How do I enable TODO/FIXME/XXX task tags in Eclipse?

Question

In all my years of using Eclipse, I never knew until now that TODO / FIXME / XXX comment tags are supposed to appear in the task list. Apparently this is something that is disabled by default because I have been using those tags for as long as I've been using Eclipse and I have never seen one of them appear in the task list. Can anyone indicate how to enable this feature? I see no preferences option anywhere that says anything to the effect of 'Let my source code tags appear in the task list'. It would be a nice feature if it existed, but I'm beginning to be doubtful.

I have asked around, and as others have suggested to me, these are some things which obviously have no effect but that I have tried anyway:

• Upgrading to the latest version of Eclipse.
• Restarting Eclipse.
• Closing and re-opening the task list.
• Refreshing the project.

I am using:
Eclipse Java EE IDE for Web Developers.
Version: Helios Service Release 1
Build id: 20100917-0705

Answer 1

For me, such tags are enabled by default. You can configure which task tags should be used in the workspace options: Java > Compiler > Task tags

Check if they are enabled in this location, and that should be enough to have them appear in the Task list (or the Markers view).

Extra note: reinstalling Eclipse won't change anything most of the time if you work on the same workspace. Most settings used by Eclipse are stored in the .metadata folder, in your workspace folder.