I'm using maven 1.1b2 + eclipse plugin from CVS (snapshot) I'm using mutliproject to build the .classpath/.project of all my subprojects. To make it run as expceted, I have to set : maven.eclipse.output.dir = bin/classes maven.eclipse.test.output.dir = ${basedir}/bin/test-classes I need to set "${basedir}" in test.output.dir, and to avoid it in output.dir ${basedir}is required to make relative path to point to current sub-project when ran from a multiproject goal. In .classpath template, <maven:makeRelativePath> is used to build a project-root relative path. this transform is ALWAYS applied to testOutputDir. this transform is applied to outputDir ONLY if it has not been set from properties. I think makeRelativePath should be always applied.