecting from your IDE to that port

Answer 2

Yes, you can create a custom "Run Configuration":
Ie, a "Java Application" one, with:

• Classpath tab emptied from its default content (the .class directory) and with the jar added
• Source tab with its default content (should reference the src directory of the project)

One such configuration can be run or debugged.

(^{Example of a custom configuration with jars as user entries})