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Shortcut Keys

Ctrl-Space - Content Assist

  • Use this key sequence to have Eclipse generate a list of possible matches for the current entry in the code.

Cmd-Option-N - New

Cmd-Shift-O - Organize Imports

  • Click on a class that has been flagged as "not resolved" and use this key sequence to have Eclipse automatically discover and add an import for the class as well as eliminate any imports that aren't being used.

Ctrl-M - Maximize Active View or Editor

  • This will take the current view or editor you are working in and maximize it; use the sequence again to go back to the original size.

Cmd-Shift-F - Format Code

  • You can customize the code formatter to understand your coding standards (Eclipse | Preferences | Java | Code Style | Formatter).

Drill

Hit Cmd-Option-N, arrow down to Class on the menu and hit Enter. * Type NewClass as the class name and click Finish. * Type Ctrl-M to maximize the Java editor view. * Inside the class body, type main and hit Ctrl-Space. * Select main - main method on the menu and hit Enter. * Inside main, add: Scanner keyboard;. * You'll see error markers - hover over the red marker or the red underline to see Eclipse's suggested fixes. * Don't choose any: instead, hit Cmd-Shift-O to organize imports. * Below the scanner definition, type keyboard = new (with a space at the end) and hit Ctrl-Space. * Select Scanner(InputStream source) on the content assist menu and hit Enter. * Type sys, hit Ctrl-Space, select System, type a ., and select in from the menu. * Hit Enter and type a semicolon. * On the next line, type keyboard. and when the menu appears type c to select close(); hit Enter. * Type Cmd-Shift-F to format your code (you'll be doing this a lot!) * Type Ctrl-M to de-maximize the Java editor.

Cmd-/ - Quick Comment

  • This key sequence will comment out the current line or lines with a // comment; press it again to uncomment.

Cmd-Ctrl-/ - Quick Block Comment

  • Use this key sequence to comment out the currently highlighted block of lines with a block comment /* */;

  • Use a Cmd-Ctrl-\ to remove a block comment.

Drill

  • Click on the keyboard.close(); line and hit Cmd-/.
  • Notice the Java editor displays some warnings - your code creates the scanner but doesn't use it, and also fails to close it before exiting.
  • Highlight all of the main method and hit Cmd-Ctrl-/; hit Cmd-Ctrl-\ to uncomment.
  • Uncomment the keyboard.close(); statement by clicking on it and hitting Cmd-/.
  • Hit Cmd-S to save the editor contents.

Copying and moving lines

  • Cmd-Option-DownArrow - Duplicate line down.

  • Cmd-Option-UpArrow - Duplicate line down.

  • Option-UpArrow - Move line up.

  • Option-DownArrow - Move line down.

Drill

  • Open a new line above keyboard.close();.
  • Type sysout and hit Ctrl-Space.
  • In the System.out.println() add "Hi, what's your name?".
  • On the next line, type k then Ctrl-Space and select keyboard, then type . then n and select next() from the content-assist menu; add a semicolon at the end.
  • Type Cmd-2 to pop up a menu. Then type L to assign the value returned by keyboard.next() to a new local variable - change the variable name to name.
  • With your cursor on the println() statement use Cmd-Option-DownArrow to duplicate the line, then use Option-DownArrow to move the new line below keyboard.next();. Change the text to "Welcome to Eclipse, " + name.
  • Cmd-S to save your work, then run your program using the Run button in the toolbar.
  • Click into the console to type your name.

More Shortcut Key Sequences

Eclipse is loaded with features that tend to be hidden deep beneath menu options. To see a list of all of the shortcut keys, use Cmd-Shift-L.

Cmd-Shift-T - Open Type

  • Use the Open Type dialog to quickly jump to a class or interface in your project or in the Java libraries.

  • For example, type Str for all classes that start with these three characters (String, StringBuffer, etc.)

Cmd-Shift-R - Open Resource

  • Use the Open Resource dialog to find any kind of file in your project.

F3 - Open Declaration

  • Any time you have clicked on a method call in code, you can click F3 to jump to the method declaration in the Java editor.

Cmd-O - Quick Outline

  • Use this key sequence to launch a dialog that helps you quickly find a method within the current file by simply typing in the first few letters of the method you are looking for.

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