# Free-Form Project Properties Dialog Box: Java Sources

Use to change the registered source and test package folders included in your free-form project.

Element | Description
--- | ---
Source Packages Folder | Specifies the folder that contains the Java source code for the project. You must set the Source Packages Folder to the folder that contains the default package.
Test Packages Folder | Specifies the folder that the IDE uses when creating JUnit tests. By default, when you create a project the IDE creates a test packages folder called test with the label Test Packages. Use the buttons to the right of the list to remove the selected folder or to specify the folder that the IDE uses when creating tests. You can also modify the Label field to change how the folder is displayed in the Projects window. You must set the Test Packages Folder to the folder that contains the default package. If the test packages folder for your project is missing or unavailable, you can create a new folder in your project and then use this pane to designate the new folder as the test packages folder.
Source Level | Specifies the JDK version that applies to the lowest Java platform version with which the Java code in your project is compatible. The list sets which JDK classes are provided for code completion, Javadoc, and debugging. The IDE searches the Java platforms registered in the Java Platform Manager for a platform with a matching version number. If no matching platform is found, the IDE's default platform is used instead. You can also add multiple source package folders. Each source package folder should be added at the folder that contains the default package. The location of the project folder, contents folder, and build script is also displayed.
Includes/Excludes | Includes or excludes specific classes in or from compilation. In the Configure Includes and Excludes dialog, use `regex` patterns in the Includes and Excludes fields to specify which classes on the project classpath you want to have compiled. The Included Files and Excluded Files panes list the resources that are compiled based on the supplied patterns.
Encoding | Specifies the character encoding the IDE applies when it saves and displays project source files. The project character encoding determines how the IDE interprets characters in your source files. The IDE displays and saves any new files you create using the encoding set by the project in which they reside. The default character encoding used with projects is UTF-8. Use the Encoding drop-down to change the character encoding used with the project.

Note: Like all settings in the Free-Form Project Properties dialog box, the Sources page does not change the actual contents of your project as specified in your Ant script. Adding source package folders only configures your project to mirror your Ant script so that features such as code completion, error highlighting, and refactoring work correctly.

Related Topics

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Developing Applications with NetBeans IDE,

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