FAQ How do I load and save plug-in preferences?

Current Practice

As of 3.1 the technique to modify preference values goes something like this:

private void savePluginSettings() {
  // saves plugin preferences at the workspace level
  Preferences prefs =
    InstanceScope.INSTANCE.getNode(MY_PLUGIN_ID); // does all the above behind the scenes

  prefs.put(KEY1, this.someStr);
  prefs.put(KEY2, this.someBool);

  try {
    // prefs are automatically flushed during a plugin's "super.stop()".
    prefs.flush();
  } catch(BackingStoreException e) {
    //TODO write a real exception handler.
    e.printStackTrace();
  }
}

private void loadPluginSettings() {
  Preferences prefs = new InstanceScope().getNode(MY_PLUGIN_ID);
  // you might want to call prefs.sync() if you're worried about others changing your settings
  this.someStr = prefs.get(KEY1);
  this.someBool= prefs.getBoolean(KEY2);
}

See Also:

• FAQ How do I use the preference service?
• FAQ What is a preference scope?

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This FAQ was originally published in Official Eclipse 3.0 FAQs. Copyright 2004, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. This text is made available here under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0.