Eclipse Cookbook

1.12. Fixing Syntax Errors Automatically

Problem

Eclipse indicates that you’ve got syntax errors in your code, but you don’t want to have to loop up the correct syntax in the Java documentation.

Solution

Let Eclipse’s Quick Fix suggest solutions. When you see an error/light bulb icon in the marker bar to the left of the JDT editor, click it for solutions to the error, and select the solution you want.

Discussion

Quick Fix is a great tool; as far as I am concerned, if Eclipse did nothing else, it still would be a worthwhile program to use just because of its Quick Fix feature. Of all the built-in components of the JDT, Quick Fix is a real favorite among programmers because it enables you to fix syntax errors almost instantaneously.

For instance, say you want the example code we’ve developed in the previous few recipes to also display the date and time. You might use code such as this:

public class FirstApp {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Date date = new Date( );
        stayCoolText = "Stay cool.";
        System.out.println(stayCoolText + " Date now is " + date.toString( ));
  }
}

You might spot a few errors here; Eclipse certainly does, as indicated by the X icons in the marker bar to the left of the editor in Figure 1-15.

Figure 1-15. Using Quick Fix

Although Eclipse indicates that errors exist, it doesn’t leave you in the cold. If Eclipse has a Quick Fix solution to offer, a light bulb will appear ...