Ten Under-Appreciated Eclipse Keystrokes
Think you know Eclipse? Most programmers quickly learn the common keystrokes but don’t take advantage of other good shortcuts. Here are my favourite lesser-known ones:
1. Ctrl-F6 – Next Editor
This handy little keystroke gives you a stack of open windows to cycle through, similar to Alt-Tab in Windows. I use it so often I’ve re-mapped it to Ctrl-Tab.
2. Ctrl-1 – Quick Fix
Okay, so you know about this one. But do you create errors on purpose so Quick Fix can do its magic? This is often faster than typing the correct code. Some examples:
- When creating new variables, don’t declare the type – let Eclipse figure it out from the assignment expression.
- Call a method that doesn’t exist yet and Eclipse will add it for you, complete with semi-intelligent parameter names.
- Need to add or remove method arguments? Just change the method call and Eclipse will update the method declaration.
- On a line with no errors, use Ctrl-1 to ‘Rename in File’, which executes much faster than Ctrl-R. (If the line has errors, you’ll have to select the element you want to rename)
3. Ctrl-T – Quick Hierachy
From within a method press Ctrl-T to quickly navigate to a sub-class implementation or to a super-class definition.
4. Ctrl-Q – Go To Last Edit Position
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Useful when you’ve copied a bit of text and want to paste it into your last edit position. This keystroke is so good I find myself instinctively using it in editors outside Eclipse.
5. Alt-Shift-Up – Expand Selection To Enclosing Element
This keystroke is often faster and more accurate than a mouse in selecting text.
Use Alt-Shift-Down for the reverse operation.
6. Ctrl-Space – Content Assist
Use this outside a method to add constructors, getters, setters and overridden methods to a class.
7. Alt-Up/Down – Move Line Up/Down
Move the current line or selection up or down.
8. Ctrl-Delete/Backspace – Delete Word
These are two “standard” keystrokes used in many editors and are very useful. I have to admit I only discovered them about a year ago!
9. Ctrl-D – Delete Line
Like me, many developers have discovered this one accidentally while habitually pressing Ctrl-S to save their work; “Damn! What did I press?! Hmm… actually that’s quite useful…”
10. Ctrl-M – Maximise Editor
Not used in everyday desktop programming, but indispensable on a laptop. If you use it much you’ll want to turn off the animation (Window -> Preferences -> Appearance). Even then, this feature is noticeably slower than in the good ol’ version 2.0 days.