Create a Project

If you’re new to using the Force.com IDE, set up a project. If you plan to debug an existing Force.com IDE project, skip these steps.
  1. In Eclipse, select File | New | Project | Force.com | Force.com Project | Next.
  2. Enter a descriptive project name and your Salesforce sandbox org’s credentials. Choose Sandbox from the Environment drop-down menu.
    New Project window
  3. Click Next, and then complete the New Project wizard.
  4. To save changes to the server automatically, right-click the name of the project that you created, then select Force.com | Work Online. By default, your changes are saved only locally, but Work Online is the recommended setting for using the Apex Debugger. When Work Online is enabled, the icon next to your project name looks like this: Work Online icon, rather than like this: Work Offline icon.

    Work Online saves your changes to the server if Build Automatically is enabled. If you’ve enabled Work Online but your changes aren’t saving to the server, make sure that you’ve selected Project | Build Automatically.

    Select Build Automatically from the Project menu.