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Thursday, 14 January 2010

Coole Eclipse Shortcuts

I found this link on http://viralpatel.net/blogs/2009/07/20-very-useful-eclipse-ide-shortcuts-for-developers.html.

I found the following shortcuts really great:

# Alt + Shift + L : Extract to Local Variable

Say you have the following method:

public void myTest(){ String finalVariable = "first part" + "second part"+ "third part"; }

if you select "first part" + "second part" and use the short cut :

Alt + Shift + L : Extract to Local Variable

Then eclipse ask for the name of the new local variable, e.g firstTwoParts, and the method looks like:

public void myTest(){
  String firstTwoParts = "first part" + "second part";
  String finalVariable = firstTwoParts + "third part";
}

# Alt + Shift + M : Extract to Method

The same also works with methods. Say you have the following method:

public final static void main(String[] args){
  if (args.length >2){
   System.out.println(args[0]);
   System.out.println(args[1]);
  }
}
if you select the whole if statement up to the }, and use the shortcut: Alt + Shift + M eclipse prompts for the name of the method and creates the parameter, for args.

# Alt + Shift + W : show the class in the package view.

Well I did not know that. But this is very useful, because I often need it.

# Ctrl+Q : Last edit

There is also a button to find this. But a short cut is even better.

# Alt + Left or Alt + Right : Navigate Left and Right

I knew this one but this is also very useful, since it is much quicker than using the mouse every time.