Invaild .iml location and content when I choose "create new project" over "open existing project"

Hi,

I have several question about how the project structure is created and stored. Here is the context: I have a git repository containing some groovy files which I use for a Jenkins library. So what is interesting us here is the "src" folder, which contains groovy classes, and the "vars" folder, which contains groovy scripts (DSL).

There's no existing IntelliJ project, no .idea folder, no .iml, no pom.xml ...

Let's say that the repository is located under:

C:\Toto\JenkinsLibrary
  - .git
  - src
  - vars

My objective is to create a Maven project from scratch.

First Method:

Initially, I open IntelliJ and choose "Create new project". Select "Maven", no archetype, then I enter the following information:

- Project name: I leave the project corresponding to the artifactID: JenkinsBuildLibrary
- Project location: C:\Toto\JenkinsLibrary
- More settings: Module name = JenkinsLibrary, Content root = Module file location = C:\Toto\JenkinsLibrary, Project format = .idea

Then click finish

Here, the .iml file is generated OUTSIDE the .idea folder, looking like this:

C:\Toto\JenkinsLibrary
  - .git
  - .idea
  - src
  - vars
  - JenkinsLibrary.iml
  - pom.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<module type="JAVA_MODULE" version="4">
  <component name="NewModuleRootManager" inherit-compiler-output="true">
    <exclude-output />
    <content url="file://$MODULE_DIR$" />
    <orderEntry type="inheritedJdk" /> 
    <orderEntry type="sourceFolder" forTests="false" />
  </component>
</module>

Then soon after the content of the iml goes to:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<module type="JAVA_MODULE" version="4" />

Also, I have been trying to reproduce this several times and it is extremely complex to get a consistent behavior, sometimes I have the iml file with no generated pom, sometimes I have the pom with no iml .... so I guess there's a huge bug here.

Finally, if I change the project structure by adding other sources folder or other modules, nothing changes in my .iml file. Then I can close IntelliJ, remove ALL .idea, .iml and pom.xml files ... to get everything back once I reopen IntelliJ, leaving me to wonder: where is that configuration actually stored ?!

Second method:

This time, I choose "Open existing project". I select the folder: C:\Toto\JenkinsLibrary
There's no existing project but it still works and create a new project.

The .iml file is now under the .idea project !!

C:\Toto\JenkinsLibrary
  - .git
  - .idea
    - JenkinsLibrary.iml
  - src
  - vars
  - pom.xml

Right click the module, select "Add Framework Support", Maven, and I get a pom file.

When I change the project structure, the .iml is correctly updated. Exemple:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<module type="JAVA_MODULE" version="4">
  <component name="NewModuleRootManager" inherit-compiler-output="true"> 
    <exclude-output />
    <content url="file://$MODULE_DIR$" />
    <content url="file://$MODULE_DIR$/../../tools/ToolJenkins/src">
      <sourceFolder url="file://$MODULE_DIR$/../../tools/ToolJenkins/src" isTestSource="false" />
    </content>
    <orderEntry type="inheritedJdk" />
    <orderEntry type="sourceFolder" forTests="false" />
  </component>
</module>

Now If I close IntelliJ, remove ALL .idea, .iml and pom.xml files ... I don't get anything back once I reopen the project (only the files and folder located under the module), which seems a far better behavior !

SHORT SUMMARY:

- When creating a new Maven project, the .iml is located at the root of the project instead of under the .idea folder and is invalid. The project structure seems to be stored elsewhere. I have no way to ship a valid project to my teammates.
- When opening a new project, the .iml is located under the .idea folder and is valid. The project structure is stored under it (with warnings that project are defined by a pom file and changes performed under the Project structure menu could be wiped). I can ship a valid project to my teammates.

I need to understand those differences and how IntelliJ works. I hope for a quick answer since this is not the first time we struggle with project structures and may well move back to another, more stable IDE is necessary.

Thanks !