How to Clone an Eclipse Workspace

I use export->preferences->all then change to a new workspace and import the prefs. Works fine (though clearly not very comfortable). Unfortunately, eclipse only offers to copy the layout settings when changing workspaces which is not enough for most purposes.

You can have a look at the following plugin : http://code.google.com/a/eclipselabs.org/p/workspacemechanic/

It's a plugin developed by google which lets you store your preferences and apply them to any workspace automatically.

If you store it in your dropbox (or any other shared storage), you'll be able to share you preferences between all your computers and even between all your team members.

It's the best and most reliable solution for your problem.

My preferred method is to copy both the .settings folder and the .launches folder from the old workspace to the new workspace. This seems to do a more complete job than using the export preferences option. You can find both folders under your workspace starting at
.metadata\.plugins
The .settings folder can be found under the org.eclipse.core.runtime folder The .launches folder is under the org.eclipse.debug.core folder.

(Just one of many tricks covered in my two Eclipse Guided Tour video training courses on Pluralsight.)

https://i.stack.imgur.com/8kV4U.jpg

You can try copying the workspace/.metadata folder. It mainly contains plugin information, and it is possible that you don't have some of the plugins. The specific folder that contains important settings is .metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.core.runtime/.settings. See this article

No need to copy anything manually, use Workspace Preferences Transferrer - it works great. Here is the quote from the description:

Extends the File > Switch Workspace… command with the option to transfer all preferences from the current workspace to the other one.

Just search the Eclipse marketplace and install it from there.

Need to copy .Metadata that holds the properties of your workspace.

Best way is to copy the .metadata folder to a new folder and open that folder in Eclipse Workspace dialog box.

Just copy the whole workspace on your local file system. That works for me because my new feature branch is got the same pom file and thus the overall build matches up. This way I don't need to import all the projects again.

This plugin will help you: http://marketplace.eclipse.org/content/workspace-preferences-transferrer.

Select "copy preferrences" when switch to or create a new workspace.