Installation does not retain projects of previous version

[lostbits]

Apache NetBeans version

Apache NetBeans 29

What happened

Opening a newly installed NB 29 IDE, all previous projects are lost, that is, they do not appear on the NB Projects listing and have to be re-opened.

Language / Project Type / NetBeans Component

C/C++

How to reproduce

1. Install NB 29
2. Open NB 29
3. Observe projects in project tab

Did this work correctly in an earlier version?

Apache NetBeans 26

Operating System

Windows 11-64 Professional

JDK

N/A

Apache NetBeans packaging

Community provided installer

Anything else

No response

Are you willing to submit a pull request?

No

[neilcsmith-net]

Sorry, wrongly closed!

This is the second issue report that suggests an issue with importing from NetBeans 26. See #9226

[mbien]

@lostbits how did you create those projects? Via the "Lightweight C/C++ Project" wizard or something else?

[lostbits]

On 2/26/2026 1:44 AM, Michael Bien wrote: *mbien* left a comment (apache/netbeans#9231) <#9231 (comment)> @lostbits <https://github.com/lostbits> how did you create those projects? Via the "Lightweight C/C++ Project" wizard or something else? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#9231 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABLWHHR5UDF32ASZVWURI5L4N257DAVCNFSM6AAAAACV7QAYESVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTSNRVGQYDANRWGQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

I try to stay within the bounds of NB. The project was created under NB 26 "Lightweight C/C++ Project". No project created under previous versions of NB 26, have been carried forward. When NB 29 was installed, all project history for all projects was lost.

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[mbien]

The project was created under NB 26 "Lightweight C/C++ Project".

ok good to know. It appears the importer doesn't import the ccplite project configuration folder. It is stored in

[version]/config/Preferences/org/netbeans/modules/cpplite

Copying it from the old config to the NB 29 config manually would allow you to open the projects again after you activated the c++ module via the plugin manager (or by navigating to c++ options which would also activate it).

Updating the importer as quick fix would be relatively easy to do, however, a better fix would be to store the config in the project analog to all other NB project types I am aware of. Going to add the "contribution welcome" label.

[lostbits]

On 2/26/2026 9:11 AM, Michael Bien wrote: *mbien* left a comment (apache/netbeans#9231) <#9231 (comment)> The project was created under NB 26 "Lightweight C/C++ Project". ok good to know. It appears the importer doesn't import the ccplite project configuration folder. It is stored in |[version]/config/Preferences/org/netbeans/modules/cpplite | Copying it from the old config to the NB 29 config manually would allow you to open the projects again after you activated the c++ module via the plugin manager (or by navigating to c++ options which would also activate it). Updating the importer as quick fix would be relatively easy to do, however, a better fix would be to store the config in the project analog to all other NB project types I am aware of. Going to add the "contribution welcome" label. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#9231 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABLWHHRP26MCTRHNT7GSIA34N4SN7AVCNFSM6AAAAACV7QAYESVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTSNRXHE4DINZXGA>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

Well now, that is the problem. Comments on bug report #9230 <#9230 (comment)> says that my active NB 26 folder was overwritten by the NB 29 installer as part of the normal community installer process. The installer did not provide an option for me to specify a new folder, unlike NB 26.  Hence, there is no previous version.

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[neilcsmith-net]

@lostbits the installer doesn't delete the userdir configuration folder. Look for the location of the userdir in the Help / About window. If you open that in a file browser you should see the 26 userdir next to it, and be able to copy files between. Make sure the IDE is not running when you do.

Do you have the old installer still? You can downgrade in place too, if you want to go back to 26 for now.