How to change the default Netbeans 7 project directory?

Question

This is only a minor annoyance but if I can figure this out I'll be very happy.

Is it possible to change the default project directory in Netbeans 7? I don't know if it's relevant but I have the PHP Netbeans distro.

Thanks!

Solution 1

In new netbeans 7 search file: D:\Users\YourWindowsUserName\.netbeans\7.0\config\Preferences\org\netbeans\modules\projectui.properties

Delete: *RecentProjectsDisplayNames.*8, *RecentProjectsIcons.*8, *recentProjectsURLs.*8 for cleaning recent projects.

Change projectsFolder for default projects folder when creating new one

To find out the location of the projectui.properties file for the latest versions of NetBeans for various operating systems:

http://wiki.netbeans.org/FaqWhatIsUserdir

Solution 2

Under Linux, you can change it in the Netbeans configuration directory: .netbeans/6.8/config/Preferences/org/netbeans/modules/projectui.properties

Solution 3

If you are asking for how to set the main project so that it runs by default and is debugged by default, then:

Run > Set Main Project, and select your project.

This will highlight in bold the name of the folder of your project in the files windows, usually on your the left hand side.

Solution 4

I believe that Netbeans will remember where your last project was created and uses that as its default. So if you create a project and choose a different directory than the default, then that directory will now be the default.

Solution 5

Instructions for Mac, based on some of the answers above:

Make sure NetBeans is closed.

On a Mac, the edit ~/.netbeans/7.0/config/Preferences/org/netbeans/modules/projectui.properties

Look for a line that starts with projectsFolder=

Example:

projectsFolder=/Users/<your username>/NetBeansProjects

If this line does not exist, add it with the full path to the directory you want to use. And of course, if it already exists just edit it to your desired path.

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Comments

[camomileCase]

This is partly true. When you enter the "Name and Location" section of the new project wizard 'Sources' defaults to a hard coded location, but if I click the browse button next to sources it defaults to the last folder used which is pretty good. I feel like I'm being super anal.

[Didier A.]

No you're not. I also would like a way to change it for good. Not just remember last location.

[gdub]

Just an update, as of version 7.2 the netbeans folder is located under C:\Users\<username>\AppData, accessible by typing %appdata% into the start menu search box.

[GDP2]

Strangely for me, this didn't seem to work... I had to reinstall NetBeans and reset the default root project directory from the initial startup screen. It may have been because I was using a special build of NetBeans for a school course.