title: Getting started with Maven assembly plugin with multi-module project
body: <p>We had a guy working with us who used the maven-assembly-plugin to package all dependencies.  He has since left the company and I'm trying to figure out how he did this.  I am just now learning about the maven-assembly-plugin.  </p>
  
  <p>Our applications are split into a Maven POM project with associated module projects.  In the following example, I've included the runtime module project.  I tried to create a module project called runtime in my application, but the minute I make any changes it loses the association with the parent project. </p>
  
  <p>We are using Netbeans.</p>
  
  <pre><code>+- pom.xml
  +- Simulator 
      +- pom.xml 
  +- comms 
      +- pom.xml 
      +- src 
          +- main 
              +- java
  +- framework 
      +- pom.xml 
      +- src 
          +- main 
              +- java
  +- core 
      +- pom.xml 
      +- src 
          +- main    
              +- java
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This is what I want to create:</p>
  
  <pre><code>+- runtime 
      +- pom.xml 
      +- src 
          +- assemble 
              +- assembly (xml file)
      +- target 
          +- Simulator   
          +- archive-tmp    
          +- classes     
          +- test-classes     
          +- Simulator (zip file)
      +- config 
      +- data   
      +- scripts  
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>After doing a little more research, I think I might be putting the cart before the horse.  I already have a main project that includes the module projects.</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>So what exactly is the first next step?  </li>
  <li>Create the assembly descriptor file?  </li>
  <li>Edit my main pom file to be the parent?</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Below are some helpful questions and answers but I'm still confused.  Can someone please tell me what to do first?</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/q/10787101/1735836">Maven assembly on multi module project with special structure</a></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/q/24072384/1735836">How to use Maven assembly plugin with multi module maven project</a></p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT:</strong></p>
  
  <p>I figured out why the module was disappearing from my main project.  <strong>Netbeans!!</strong>  I restarted it and my runtime module was there.</p>
  
  <p>So, now I need to edit my POM file in the runtime module?</p>