[news.eclipse.technology.iam] can not create any sample Maven project

[ls-test1@xxxxxxxxxxx (L )]

I tried many times to create a sample maven project using sample architype
(quick start) or sample customized archtype. Two issues:

1. The latest IAM requires me to create the folder (or it will complain no 
folder found). is this expected ?

2. After after manually created the folder, creating Maven project gives 
NPE
as enclosed, no clue what to do next. Thanks for any help.

====================================
java.lang.NullPointerException
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.ProjectBuildingExceptionHandler.handle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.MavenExceptionHandlerChain.doHandle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.UnrecognizedExceptionHandler.handle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.MavenExceptionHandlerChain.doHandle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.UnrecognizedExceptionHandler.handle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.MavenExceptionHandlerChain.doHandle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.UnrecognizedExceptionHandler.handle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.handler.internal.MavenExceptionHandlerChain.doHandle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.MavenExceptionHandler.doHandle(Unknown 
Source)
	at 
org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.exception.MavenExceptionHandler.handle(Unknown 
Source)
	at org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.MavenExecutionStatus.<init>(Unknown 
Source)
	at org.eclipse.iam.core.embedder.internal.EclipseMavenRequest.run(Unknown 
Source)
	at org.eclipse.core.internal.jobs.Worker.run(Worker.java:55)