iml file not created in project root

Answered

Hey everyone,

I have just installed IntelliJ IDEA 2021.3.2 (Ultimate Edition) and noticed some strange behaviour with regards the location of where the .iml file is being created.

When opening a mvn project (pom.xml) for the first time the .iml file is being created in the directory above the project root. I was expecting the .iml file to be created at project root i.e. alongside the pom.xml.

What it looks like:

repofolder 
│ testproject.iml
│ └───testproject │ │ pom.xml │ │ ...

What I expected:

repofolder 
│ └───testproject │ │ pom.xml │ │   testproject.iml
│ │   ...

When creating a new maven project through the IDE the .iml is created where I would expect. It is created in the project root alongside the pom.xml

4
10 comments

Can't reproduce, please zip and share a sample project with the exact steps to recreate this problem: https://uploads.jetbrains.com.

0

Upload id: 2022_02_17_TyRKEQMYWkqDMvEG (files: test.zip and 2 more)

Steps to recreate:

- Create the following folder structure ~/tesfolder1/testfolder2/
- Unzip test project into testfolder2
- Open Intellij
- From Intellij splash screen select "Open"
- Navigate to and open ~/tesfolder1/testfolder2/test/pom.xml
- Select Open as Project
- Trust project
- Select Open Module Settings and navigate around
- Select OK to dismiss Module Settings window
- Look for test.iml file
- Expected behaviour is that it is in root of test project next to pom.xml
- Actual behaviour is that is is in ~/tesfolder1/testfolder2/ alongside the test project folder (see screen shots attached)

EDIT - I am running the IntelliJ IDEA Apple Silicon

Thanks

0

You can enable Settings (Preferences on macOS) | Build, Execution, Deployment | Build Tools | Maven | Importing | Store generated project files externally option as a workaround. It's the default setting, by the way.

Bug reported: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-289015

Thanks.

0

Hi Serge Baranov, thanks for your quick response.

I am slightly confused by the workaround? How will this store the .iml file in root of my project? I already had this set by the way.

In the bug you have raised I notice you have added the following line to the steps to recreate:

  • Disable Settings (Preferences on macOS) | Build, Execution, Deployment | Build Tools | Maven | Importing | Store generated project files externally

I did not have to do this.

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With Store generated project files externally there should be no .iml files created in the project roots, they will be stored under System directory: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/directories-used-by-the-ide-to-store-settings-caches-plugins-and-logs.html#system-directory instead.

Try to enable this option, delete iml file and reimport the project.

0

I understand now thanks.

To be clear this option is already enabled for me (as you say its the default) and the .iml is stored alongside the project directory

When I disable this setting I get the same behaviour the .iml is created alongside the project directory (not in it).

0

It's another bug then, it should not be created outside of idea.system.path at all.

0

I downgrade my version to IntelliJ IDEA 2021.2.4 (Ultimate Edition) and the issue is not present.

 

Thanks

0

Hello. IDEA 2022.2.1 has the same bug. It's critical for run tests from IDE.

IntelliJ IDEA 2022.2.1 (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-222.3739.54, built on August 16, 2022
Runtime version: 17.0.3+7-b469.37 x86_64
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
macOS 12.5.1

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