Ok, last note on this:
using mac os x (version 10.5.8 for me) you have to stick with
- the 64bit version of eclipse helios (I am using eclipse helios SR2 for java developers)
- Java 1.6.0, 64bit (I am running 1.6.0_024 which is the latest version of Java on mac right now)
- graphiti 0.7.1 (as the 0.8.0 version is only for indigo and the plugins do not work with 0.8.0)
and everything forks fine. Hope this is a good reference for others in the future.
Many thanks to Kris for his help!!
c