Managing the persistence.xml file

When you create a project, Eclipse creates the META-INF\persistence.xml file in the project's directory.

You can create a stub persistence.xml file in the META-INF directory when you create a JPA project (see "Creating a new JPA project"). You can manage this file either through the XML editor (see ) or through the persistence.xml Editor.

To use the persistence.xml Editor:

1. Open the peristence.xml file. The General page of the editor appears.

2. Use the General page to define the persistence.xml files <persistent-unit>-related attributes as well as the <provider>, and <class> elements (described in the following table).

   
   

   Tip: The persistence.xml Editor's Source page enables you to view and edit the raw XML file.

   
   

   Property	Description	Element Defined
   Name	Enter the name of the persistence unit.	<persistence-unit name = "<Name>">
   Persistence Provider	Enter the name of the persistence provider.	<provider>
   Description	Enter a description for this persistence unit. This is an optional property.	<description>
   Managed Classes	Add or remove the classes managed through the persistence unit.	<class>
   Exclude Unlisted Classes	Select to include all annotated entity classes in the root of the persistence unit.	<exclude-unlisted-classes>
   XML Mapping Files	Add or remove the object/relational mapping XML files define the classes managed through the persistence unit.	<mapping-file>
   Exclude Unlisted EclipseLink XML Mapping File	Select to include all annotated EclipseLink mapping files. Note: This field applies only when using EclipseLink JPA implementation	<property name="eclipselink.exclude-eclipselink-orm" value="true"/>

   
   

3. Use the Connection page to define the <jta-data-source> and <non-jta-data-source> elements as follows:

   To configure the JTA (Java Transaction API) source used by the persistence provider:

   1. Select JTA from the Transaction Type list.

   2. Enter the global JNDI name of the data source.

   To configure a non-JTA data source:

   1. Select Resource Local from the Transaction Type list.

   2. Enter the global JNDI name of the data source.

      
      

      Note: Select Default() to use the data source provided by the container.

      
      

   For projects using the Generic platform, you can also define the EclipseLink connection pool driver, connection pool driver, URL, user name and password.

4. Use the table in the Properties page to set the vendor-specific <properties> element.

   To add <property> elements:

   1. Click Add.

   2. Enter the <name> and <value> attributes for the <property> element using the table's Name and Value fields.

   To remove a <property> element, select a defined property in the table and then click Remove.

   
   

   Note: If the project uses the EclipseLink platform, the connection page also includes parameters for JDBC connection pooling.

   
   

persistence.xml Editor

 

Synchronizing classes

 

The persistence.xml file