1. Locate the Project Workspace directory, open the. project file, and modify the file,
Modify the following:
Locate the:<natures> </natures> code snippet and include the following in the code snippet and save:
<nature>org.eclipse.wst.common.project.facet.core.nature</nature>
<nature>org.eclipse.wst.common.modulecore.ModuleCoreNature</nature>
<nature>org.eclipse.jem.workbench.JavaEMFNature</nature>
2. On the Eclipse Project, refresh the project.
3, on the project, enter the attribute (properties)
4. Select "Project Facets" in the list item on the left, select "Dynamic Web Module" and "Java" on the right, (if you want to modify eclipse default WebContent to Webroot, click further Configuration available ..., change the default content redirectory to Webroot click OK. Click to click Save, Java Project to convert to Web project.
This is how you can publish to tomcat like a Web project.
Convert a Java project to a Web project in eclipse