Object properties are shown in Properties view if selected object implements org.eclipse.ui.views.properties.IPropertySource interface. In our example we will show Author property in the properties view whenever “.properties” file is selected in the com.myplugin.rmp.views.PropertyManagerView. Since TreeObject is the model object behind “.properties” file – TreeObject needs to implement “org.eclipse.ui.views.properties.IPropertySource” interface. Also, com.myplugin.rmp.views.PropertyManagerView should emit selection changed events so that the Properties View can listen to them and decide whether properties are to be displayed for selected object. Before we get into details it will be good to look at the IPropertySource interface and its methods. Please refer to Eclipse API Specification to know about this interface
 
Property descriptors objects are used to create a property editor in the Properties view. Eclipse provides some implementations of the IPropertyDescriptor interface as shown in figure below.

Confused! Let’s start with real coding
 
If you are not able to understand above mentioned details then don’t worry!! What follows is the step by step approach of integrating properties View with our own Property Manager View (similar names!! Don’t get confused, Property Manager View is our example view where in we are displaying all the property files in workspace whereas Properties View is provided by eclipse to display properties of object selected in workbench).
 
Step 1: Modify com.myplugin.rmp.views.PropertyManagerView such that it starts broadcasting selection changed events. Remember Property View listens to selection change events in order to display properties of selected object. Modify createPartControl method in com.myplugin.rmp.views.PropertyManagerView as shown below (in bold).

public void createPartControl(Composite parent) {
              viewer = new TreeViewer(parent, SWT.MULTI | SWT.H_SCROLL | SWT.V_SCROLL);
              viewer.setContentProvider(new ViewContentProvider());
              viewer.setLabelProvider(new ViewLabelProvider());
              viewer.setInput(getViewSite());
              ResourcesPlugin.getWorkspace().addResourceChangeListener(this);
              getSite().setSelectionProvider(viewer);
              hookContextMenu();
              hookDoubleCLickAction();
}

Next, add following three lines in com.myplugin.rmp.views.PropertyManagerView class.

private static final String AUTHOR_ID = "RMP.author";
private static final TextPropertyDescriptor AUTHOR_PROP_DESC = new
					TextPropertyDescriptor(AUTHOR_ID,"author");
private static final IPropertyDescriptor[] DESCRIPTORS =  { AUTHOR_PROP_DESC };

public class TreeObject implements IAdaptable,IPropertySource {
              private String name;
              private TreeParent parent;
              private IResource resouce;


              public TreeObject(String name) {
                        this.name = name;
              }
 
              public String getName() {
                        return name;
              }
 
              public void setParent(TreeParent parent) {
                        this.parent = parent;
              }
 
              public TreeParent getParent() {
                        return parent;
              }
 
              public String toString() {
                        return getName();
              }
 
              public Object getAdapter(Class key) {
                        return null;
              }
 
              public IResource getResouce() {
                        return resouce;
              }
 
              public void setResouce(IResource resouce) {
                        this.resouce = resouce;
              }
 
                  public Object getEditableValue() {
                              return null;
                  }
 
                  public IPropertyDescriptor[] getPropertyDescriptors() {
                              return DESCRIPTORS;
                  }
 
                  public Object getPropertyValue(Object id) {
                        try{
                          if(AUTHOR_ID.equals(id)){
                             return resouce.getPersistentProperty(propertyPage.AUTHOR_PROP_KEY);
                          }
                        }catch(Exception e){

                        }
                     return null;
                  }
 
                  public boolean isPropertySet(Object id) {
                              return false;
                  }
 
                  public void resetPropertyValue(Object id) {

                  }
 
                  public void setPropertyValue(Object id, Object value) {
                     try{
                       if(AUTHOR_ID.equals(id)){
                         resouce.setPersistentProperty(propertyPage.AUTHOR_PROP_KEY,(String)value);
                       }
                     }catch(Exception e){

                     }
                  }
 
     }