Using MAVEN to create war file

1. Download and install Maven
2. Go the command line run: mvn archetype:generate
3. Follow the prompted steps - choosing the simple java web project (18) and a suitable name.
4. When it is finished run: mvn eclipse:eclipse
5. Start Eclipse. Choose File -> Import -> Existing project. Select the directory where you ran the mvn goals.
6. That's it you should now have a very good start to a war project in eclipse
7. You can create the war itself by running mvn package or deploy it by setting up a server in eclipse and simply adding adding the project to the server.

Sample Configuration:

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-war-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>2.1-alpha-2</version>
    <configuration>
        <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/tmp/</outputDirectory>
        <workDirectory>${project.build.directory}/tmp/war/work</workDirectory>
        <webappDirectory>${project.build.webappDirectory}</webappDirectory>
        <cacheFile>${project.build.directory}/tmp/war/work/webapp-cache.xml</cacheFile>
        <nonFilteredFileExtensions>
            <nonFilteredFileExtension>pdf</nonFilteredFileExtension>
            <nonFilteredFileExtension>png</nonFilteredFileExtension>
            <nonFilteredFileExtension>gif</nonFilteredFileExtension>
            <nonFilteredFileExtension>jsp</nonFilteredFileExtension>
        </nonFilteredFileExtensions>
        <webResources>
            <resource>
                <directory>src/main/webapp/</directory>
                <targetPath>WEB-INF</targetPath>
                <filtering>true</filtering>
                <includes>
                    <include>**/*.xml</include>
                </includes>
            </resource>
        </webResources>
        <warName>Application</warName>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

if you want to go with maven is to stick to maven conventions and particularly the Maven Directory Layout.

A simple war project would have the following directory layout: