how do I install plugins to Eclipse?

I'm trying install the plugin that will make me able to select J2EE projects in the 'New' drop down option.
So I downloaded the Web Tools Platform but I'm not sure how i'm supposed to import the zip to Eclipse so it installs
anybody know how to do this?

You just unzip the file into the Eclipse plugins directory and restart Eclipse.

i did that
it didn't work

There's 2 different ways to install plug-ins, both of them end up with the same results.

1. The easy way. IF the plug-in supplier if a Nice/Diligent Persion, he/she/they/them/it/whatever will provide a URL that can be inserted into the plugin installer on the Eclipse Help menu. The plug-in installer will then take care of the rest using its wizard interface.

2. The not-so-easy way. The plugin is only available as a ZIP file. In this case, you have to manually install it. Before doing so, check the structure of the ZIPfile. At the root level, you'll find one of the following directories: "eclipse" or "plugins". Or you'll find a whole bunch of directories with names like "com.fubar.myplugin.xyzzy". The object of the game is to ensure that the "com.fubar.myplugin..." directories are copied in amongst their peers in your eclipse/plugins directory. Use your favorite unzipping tool to make it so. Usually, if you screw up, you can use your favorite GUI file manager to move them to their proper places.

You may find some config files in the zipfile's eclipse or plugins directories. You should be able to safely ignore them. The important parts are the plugins subdirectories.

Note that you don't have to shut down Eclipse to install plugins, but it does have a Windows Complex. In other words, you'll almost always have to restart Eclipse to get the newly added plugins to start working.