How can I add a default header to my source files automatically in Eclipse?

Question

I'm trying to figure out how I can have a comment header automatically added to all new source files in my eclipse java project. I've looked around but I haven't found a simple solution to automate this process. I gave JAutodoc a try, and even though it does allow me to specify a header I still had to tell the plugin manually to inject the header and it didn't seem very fond of my keyword-subsitution.

I'm by the way using the Maven2 plugin for Eclipse for most of my projects if that's any help.

Any tips?

Answer 1

Comments generation is configured in:

Main Menu -> Window -> Preferences -> Java -> Code Style -> Code Templates -> Configure generated code and comments

You can change directly the New Java files template: Code -> New Java files -> Edit

As of Eclipse 3.6 version, it is already configured that for new Java files ${filecomment} is inserted, so it is probably better to edit it instead:

Comments -> Files -> Edit

Answer 2

If you want to add your comment a the top of the file (to add a copyright header), give a try to Eclipse Copyright Generator. There is a wizard that ask you what you want to include. Therefore you can add every kind of comment header.

After installation you get a new menu: Project > Apply Copyright....

In the include files field enter *.java to reduce the set of files.

see also this answer

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As indicated in the comments, there is an other tool provided by the Eclipse Fundation: Eclipse Copyright Tool (as part of their releng tools)