# Preparing the workbench

In this section, you will verify that the workbench is properly set up for Java development.

The following is assumed:

- You are starting with a new workbench installation with default settings.
- You are familiar with the basic workbench mechanisms, such as views and perspectives.

If you're not familiar with the basic workbench mechanisms, please see the Getting Started chapter of the Workbench User Guide.

## Verifying JRE installation and classpath variables

1. Select the menu item Window > Preferences to open the workbench preferences.
2. Select Java > Installed JREs in the tree pane on the left to display the Installed Java Runtime Environments preference page. Confirm that a JRE has been detected. By default, the JRE used to run the workbench will be used to build and run Java programs. It should appear with a check mark in the list of installed JREs. We recommend that you use a Java SDK instead of a JRE. An SDK is designed for development and contains the source code for the Java library hence easing debugging. Additional SDKs can be added by searching the harddrive for installed SDKs. To do so simply click the Search button and specify a root folder for the search.

3. Select Workbench in the tree pane to display the Workbench preference page. Confirm that the Build automatically option is checked.

4. Select Java > Build Path in the tree pane to display the Build Path preference page. Confirm that Source and output folder is set to Project.

5. Select Java > Editor in the tree pane to display the Java Editor preference page. On the preference page, press the Typing tab. Confirm that option Analyze annotations while typing is checked.

6. Click on OK to save the preferences.

Note: The following screenshots exercise the advance highlighting feature in version 3.0. In order for your syntax highlighting to look exactly like the screenshots make sure that Window > Preferences > Java > Editor > Syntax has Enable advance highlighting checked on.

Java projects
Classpath variables
Build classpath

Working with build paths
Working with JREs

JRE Installations Preferences
New Project Preferences
Java Editor Preferences