# Replacing a Java element with a local history edition

1. Make sure that a Java view is visible.
2. Open a Java editor for the Java file in which you want to replace a Java element with an edition from the local history.
3. Activate the editor by clicking its tab in the editor area. The Outline view also displays the Java file. Note: The Package Explorer can be configured to show or not show Java elements in files. Use Window > Preferences > Java > Appearance > Show Members in Package Explorer to set your preference.
4. Select the element that you want to replace in the Outline or the Package Explorer.
5. From the element's pop-up menu, select Replace With > Element from Local History.
6. In the upper pane of the resulting dialog, all available editions of the selected element in the local history are displayed.
7. Select an edition in the upper pane to view the differences between the selected edition and the edition in the workbench.
8. When you have identified the edition with which you want to replace the existing Java element, click Replace.
9. The local history edition replaces the current one in the editor. Note: The changed compilation unit has not yet been saved at this point.

Java views
Java editor

Using the local history

Java outline