Getting started with IDEA - IntelliJ IDEA in Action - page 6

Associating project files with IDEA
As you'll learn in chapter 4, IDEA uses project files to keep track of your develop-
ment projects. These files are given the file extension IPR ( I dea PR oject file). If
you choose to associate IPR files with IDEA in this step, you'll be able to open a
project by clicking the project file— IDEA will launch automatically, loading the
selected project.
You may assume that IDEA can associate itself with Java files so that they're
automatically opened in IDEA . However, IDEA isn't just a Java file editor, so it
needs to work within the context of a project.

Reviewing installation options
When you've finished making your selections, you have a final chance to review
them. If you're happy with your choices, click the Install button to begin the
installation. When it's complete, check out the ReadMe file or the JetBrains web
site for the latest updates. You're now ready to run IDEA !

1.1.3 Running IDEA for the first time

To l a u n c h IDEA , double-click the shortcut created during installation, or run the
IDEA executable for your platform from the bin folder of the installation direc-
tory. You can run only one instance of IDEA at a time: If you try to start a second
one, you'll be reprimanded by the system. At first, you might see this as a limita-
tion, but in chapter 4 you'll learn how to work on multiple projects simulta-
neously. If you have an existing project file on your file system, you can launch
IDEA indirectly by double-clicking that project file.
The first time you launch IDEA , you'll be asked to enter the license key infor-
mation given to you at the time of purchase, as shown in figure 1.2. If you have an
evaluation key, IDEA will function the same way but will stop working once your
evaluation period is over. If you later purchase a key or want to enter new regis-
tration information, you can do so by executing the Help | Register command.

IDEA won't allow you to use the same license key on two computers si-
multaneously. If IDEA detects another instance running on your local
network, a warning dialog will appear and the IDE will shut itself down.

WARNING!

At this point, the software is licensed and running. If this is your first time starting
the software, however, the New Project Wizard will appear after you've entered
your license data. You'll create a new project as part of your first Java application
in IDEA momentarily.