Checkered Flag Projects: 10 Rules for Creating and Managing Projects That Win! Second Edition

SECTION 8

Time Savers

Time Savers

Tip 61: Code More Quickly with Automatic Code Completion

The IDE’s code completion feature assists you with writing code as you type. Code completion

works in Java, Javadoc, HTML, XML, and Ant files, among other file types. Here are some examples

of how to use this time saver:

. Create a new Java class and add instance variables. Place the caret after the instance variables

and press Ctrl-Space to call up the code completion dialog. The IDE will suggest to generate a

matching constructor. The generated constructor will contain an appropriate method signa-

ture and skeleton code to initialize the instance variables (see Figure 63).

103

© 2009 Sun Microsystems. All rights reserved.

This publication is protected by copyright. Please see page 2 for more details.

100 NetBeans

™ IDE Tips & Tricks

by Ruth Kusterer

FIGURE 63:

Generating a

constructor for

existing fields

. Ctrl-Space additionally calls up a Javadoc

pop up for the selected method. If the

method is polymorphic or overloaded, it

will show all sets of parameters that this

method accepts. Press Enter on a list item

to complete the selected method parame-

ters automatically. Press the Tab key to

jump from one parameter to the next

(see Figure 64).

Tip

If Ctrl-Space is already assigned to another action in your locale, use Ctrl-Backslash instead.

SECTION 8

Time Savers

104

© 2009 Sun Microsystems. All rights reserved.

This publication is protected by copyright. Please see page 2 for more details.

100 NetBeans

™ IDE Tips & Tricks

by Ruth Kusterer

. If you prefer a more lightweight parameter pop up, invoke it by pressing Ctrl-P

(Mac: Command-P). This will quickly show the parameters this method expects

(see Figure 65).

. When you type for and then press Ctrl-Space, the IDE offers a list of common for loop

templates to choose from.

FIGURE 64:

Code completion

showing method

arguments and

Javadoc window

SECTION 8

Time Savers

The same also works with other keywords such as while and if. If you were actually looking for a

class starting with those letters (e.g., you typed

for, expecting java.util.Formatter), press Ctrl-Space

once more to show all possible completions.

105

© 2009 Sun Microsystems. All rights reserved.

This publication is protected by copyright. Please see page 2 for more details.

100 NetBeans

™ IDE Tips & Tricks

by Ruth Kusterer

FIGURE 65:

Lightweight

parameter

pop up

FIGURE 66:

Expanding code

templates for

for loops

SECTION 8

Time Savers

. When you type the first letters of a long camel case class name, and then press Ctrl-Space, the

IDE will also suggest classes matching these initials. You must type the initials in all capital

letters to trigger this handy feature.

For instance, type

ISR and press Ctrl-Space. The IDE suggests InputStreamReader and

InitialServerRequestDispatcher.

Tip Source

http://blogs.sun.com/roumen/entry/how_we_are_solving_some

http://www.antonioshome.net/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=12

Tip 62: Expand Templates and Abbreviations for

Common Code Snippets

Abbreviations save you a lot of time. Instead of typing the same common code snippets over and

over again, you type only a few letters and press the Tab key: The IDE automatically replaces the

abbreviation with the full code template.

Tip

Go to the Editor Options and set your preferred trigger key: Space, Tab, or Enter.

Here are a few examples for creating handy Java abbreviations.

. Typing psfs and pressing the Tab key completes to

private static final String

106

© 2009 Sun Microsystems. All rights reserved.

This publication is protected by copyright. Please see page 2 for more details.

100 NetBeans

™ IDE Tips & Tricks

by Ruth Kusterer

SECTION 8

Time Savers

. Typing sout and pressing the Tab key completes to

System.out.println(“|”);

. Declare a string—for example, name.

String name = “Duke”;

Now, typing soutv and pressing the Tab key expands to

System.out.println(“name = “ + name);

. Typing fori and pressing the Tab key completes to a for loop over an array. Instead of

imageNames, the IDE will automatically insert the last defined array in the same code block, if

there is one (see Figure 67).

107

© 2009 Sun Microsystems. All rights reserved.

This publication is protected by copyright. Please see page 2 for more details.

100 NetBeans

™ IDE Tips & Tricks

by Ruth Kusterer

FIGURE 67:

Generating a for

loop over a recently

defined array

Note that the counter variable i is highlighted with a blue background and is ready to be

edited. Press the Tab key to move the caret from one control expression to the next.