In VS Code, when writing the name of a method on an object, it seems to take a while for the method menu to pop up. I also am using github copilot, which is great, but it's suggestions often show first and I don't see the menu for the methods until I type some more letters.
Example, let's say I have the following line of code:
my_json = My_Class(id=5).
and I want to type the name of the method that returns some json. Gitlab copilot might suggest something like the following, where the 'get_json' portion is in grey and available for tab complete.
my_json = My_Class(id=5).get_json()
But, let's say the correct name for the method is 'get_object_json', I would have to type the following before the object method/attribute menu pops up
my_json = My_Class(id=5).get_o
Is there a way to manually open the object method/attribute menu? A keyboard shortcut? So that I can open it right after I have typed the period?
Similarly, sometimes I DO want the GitHub suggestion but, right as I hit tab, Pylance IntelliSense replaces the tab complete with the name of some variable or library, or global (i.e. some built-in exception class).
It would be great if there was a way to assign a specific key combo for tab complete of GitHub copilot. Like tab-option, or something, that will only complete the github copilot suggestion, if there is one.
Sometimes when I write the function name, the api is shown above its name automatically, but sometimes it doesn't work and I have to rewrite the function name to get that, so is there a shortcut key for it?
(I know man function_name but I used to CTRL+Q in NetBeans to get the same thing quickly but I can't find one for vscode.)
ALT+F12 seems to do the job. It's called "peek definition" which is available in the right click options too.
Also note that the opened window doesn't go away by clicking somewhere else outside of it, however, instead you can still use the ESC from keyboard.
I just started to use Juno for a couple of days, the content assist mechanism seems different from what it behaves before.
For example, if I try to declare a variable
Boolean isVisible
The content assist of Juno will give you a drop-down list with the variable name
isVisibleBoolean
as hint.
And the very annoying thing is that no matter what I typed in(; or SPACE), the "isVisibleBoolean" will be selected.
Does anybody know how can I disable the auto-variable-type-appending thing?
Much appreciated.
I'm using Mac OS X 10.8.1 currently, haven't tested it yet in windows.
Based on the discussion for Eclipse Bug 412992, check your Content Assist Auto Activation settings:
Window->Preferences->Java->Editor->Content Assist
If, for example, characters a-z are listed as "Auto activation triggers for Java", you can remove them and the type name will not be auto-appended to a new variable name when you hit ' ' or ';'. It's up to you to determine the best configuration/tradeoffs for your style based on the available options.
It seems that it is not possible.
See answers to Eclipse Bug 378588: https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=378588
This is still a problem in Eclipse 2018-12 and it only seems to occur if you changed the Auto activation triggers for Java setting to e.g. ._abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ, which'll make the Content Assist (almost) always pop up, even without pressing Ctrl+Space (Windows).
There's a new setting that was added in Eclipse 2018-12 and makes it a bit less annoying (mentioned in the comments below the bug report):
In Window - Preferences - Java - Editor - Content Assist tick the Disable insertion triggers except 'Enter' box.
With this setting enabled, Content Assist is still going to trigger (depending on the other settings) but you have to press Enter to accept a suggestion.
Not a perfect solution:
Window->Preference->Java->Editor->Content Assist->Auto activation Triggers for Java: .ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
In this way, only classes and types will be popped up for proposals.
Just a suggestion, the choice is up to you.
What you see there is name completion for object types. And this may often make sense, e.g. pressing Ctrl-Space after List book will complete that to List bookList. For primitive types this is not done, so int count will not get any completion when pressing Ctrl-Space. This would be a (not really good) solution to your problem by declaring the variable as primitve boolean.
What I really recommend as solution is to change your style of writing variable declarations. For your example, write isVisible = false instead, have the editor complain about the missing type declaration, hit Ctrl-1 (from wherever your cursor might be placed), Enter.
When renaming a variable using Eclipse, I always get a popup dialog showing me a preview of the refactoring. Is there some way I can disable this popup dialog? In other words, I want to place the cursor over a variable name, press alt+shift+r, edit the variable name, press enter, and have the renaming take place without ever seeing the preview. Is there some preference or setting for this?
I"m using Eclipse 3.6 (Helios)
UPDATE:
To test this, I did the following. I created a new Java Project and added the following class to the package.
public class TestRename{
private int var;
}
This is the only code in the project and still when I try to rename var I get a preview dialog in which I have to click "OK" to make the change. I'm pretty sure this wasn't the default behavior in Eclipse, but I must have edited the defaults somehow. I just don't know what I did or how to reset the preview behavior of the refactor.
There is a preference under "Java" for this called "Rename in editor without dialog". If this is not selected, the rename dialog will show up every time.
I'm also using Helios, a dialog only appears when you are potentially creating a name conflict or refactoring code that has compile errors.
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I have been using Eclipse as an IDE for a short amount of time (about 3 months of full use) and almost every day I learn about some shortcut or feature that I had absolutely no idea about. For instance, just today I learned that Ctrl+3 was the shortcut for a Quick Access window.
I was wondering what your most useful/favorite Eclipse features are. With the IDE being so big, it would be helpful to learn about the more commonly used parts of the program.
My most commonly used features are
ctrl+1 quick-fix / spell-checker
opening files
ctrl+shift+t load class file by classname
ctrl+shift+r load any file by filename
matches are made on the start of the class/filename. start your search pattern with a * to search anywhere within the filename/classname.
Formatting
ctrl+shift+f Format source file
(set up your formatting style in Window | preferences | java | code style | formatter)
ctrl+shift+o Organise imports
Generated code
alt+s,r to generate getters and setters
alt+s,v to insert method signatures for overidden methods from superclass or interface
Refactorings
alt+shift+l Extract text-selection as local variable (really handy in that it determines and inserts the type for you.
alt+shift+m Extract text-selection as a method
alt+shift+i inline selected method
Running and debugging.
alt+shift+x is a really handy prefix to run stuff in your current file.
alt+shift+x, t run unit tests in current file
alt+shift+x, j run main in current file
alt+shift+x, r run on server
There are more. The options are shown to you in the lower-right popup after hitting alt+shift+x.
alt+shift+x can be switched for alt+shift+d in all the above examples to run in the debugger.
Validation
As of the recent Ganymede release, you can now switch of validation in specified files and folders. I've been waiting for this feature for ages.
Go to Project | Properties | Validation
click on the ... button in the settings column of the validator you want to shut up
Add a rule to the exclude group
code navigation
hold down ctrl to make all variables, methods and classnames hyperlinks to their definitions.
alt+left to navigate back to where you clicked ctrl
alt+right to go "forwards" again
This is cool: If someone has emailed you a stack trace, you can copy and paste the stack trace into Eclipse's Console window. You can then click on class names in the stack trace as if your own code had generated it.
In terms of actual features, rather than shortcuts, I strongly recommend taking a look at Mylyn.
It essentially skins Eclipse with a task focussed view. It tracks the files you touch when working on a task, and focusses many aspects of the UI onto the resources that it decides are relevant to the job in hand. Eclipse can be somewhat busy to look at, especially with a big multi module project, and Mylyn helps cut through the cruft. The connectivity to issue tracking software and source control repositories is also excellent.
In my experience, it polarises opinion amongst those who try working with it, which is probably a sign that it is offering something interesting... Don't mean to sound like a fanboy - it is definitely worth a look though.
A shortcut that I use everyday is Ctrl+K. In your editor (not only Java file), simply select a text (like a variable, a function, etc.), and then use this shortcut to go to the next occurrence of this text in the current editor.
It's faster than using the Ctrl+F shortcut...
Note also that you can use Ctrl+Shift+K to search backwards.
Ctrl-Alt (up/down) Copy selected line(s) above or below current line.
Alt (up/down) Move current (or multiple selected) lines up or down
Ctrl-Shift-R Bring up the resource window, start typing to find class/resource
Ctrl-O Bring up all methods and fields for the current class. Hitting it again will bring up all methods and fields for current class and super classes.
Ctrl-/ or Ctrl-Alt-C Comment single or multiple lines with //
Ctrl-Shift-/ Comment selected lines with /* */
Ctrl-. Take you to the next error or warning line
CTRL+PAGE DOWN / CTRL+PAGE UP to switch between opened editors
CTRL+E to also switch between opened editors (allows to type the name)
CTRL+O is extremely important for me. You don't longer need the Outline View then (you can close it which will give you more space). Then, you can type a method name or just the beginning of it and you quickly can get to it. I also use it to inspect what stuff is available. For example: CTRL+O and then type get ... now I see all getters.
F3 while an element is selected in the code: brings you to its definition or it's source. e.g. used on a method call it brings you into the source code of that method.
CTRL+M to maximize the current window
As already said, CTRL+3 is extremely good. It basically allows you to use Eclipse completely without a mouse. Just type CTRL+3 and then package explorer for example.
CTRL+F8 cycle trough perspectives
CTRL+L allows to type a line number and brings you directly to that line.
CTRL+SHIFT+G searches for all references to the selected element in the workspace.
And not a shortcut: In the project settings under Java Editor you can find Save Actions. This allows you to set up the project so that the code is automatically cleaned up and formatted when you save a file. That's very good it safes you from constantly pressing CTRL+O and CTRL+F.
Eclipse auto refresh isn't on by default so if you make changes to a file outside of eclipse, the change won't be reflected in your build. this is very annoying if you just did an svn/git update/rebase and things aren't working the way they're supposed to.
Turn it on in windows->preferences->workspace and tick Refresh Automatically.
Local History
It's a great feature. Eclipse has its own mini-CVS for all files in a project. If you want to revert some change you made, or even restore deleted file - you can right click on the project and select "Restore from Local History".
Just saved my ass *tears of joy*
CTRL+Shift+P to jump to the matching bracket/parenthesis.
One key feature: Shift+Alt+T for the refactoring menu.
Ctrl-shift-T, but only type the initial characters (and even a few
more) of the class you're looking
for. For example, you can type
"NetLi" to find NetworkListener
In the Search window, Ctrl-. takes you to the first leaf of a tree branch
Alt-/ is Word Completion. Slightly different from Ctrl-space
CTRL+SHIFT+X selected text becomes UPPERCASE
CTRL+SHIFT+Y selected text becomes lowercase
I'd like to add two additional shortcuts:
CTRL+F6 Switch between open editors (CTRL+SHIFT+F6 to scroll through the list in the opposite direction)
CTRL+F11 start program in debug mode
F11 start program in normal mode
A lot of the key bindings depend on the perspective and view currently active.
My most used ones for the Java perspective:
ctrl-shift-r open resource
ctrl-shift-t open type
ctrl-1 quick fix/refactor
ctrl-j incremental search
ctrl-h search in files (select a base directory and set scope to selected resources)
ctrl-o list methods
ctrl-alt-h open call hierarchy
ctrl-shift-l list shortcut keys
hit ctrl-shift-l again to go directly to preferences to change key mappings
I am also a fan of Eclipse, however since I spend a majority of my time in Visual Studio, I will suggest that you read Eric Sink's series of articles "C# to Java" (parts 1-4). Not only is Eric always an entertaining read, but this brief series covers some awesome Eclipse insight for those who have not been into Eclipse or have been away from it for a while:
From C# to Java: Part 1
From C# to Java: Part 2
From C# to Java: Part 3
From C# to Java: Part 4
Ctrl-Shift-M while the cursor is on a class name in your java file, will specifically add that and only that class to your imports. This is different from Ctrl-Shift-O which will not only add those imports not already defined, but will also remove imports not currently needed, something you might not necessarily want to do.
I forgot about [Ctrl+2 -> r] scope variable rename. Place the cursor in the variable you wish to rename, press Ctrl+2, then r, then type the new name watching all instances of that variable get renamed at the same time.
It's awesome at refactoring Hungarian Notation.
alt-shift-a is extremely useful in a few situations.
I use a lot of the above and also like for quick search: CTRL+J then type what I am looking for, then CTRL+K for next occurrence.
Lately I've been using the MouseFeeds plugin to automatically tell me what the key stroke combinations are. That way by repetition I remember them better.
This link has a better picture and description of what it looks like and does.
Shift+Alt+b for the simple navigation row over the editor.
I've just released this blog post about Top 5 Useful Hidden Eclipse Features. It contains:
Favorites: Types and members that will always show up in auto-completion
The awesome block selection mode: For multi-line editing
The EGit staging view: Much better than git itself
Type filters: To remove awt and java.lang.Object stuff from auto-completion
Formatter tags: To delimit code sections that shouldn't be auto-formatted
Alt+left and Alt+ right will navigate you forward and back.
I find the project-specific settings useful in Eclipse 3.3.
For example, if you have several developers working on a project who have different code styles for curly braces, line spacing, number of imports etc. then you can specify the style settings for the project. Then you can configure the save actions so that the code is automatically formatted when a file is saved. The result is everyone's code is formatted the same before it's checked in.