# Setting the Workbench Perspective for an Application

The term Workbench refers to the desktop development environment. The Workbench aims to achieve seamless tool integration and controlled openness by providing a common paradigm for the creation, management, and navigation of workspace resources.

Each Workbench window contains one or more perspectives. A perspective defines the initial set and layout of views in the Workbench window. Within the window, each perspective shares the same set of editors. Each perspective provides a set of functionality aimed at accomplishing a specific type of task or works with specific types of resources. For example, the Java perspective combines views that you would commonly use while editing Java source files, while the Debug perspective contains the views that you would use while debugging Java programs. As you work in the Workbench, you will probably switch perspectives frequently. More than one Workbench window can exist on the desktop at any given time.

To define a perspective for your project:

1. In the Eclipse IDE, if the Welcome page is open close it by clicking the Close button on the Welcome tab.

2. In the IDE, click Open Perspective to select the appropriate perspective for your development, as shown in Figure: Open Perspective Button.

   Open Perspective Button

3. The Open Perspective dialog opens allowing you to review the list of possible perspectives. Select Java EE, as shown in Figure: Open Perspective Dialog, and click OK.

   Open Perspective Dialog

4. The IDE updates to a new set of views and editors that are best suited to performing Java EE tasks.

5. Review each of the tabs in the bottom section of the IDE. As the tutorial goes on, you will get a chance to explore the content of some of the tabs.

6. From the main menu, select Window > Show View. This allows you to open or reopen specific views. Select Other, as shown in Figure: Show View Menu.

   Show View Menu

7. In the Show View dialog, expand the General node. Notice that views or editors already opened are greyed out. Select Palette as shown in Figure: Show View Dialog and click OK.

   Show View Dialog