# Installing a RAP Target

By default, the Eclipse IDE compiles all projects in the workspace against the running platform, i.e. all bundles of the running IDE. But since RAP applications must be compiled against the RAP runtime, the workspace must be configured to do so. This is done by setting the RAP runtime as the target platform.

## Using the RAP Tools to install the latest target platform

When Eclipse starts on a fresh workspace, a welcome page is displayed. You can always return to this welcome page choosing Help > Welcome from the main menu. Once there, click Overview and select the Rich Ajax Platform (RAP) section. Choose Install Target Platform on the following page. In the upcoming dialog confirm the default values, which starts the target installation process.

After the installation finished you are prepared to work with RAP. For your first steps you may read the RAP Examples topic and/or the other chapters of the getting started section.

## Install Target Manually

You can also install a target manually, e.g. if you want to develop against a different version of RAP or combine RAP with other bundles. To select a target platform you can either use the Target Platform preferences page (Window > Preferences > Plug-in Development > Target Platform) or create a target definition file. The latter is preferable, as target definition files can be checked in into your source code repository and shared among team members.

1. First, you may want to create a project to host your target definition files. A plain project will do (File > New > General > Project).
2. In this new project, create a new target definition: New > Plug-In Development > Target Definition. Chose a name like rap-custom.target and press Finish.
3. The target editor will open and show the contents of this target definition. Now, add the RAP runtime from a p2 repository a.k.a. software site: press Add, select Software Site. You'll be confronted with another dialog, named Add Software Site.
4. Again press Add and enter the URL of the RAP runtime repository. You find these URLs on the RAP download page, e.g.
   - for RAP 1.4: http://download.eclipse.org/rt/rap/1.4/runtime
   - for RAP 1.5: http://download.eclipse.org/rt/rap/1.5/runtime
   Hint: You can also install the RAP runtime directly from a download zip archive. In this case, press Archive… and select the zip file.
5. For a basic RAP target, select the category Rich Ajax Platform (RAP). This category contains two features: The RAP runtime itself (RAP Target Components), and a set of Eclipse bundles needed for a basic RAP target (Basic Target Requirements).
6. Important: Before you click Finish, make sure the checkbox Include required software is not checked.
7. Activate the target platform by clicking the link Set as Target Platform in the upper right corner of the target definition editor.