External tools allow you to configure and run programs, batch files, Ant build files, and so on, using the Workbench. You can save these external tool configurations and run them at a later time.
Output from external tools is displayed in the log console view.
You can add external tools as part of the build process for a project. These external tools will run in the specified order every time a project is built.
The following variables are available when you configure external tools to run. These variables are automatically expanded each time the external tool is run.
${workspace_loc} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the workspace.
${workspace_loc:<resource path>} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the specified resource. The <resource path> is the full path of the resource relative to the workspace root (for example ${workspace_loc:/MyProject/MyFile.txt}).
${project_loc} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the currently selected resource's project or the project being built if the external tool is run as part of a build.
${project_loc:<resource path>} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the specified resource's project. The <resource path> is the full path of the resource relative to the workspace root (for example ${workspace_loc:/MyProject/MyFile.txt}).
${container_loc} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the currently selected resource's parent (either a folder or project).
${container_loc:<resource path>} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the specified resource's parent (either a folder or project). The <resource path> is the full path of the resource relative to the workspace root (for example ${workspace_loc:/MyProject/MyFile.txt}).
${resource_loc} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the currently selected resource.
${resource_loc:<resource path>} - The absolute path on the system's hard drive to the specified resource. The <resource path> is the full path of the resource relative to the workspace root (for example ${workspace_loc:/MyProject/MyFile.txt}).
${project_path} - The full path relative to the workspace of the currently selected resource's project or of the project being built if the external tool is run as part of a build.
${container_path} - The full path relative to the workspace of the currently selected resource's parent (either a folder or project).
${resource_path} - The full path relative to the workspace of the currently selected resource.
${project_name} - The name of the currently selected resource's project or of the project being built if the external tool is run as part of a build.
${container_name} - The name of the currently selected resource's parent (either a folder or project).
${resource_name} - The name of the currently selected resource.
${build_type} - The kind of build when the external tool is run as part of a build. The value can be one of "full", "incremental", or "auto". If the external tool is run outside of a build, the value is then "none".
${ant_target:<target name>} - The name of a target in an Ant build file to perform.