One solution to test your archetypes in JBoss Central is to define a Project Example User site.

First, grab a copy of the last version of project-examples-shared-XXXX.xml and save it locally.

Then, you need to edit it : remove all unwanted projects and keep the one you're interested in. You will have to change :

• the <name> so it doesn't collide with existing names in JBT
• The archetype coordinates :
  • <archetypeGroupId>
  • <archetypeArtifactd>
  • <archetypeVersion>
  • Add/change <archetypeRepository> to point to the location of the repository (local or remote) containing the archetype under test
• The <tag> value must be set to central
• You may change the rest of the example properties according to your needs.
• Save your project example descriptor locally.

You will end up with something like :

<projects>
    <project>
        <category>Open Archetypes</category>
        <name>multi-helloworld</name>
        <included-projects>multi</included-projects>
        <shortDescription>Multi Module</shortDescription>
        <priority>1</priority>
        <description>This is an overly complex Hello world</description>
        <size>8192</size>
        <url/>
        <fixes>
            <fix type="wtpruntime">
                <property name="allowed-types">org.jboss.ide.eclipse.as.runtime.70, org.jboss.ide.eclipse.as.runtime.71, org.jboss.ide.eclipse.as.runtime.eap.60</property>
                <property name="description">This project example requires JBoss AS 7.0/7.1 or EAP 6 </property>
                <property name="downloadId">org.jboss.tools.runtime.core.as.710</property>
            </fix>
            <fix type="plugin">
                <property name="id">org.eclipse.m2e.core</property>
                <property name="versions">[1.0.0,1.2.0)</property>
                <property name="description">This project example requires m2e &gt;= 1.0.</property>
                <property name="connectorIds">org.eclipse.m2e.feature</property>
            </fix>
            <fix type="plugin">
                <property name="id">org.maven.ide.eclipse.wtp</property>
                <property name="versions">[0.13.1,0.17)</property>
                <property name="description">This project example requires m2eclipse-wtp &gt;= 0.13.1.</property>
                <property name="connectorIds">org.maven.ide.eclipse.wtp</property>
            </fix>
            <fix type="plugin">
                <property name="id">org.jboss.tools.maven.core</property>
                <property name="versions">[1.3.0,1.4.0)</property>
                <property name="description">This project example requires JBoss Maven Tools.</property>
                <property name="connectorIds">org.jboss.tools.maven.feature,org.jboss.tools.maven.cdi.feature,org.jboss.tools.maven.hibernate.feature,org.jboss.tools.maven.jaxrs.feature,org.jboss.tools.maven.portlet.feature,org.jboss.tools.maven.seam.feature</property>
            </fix>
        </fixes>
        <importType>mavenArchetype</importType>
        <importTypeDescription>The project example requires the m2e, m2eclipse-wtp and JBoss Maven Integration features.</importTypeDescription>
        
        
        <defaultMavenProfiles>arq-jbossas-remote</defaultMavenProfiles>        
        <mavenArchetype>
            <!-- Archetype coordinates-->
            <archetypeGroupId>org.openarchetypes</archetypeGroupId>
            <archetypeArtifactId>multi-javaee6-archetype</archetypeArtifactId>
            <archetypeVersion>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</archetypeVersion>
            <!-- You can remove the <archetypeRepository> if the archetype is available from Maven Central -->
            <archetypeRepository>http://open-archetypes.github.com/maven-repo/snapshots/</archetypeRepository>
            <!-- if you need to test with your local build
            <archetypeRepository>file:/path/to/your/local/mavenrepo/</archetypeRepository>
             -->
            
            <!-- Pre-populate the project wizard input texts-->
            <groupId>foo.bar</groupId>
            <artifactId>multi</artifactId>
            <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
            <javaPackage>foo.bar.multi</javaPackage>
            <!-- Override default archetype properties -->
            <properties>
                <property name="name" value="Java EE 6 webapp project"/>
            </properties>
        </mavenArchetype>
        
        <!-- use the tag 'central' to make this example appear in JBoss Central - Project Examples section -->
        <tags>central</tags> 
        
        <!-- Icon to use in JBoss Central-->
        <icon path="icons/newwebprj_wiz.gif" />
        
        <!-- Readme / Cheatsheet to open automatically when the project is generated -->
        <welcome type="editor" url="/${project[0]}/readme.md"/>
    </project>
</projects>    

Now you need to open Eclipse's preferences and got to JBoss Tools > Project Examples.

• Check 'Show experimental sites'
• Click on the 'Add' button to add your customized project example descriptor as a User Site

Back to JBoss Central, in the Project Examples section, click on the refresh button and see your archetype appear in the list :

You can now test your custom archetype exactly as if it was a built-in project wizard from JBoss Central