Eclipse Shortcuts - Tutorial

1.1. using shortcuts in eclipse, 1.2. shortcuts on mac os, 2. quick access, 3. navigation and text selection, 4. start java programs, 5. editing in the java editor, 7. refactoring, 9. links and literature.

Eclipse Shortcuts. This article lists helpful Eclipse shortcuts.

1. Shortcuts

Using shortcuts make a developer more productive. Eclipse provides keyboard shortcuts for the most common actions. Using shortcuts is usually preferable as you can perform actions much faster.

Eclipse supports of course the typical shortcuts, e.g. Ctrl + S for saving, Ctrl + C for copying the selected text or file and Ctrl + V for pasting the element currently in the clipboard.

This description uses the shortcuts based on Windows and Linux. Mac OS uses the Cmd key frequently instead of the Ctrl key.

The Ctrl + 3 shortcut allows you to perform all available actions in Eclipse. This shortcut puts the focus into the Quick Access (quick access) search box which allows you to execute any Eclipse command. For example you can open a Preference , a Wizard , a view and a Preference page.

You can also use QuickAccess to search for an opened editor by typing in the name of the resource which the editor shows.

The following screenshot shows how you the available commands in quick access for the "New Java" search term.

Ctrl+3 shortcut dialog

The following shortcuts are the absolute minimum a developer should be familiar with to work efficient in Eclipse.

Nothing listed.

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Top 30 Eclipse Keyboard Shortcuts for Java Programmers

Want to learn more about keyboard shortcuts in java. check out this tutorial of 30 different shortcuts you can use with eclipse ide..

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This tutorial is about 30 Eclipse keyboard shortcuts , this list is by no means complete and I will suggest you guys share eclipse shortcuts listed other than here to make this more useful. Eclipse is the most used Java development IDE and knowing Eclipse shortcuts not only improve your productivity but also makes you more efficient. You will have more time for things you like to do. Using keyboard shortcuts also helps to impress colleagues and shows that you have a good hold on tools you used for Java Development. If you are a Java developer, who use Eclipse as your main IDE for all-purpose e.g. coding, development, and debugging, then I also suggest you take a look at Beginners Eclipse Java IDE Training Course, one of the best course to learn how to use Eclipse effectively from Java programmer's perspective.

I was a big fan of Netbeans IDE before coming across Eclipse because I was from the J2ME background and Netbeans provide sophisticated IDE environment to enable you to build, debug and run your Java application in various mobile emulator including some advanced processing options e.g. preprocessing, setting up Exception breakpoint etc.

From that time I love to know keyboard shortcuts on IDEs and other tools, I used for development including Edit Plus, Microsoft Excel etc. Knowing your tool better certainly helps you to deliver more in less time and find something really quick when a production issue arise.

As I said, I was a NetBeans fan at the start of my career but hen I joined an investment bank I came across Eclipse IDE, since everybody in my team is using and Netbeans IDE was not available in company (don’t know why that was not allowed net-beans even though it was free) I have decided to go Eclipse way.

Later I found that Eclipse was most suited for that distributed core Java application which runs on Eclipse and depends upon a proprietary Linux library. It wasn't possible to run the whole application in Windows and that time some of the cool features of eclipse e. g. Remote Debugging, Conditional Breakpoints, Exception breakpoints, and Ctrl+T and Ctrl+R kind of shortcuts really saved my life.

Here I am sharing a list of 30 Eclipse keyboard shortcut s which I found most useful and used in my day to day life while writing code, reading the code or debugging Java application in Eclipse.

30 Useful Eclipse Keyboard Shortcuts for Java Programmers

Here is my list of 30 chosen Eclipse IDE keyboard shortcuts for Java developers. It's useful for both core Java developers and Java web application development using Eclipse IDE for web development.

1) Ctrl + Shift + T for finding class even from jar

This keyboard shortcut in Eclipse is my most used and favorite shortcut. While working with a high-speed trading system has a complex code, I often need to find classes with the just blink of the eye. This eclipse keyboard shortcut is made just for that. No matter whether you have class in your application or inside any JAR, this shortcut will find it.

2) Ctrl + Shift + R for finding any resource (file), including config XML files

This is similar to above Eclipse shortcut with the only difference being that it can find out not only Java files but any files including XML, configs, and many others. However, this eclipse shortcut only finds files from your workspace and doesn’t dig at the JAR level.

3) Ctrl + 1 for quick fix

This is another beautiful Eclipse shortcut that can fix up an error in Eclipse. Whether it’s missing declaration, missing semi-colon, or any import related error, this eclipse shortcut will help you to quickly sort that out.

4) Ctrl + Shift + o for organize imports

This is another Eclipse keyboard shortcut for fixing missing imports. This is particularly helpful if you copy some code from another file and import all dependencies. You can see the Beginners Eclipse Java IDE Training Course to learn more about code formatting shortcuts in Eclipse.

Eclipse Shortcut for Quick Navigation

In this section, we will see some Eclipse keyboard shortcuts that help us to quickly navigate within the file and between the file while reading and writing code in Eclipse.

7) Ctrl + o for quick outline going quickly to a method

9) Alt + right and Alt + left for going back and forth while editing

12) Alt + Shift + W to show a  classin    package explorer

13) Ctrl + Shift + Up and down for navigating from member to member (variables and methods)

15) Ctrl + k and Ctrl + Shift +K for find next/previous

16) Go to a type declaration: F3 , this Eclipse shortcut is very useful to see function definition very quickly.

Apart from these keyboard shortcuts, learning how to debug Java programs in Eclipse is also a skill. There are so many debugging tools and features available in Eclipse, which many Java programmer don't know about, e.g. conditional debugging, hit count, and remote debugging.

If you really want to become a good Java developer, I suggest you improve your debugging skills. If you need some help, Eclipse Debugging Techniques And Tricks is the best place to start with.

Image title

Eclipse Shortcut for Editing Code

These Eclipse shortcuts are very helpful for editing code in Eclipse:

5) Ctrl + / for commenting, uncommenting lines and blocks

6) Ctrl + Shift + / for commenting, uncommenting lines with block comment, see here for example.

8) Selecting class and pressing F4 to see its Type hierarchy

10) Ctrl + F4 or Ctrl + w for closing current file

11) Ctrl+Shirt+W for closing all files.

14) Ctrl + l go to line

16) Select text and press Ctrl + Shift + F for formatting.

17) Ctrl + F for find, find/replace

18) Ctrl + D to delete a line

19) Ctrl + Q for going to last edited place

You can see this free course on Udemy called Eclipse IDE for Beginners: Increase Your Java Productivity to find live examples for most of these shortcuts.

Image title

Miscellaneous Eclipse Shortcuts

These are different Eclipse keyboard shortcuts that don't fit on any category, but they can be quite helpful while working in Eclipse.

20) Ctrl + T for toggling between supertype and subtype

21) Go to other open editors: Ctrl + E .

22) Move to one problem (i.e.: error, warning) to the next (or previous) in a file: Ctrl +. For next, and Ctrl +, for the previous problem

23) Hop back and forth through the files you have visited: Alt + ← and Alt + →, respectively

25) CTRL+Shift+G , which searches the workspace for references to the selected method or variable

26) Ctrl+Shift+L to view the listing for all Eclipse keyboard shortcuts

27) Alt + Shift + j to add Javadoc at any place in Java source file

28) CTRL+SHIFT+P to find closing brace. Place the cursor at the opening brace and use this.

29) Alt+Shift+X, Q to run Ant build file using keyboard shortcuts in Eclipse

30) Ctrl + Shift +F for autoformatting

Remember, we are technical people. If we are not learning, we are going backwards.

And, here is the nice image to remember these useful Eclipse shortcuts for Java programmers :

Image title

If you have some more useful Eclipse keyboard shortcuts then please post as comments, I will include them in this list. These Eclipse shortcuts will mostly work almost all Eclipse versions, e.g. 3.5, 3.6 Helios, Eclipse Ganymede and Indigo. Let me know if you face any issues while using these Eclipse shortcuts in any particular version of Eclipse IDE.

Further Learning

Eclipse Debugging Techniques And Tricks The Eclipse Guided Tour - Part 1 and 2 10 Things Java Developer should learn in 2018? 10 Frameworks Java and Web Developer Should learn 10 Essential Testing Tools for Java developers 10 Tips to become a better Java Programmer in 2018

Related Eclipse tutorials for Java Developers

If you like this tutorial and wants to learn more productivity tips, tricks and new features of Eclipse IDE, then you can also see following guides and tutorials: How to attach source code of a JAR file in Eclipse? ( steps ) How to debug a Java Program in Eclipse IDE? ( guide ) How to do the static import in Java Eclipse? ( solution ) How to solve Eclipse No Java Virtual Machine found the error? ( solution ) How to fix the JAR dependency not working in Eclipse Maven Plugin? ( answer ) How to fix Eclipse Not able to connect Internet or Market Place error? ( solution ) How do you create JUnit tests in Eclipse IDE? ( guide ) Eclipse shortcut for System.out.println() statements ( shortcut ) How to escape String literal in a Java file when posted on Eclipse? ( solution ) How to compare two files in Eclipse IDE? ( guide ) How to increase console buffer size in Eclipse? ( solution ) How to make an executable JAR file in Eclipse? ( steps ) How to fix Unsupported major.minor version 51.0 error in Eclipse? ( solution ) How to fix must override superclass method error in Eclipse? ( solution ) How to decompile class file in Eclipse? ( solution ) How to set java.library.path in Eclipse IDE? ( steps )

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Last updated on February 20th, 2024 at 02:44 pm

35+ Eclipse Shortcuts and Productivity Tips for Java Developers!

If you’re a developer, having a solid understanding of how to use an IDE can significantly improve your workflow and speed up your coding process. Different IDEs have various shortcuts and plugins to enhance the programming experience; for example, Eclipse shortcuts can assist Java developers in increasing productivity and speed while using Eclipse IDE for Java development.

In this blog, we will uncover some of the best Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips that can help you save time and increase your coding efficiency. So, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What is Eclipse IDE used for?

Eclipse is a popular Java IDE for software development , specifically for Java language. It provides an integrated development environment for widely used languages and frameworks. Like other IDEs, it is well equipped with a built-in editor, debugger, and code control system.

It is open-source software with large support from the community.

How to install Eclipse IDE for Java? 

To install Eclipse IDE for Java on your system, follow these steps:

  • Download the latest version of Eclipse IDE .
  • Unzip the downloaded file.
  • Navigate to the unzipped directory → install the Eclipse by clicking the “.exe” eclipse file.
  • Once Eclipse is installed, you can launch it.
  • After launching the IDE, select a workspace directory where your projects will be stored.
  • The Eclipse will now open, and you can start creating your first Java project by creating “src” file and Java package.

Important : Latest versions of Eclipse require Java SDK for its run time environment, so make sure Java is already installed on your system before downloading the Eclipse IDE.

Latest Eclipse shortcuts

One of Eclipse’s most useful features is its keybindings/shortcuts, which make coding easier and faster. Here’re some of the most useful Eclipse shortcuts for Java developers.

  • Change case : If you have some text in lowercase and want to change it to uppercase, simply highlight it and hit Ctrl Shift X ; for vice-versa, click Ctrl Shift Y.
  • Autocomplete : If you want to print something in Java, you can type “System.out.println” and click Ctrl  + Space . The Eclipse will automatically complete the code and put the cursor in between the two parentheses; here, you can fill in the content you want to print.
  • Main Method : Enter “main” and press Ctrl + Space ; the first proposal will be the primary technique choice. With this Eclipse shortcut , you can write the main method with only a few keystrokes.
  • Loops: Simply write the loop (for example, “for,” “while,” or “do”) and press Ctrl + Space . The Eclipse will present you with many loop options from which you can select one and enter the conditions.
  • Conditional statements : In Eclipse, constructing an if statement is as simple as starting a loop. Enter “if” and press Ctrl + Space . Select the conditional statement from the options presented.
  • Try-Catch block: Eclipse makes surrounding your code with a try-catch block easy. Simply choose the code covered by a try-catch and press Alt Shift Z ; many alternatives will show up for enclosing the code, including a try-catch block.

Eclipse Shortcuts for code editing

Whether you want to comment out code or jump to a particular line rapidly, these Eclipse shortcuts for windows will make your code editing smooth.

  • Use Ctrl + / for commenting, uncommenting lines, and blocks
  • Ctrl + Shift + / shortcut is used for commenting and uncommenting lines with block comments.
  • Alt + ↑ + R for renaming class, variable, method (function), etc. 

To format your code

  • Select text, then Ctrl + Shift + F for formatting.
  • Selecting class and press F4 to see its Type hierarchy

To handle the files

  • You can use Ctrl + F4 or Ctrl + w to close the current file
  • Click Ctrl + Shift + W to close all files.
  • Ctrl + F to find/replace in file
  • Ctrl + H to find and replace in file, project, or directory.

To migrate in-between lines

  • Go to the line (line number): Ctrl + L
  • To delete the line: Ctrl + D 
  • Press Ctrl + Q to go to the last edited place
  • You can quickly shift a line or numerous lines of code up or down in your application. Simply move the line by using Alt + up or down arrows . (This allows you to place the code anywhere you wish in your software.)

Shortcuts for quick navigation in Eclipse

Navigate through the Eclipse environment with ease using these Eclipse shortcut keys. These shortcuts will navigate you in a jiffy from switching between editors to jumping to a specific feature/location.

  • Ctrl + 3: Quick access to any menu item or feature in Eclipse
  • Ctrl + Shift + T: Open a type quickly
  • Open a resource (e.g., file, image): Ctrl + Shift + R.
  • Ctrl + O: Quickly navigate to a method in the current class
  • Ctrl + 1 : Shows available code actions and quick fixes
  • Quickly navigate to the superclass or implemented interface of the current type with Ctrl + T .
  • Ctrl + Shift + L : Used for “ Show Key assist,” previously used for Quicksearch
  • Ctrl + Q: Quick navigation to the last edit location (last edited line).

Also, read  Best VS Code Shortcuts and Productivity Hacks for 2023

Eclipse shortcuts for debugging

Debugging can be time-consuming, but with these Eclipse shortcuts , you can streamline the process and get to the root of the issue quickly.

  • F5 (Step into): This allows you to enter debug mode.
  • F6 (Step over): This assists in moving to the next line without leaving debug mode.
  • F7 (Step out): This allows you to step out/return to the current method/caller in debug mode.
  • F8 (Resume execution): This allows you to continue executing the program without stopping debugging.
  • F9 (Toggle breakpoint): This allows you to set or remove a breakpoint on the current line of code. A breakpoint will cause the program to stop executing and enter debug mode.

Application debugging

  • Ctrl + F11: Use this to run the last application opened.
  • F11 : Run the program in debug mode, where you can step through the code and inspect variables.

Show Perspectives 

  • Ctrl + Shift + B: This opens the Breakpoints view, which displays all the breakpoints set in your workspace.
  • Ctrl + Alt + R: This opens the Debug Perspective, a special view that provides tools and information specifically for debugging.
  • Ctrl + ↑ + I: Inspect the value of a variable during debugging.

Eclipse has a strong community and many experienced Java developers for support. Having know-how of effective Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips can help you in making your coding journey on this widely used IDE efficient. So, try them out and see the change in speed and productivity yourself.

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Eclipse shortcuts for Java developers

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35+ Eclipse Shortcuts

50 Eclipse Shortcuts and Productivity Tips for Java Developers

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If you are a Java developer looking to supercharge your coding workflow and streamline your development process, you’ve come to the right place! Eclipse IDE is one of the most popular and powerful Integrated Development Environments for Java, and mastering its shortcuts and productivity tips can significantly enhance your coding speed and efficiency. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore more than 35 Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips that will transform the way you write Java code. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, these tips will save you time and effort, helping you focus on what truly matters – creating exceptional Java applications.

  • Ctrl + Shift + T : Open Type – Quickly open a Java class, interface, or resource.
  • Ctrl + Shift + R : Open Resource – Search and open any file in the workspace.
  • Ctrl + Shift + F : Format Code – Automatically format your code according to the code style settings.
  • Ctrl + D : Delete Line – Remove the current line.
  • Ctrl + / (or Cmd + / on Mac) : Toggle Comment – Comment or uncomment the selected lines.
  • Ctrl + Shift + / (or Cmd + Shift + / on Mac) : Block Comment – Comment multiple lines.
  • Ctrl + Shift + O : Organize Imports – Import missing packages and remove unused ones.
  • Ctrl + Space : Content Assist – Trigger code completion suggestions.
  • Ctrl + 1 : Quick Fix – Show and apply quick fixes for errors or warnings.
  • Ctrl + Shift + L : Show Key Assist – Display a list of available keyboard shortcuts.
  • Ctrl + Shift + C : Toggle Case – Change the case of selected text (e.g., uppercase, lowercase).
  • Ctrl + F11 (or Cmd + F11 on Mac) : Run Last Launched – Run the last launched application.
  • Ctrl + Shift + X : Uppercase – Convert selected text to uppercase.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Y : Lowercase – Convert selected text to lowercase.
  • Ctrl + Shift + W (or Cmd + Shift + W on Mac) : Close All Editors – Close all open editor tabs.
  • Ctrl + Shift + F4 (or Cmd + Shift + W on Mac) : Close All Perspectives – Close all open perspectives.
  • Ctrl + E : Show Editors – Navigate and switch between open editor tabs.
  • Ctrl + Page Up/Page Down : Switch Editor – Navigate between open editor tabs.
  • Ctrl + Shift + G : Search for References – Find all references to the selected element.
  • Ctrl + Shift + S : Save All – Save all open files.
  • Ctrl + Shift + P : Switch Project – Change the active project in the Project Explorer.
  • Ctrl + H : Search Dialog – Open the search dialog to find text, resources, or Java elements.
  • Ctrl + F : Find – Search for text within the current editor.
  • Ctrl + K : Find Next – Go to the next occurrence of the search term.
  • Ctrl + Shift + K : Find Previous – Go to the previous occurrence of the search term.
  • Ctrl + J : Incremental Search – Search for text as you type in the current editor.
  • Ctrl + Q : Last Edit Location – Go to the last edit location in the current editor.
  • Ctrl + L : Go to Line – Jump to a specific line in the current editor.
  • Ctrl + T : Type Hierarchy – View the hierarchy of a Java type.
  • Ctrl + F3 : Open Type Hierarchy – Open the type hierarchy for the selected element.
  • Ctrl + O : Quick Outline – Display an outline of the current source file.
  • Ctrl + F6 (or Cmd + F6 on Mac) : Next Editor – Switch to the next open editor.
  • Ctrl + Shift + F7 (or Cmd + Shift + F7 on Mac) : Previous Perspective – Switch to the previous perspective.
  • Ctrl + Alt + H : Open Call Hierarchy – Show the calling hierarchy of a method or class.
  • Ctrl + Shift + I : Correct Indentation – Fix the indentation of the selected code block.
  • Ctrl + Alt + R : Rename – Quickly rename a variable, method, or class.
  • Ctrl + Alt + Shift + J (or Cmd + Alt + Shift + J on Mac) : Add Javadoc Comment – Generate a Javadoc comment for the selected element.
  • Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Up/Arrow Down : Incremental Selection – Expand or shrink the selection based on the syntax.

Table of Contents

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):

1. how do i enable shortcuts in eclipse.

To enable shortcuts in Eclipse, navigate to Window > Preferences > General > Keys. Here, you can configure and customize the shortcuts according to your preference.

2. Can I create my shortcuts in Eclipse?

Yes, Eclipse allows you to create custom shortcuts for various commands. Simply go to Window > Preferences > General > Keys and click on the “Bind a new command” button to set your desired shortcut.

3. Does Eclipse support other programming languages besides Java?

Yes, Eclipse supports a wide range of programming languages through plugins. You can use Eclipse for languages like C++, Python, JavaScript, and more.

4. How can I reset Eclipse to its default settings?

To reset Eclipse to its default settings, exit Eclipse and delete the “eclipse.ini” file located in your Eclipse installation directory. Afterward, launch Eclipse, and it will be restored to its default configuration.

5. Can I export/import my Eclipse settings to another installation?

Yes, you can export your Eclipse settings by going to File > Export > General > Preferences. To import them into another installation, go to File > Import > General > Preferences.

6. How do I update Eclipse to the latest version?

To update Eclipse to the latest version, go to Help > Check for Updates. Eclipse will then search for available updates, and you can follow the prompts to install them.

Congratulations! You have now unlocked the potential of Eclipse as a Java developer with more than 35 shortcuts and productivity tips. These insights, combined with your coding skills and creativity, will empower you to write Java code more efficiently and effectively. Embrace these shortcuts and make them an integral part of your coding workflow to achieve greater productivity and produce top-notch Java applications.

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Most Used Eclipse Keyboard Shortcuts That Every Java Developer Should Know

Java is a popular programming language, created in 1995 by James Gosling. It is owned by Oracle, and more than 3 billion devices run Java. it is one of the most preferred languages used for development in industries. To develop such applications, IDEs come into the picture. Eclipse is the most used Java development IDE, and knowing Eclipse shortcuts improves your productivity and makes you more efficient.

This tutorial is about the Top Best Eclipse keyboard shortcuts every Java developer should learn. This can drastically improve your productivity and you can perform your job better. Using keyboard shortcuts also helps impress colleagues and shows that you have a good grasp of the tools you used for Java Development.

Eclipse Shortcuts for Quick Navigation

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8 Eclipse Shortcut Keys for Code Refactoring

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Key Strokes, Key Sequences, and Key Bindings

A 'key stroke' is the pressing of a key on the keyboard, while optionally holding down one or more of these modifier keys: Ctrl , Alt ( ⌥ on macOS), Shift , or ⌘ (only on macOS.) For example, holding down Ctrl then pressing A produces the key stroke Ctrl+A . The pressing of the modifier keys themselves do not constitute key strokes.

A 'key sequence' is one or more key strokes. Traditionally, Emacs assigned two or three key stroke key sequences to particular commands. For example, the normal key sequence assigned to Close All in emacs is Ctrl+X Ctrl+C . To enter this key sequence, one presses the key stroke Ctrl+X followed by the key stroke Ctrl+C . While Eclipse supports key sequences of arbitrary lengths, it is recommended that keyboard shortcuts be four key strokes in length (or less).

A 'key binding' is the assignment of a key sequence to a command.

A 'scheme' is a set of bindings. Eclipse includes two schemes:

  • Emacs (extends Default)

The Default scheme contains a general set of bindings, in many cases recognizable as traditional key sequences for well known commands. For instance, Ctrl+A is assigned to Select All , and Ctrl+S is assigned to Save .

The Emacs scheme contains a set of key bindings familiar to users of Emacs. For instance, Ctrl+X H is assigned to Select All , and Ctrl+X S is assigned to Save .

It is important to understand why the Emacs scheme says that it 'extends Default'. The Emacs scheme is not a complete set of bindings like the Default scheme. Rather, it borrows from the Default scheme where possible, only defining explicit Emacs-style bindings where they vary from the Default scheme. Generally, only well known commands like Select All , Save , etc. have specific Emacs key sequences associated with them.

Choose the scheme you are most comfortable with by changing the 'Scheme' setting on the keys preference page. If you choose the Default scheme, all Emacs bindings are ignored. If you choose the Emacs scheme, explicit Emacs-style key sequence assignments take precedence over any conflicting assignments in the Default scheme.

Key bindings can vary based on the current context of Eclipse.

Sometimes the active part might be a Java file editor, for instance, where a different set of key sequence assignments may be more appropriate than if the active part was an html file editor. As a specific example, typically Ctrl+B is assigned to Build in a context such as Java file editing, while Ctrl+B is assigned to Make Text Bold in a context such as HTML file editing. This context is usually determined by the active part, but it can be influenced by the active window or dialog as well. If the active part does not choose a particular context, the workbench will set the active context to In Windows .

Eclipse includes a number of different contexts. Some examples are:

  • In Dialogs and Windows
  • In Windows (extends In Dialogs and Windows)
  • In Dialogs (extends In Dialogs and Windows)
  • Editing Text (extends In Windows)
  • Editing Java Source (extends Editing Text)
  • Debugging (extends In Windows)
  • Debugging Java (extends Debugging)
  • Editing Ant buildfiles

Much like configurations, contexts can extend other contexts. For example, the Editing Java Source context borrows key bindings from the Editing Text context, which in turn borrows key bindings from the In Windows context.

Note: It is not recommended to promote a key binding to a context which it extends. For example, it is not recommended to move an Editing Text key binding to the In Dialogs and Windows context. This may have unexpected results.

It is possible for some key bindings to work in dialogs. Those key bindings are assigned to the In Dialogs and Windows context. One example of such a key binding is the key binding for "cut". It is possible to change these key bindings. For example, it is possible to have Ctrl+X as cut in dialogs, but Ctrl+W as cut in windows.

Platform and Locale

Key bindings also vary by platform and locale. On the macOS platform, ⌘+S is assigned to Save , instead of the usual Ctrl+S . On Chinese locales (zh), Alt+/ is assigned to Content Assist , instead of the usual Ctrl+Space .

The current platform and locale is determined when Eclipse starts, and does not vary over the course of an Eclipse instance.

Customizing Key bindings

Keys preference page the About command with no binding

In this example we want to bind CTRL+5 to the About command. By default the keys preference page will show you all possible keybindings. You can see the About command listed in the Help category. You can bind the command by putting focus in the Binding text box and pressing CTRL and 5 like you would if you were executing the command.

Keys preference page the About command bound to CTRL+5

When you type CTRL+5 you have created a binding for About. The right-most column will indicate that this is a user binding by displaying a U . If there was a conflict with another key, this column would also display a C . The binding will be in the default context, "In Windows". You can now use the When combo box to change the key binding context (for example, to move this binding to "Editing Text").

If you wanted to add a second key binding to About, you can use the Copy Command button to create a second command entry for you to bind another key to. If you want to delete a binding, you can either use the Remove Binding button or simply give focus to the Binding text box and hit Backspace .

The Dynamic Nature of Key bindings

Key bindings are provided by plug-ins, and in Eclipse, plug-ins can be added or removed. This can cause key bindings declared by these plug-ins to be added or removed. Eclipse stores custom key bindings in a way to compensate for this. Consider the example above where CTRL+6 was assigned to About in the Default scheme. Say you install a new plug-in that assigns CTRL+6 to a particular command. Eclipse will preserve your assignment to About .

Conflict Resolution

There are only a finite number of simple, common key strokes available to assign to a multitude of commands. We have seen that scheme, context, platform, and locale all partition key sequence assignments into domains where they don't conflict with one another. Consider the case for Ctrl+B above if contexts did not exist. One plug-in would assign Ctrl+B to Build , the other plug-in would assign Ctrl+B to Make Bold Text . How would Eclipse properly resolve this conflict?

Though conflicts are drastically reduced by employing the above mechanisms, they can still occur. Two plug-ins, independent of one another, could assign the same key sequence to different commands with the same context, scheme, platform, and locale. Consider if a plug-in assigned Ctrl+F4 in the In Windows context and Default scheme to one of its commands. This directly conflicts with Eclipse assigning Ctrl+F4 to the close command in the same context and scheme.

This is a conflict. It wouldn't be proper to invoke both commands, nor would it be proper to simply choose one of the two commands to receive the key stroke. We pop up the Key Assist Dialog with the conflicting commands and allow the user to select one. The Key Assist Dialog is the same dialog that displays command choices for multiple key stroke key bindings. For example, if 2 commands were bound to F12 you might see:

Keys Assist dialog

If the user sets a keybinding and creates a conflict, the conflicting bindings will be displayed in the conflicts list. This can be used to navigate between conflicting keybindings so that they can be changed.

Keys preference page conflict list

These types of conflicts can be resolved by explicitly assigning the key sequence to one of the commands, or remove it from the other.

Another type of conflict can be caused by multiple-key stroke key sequences. For example, in the Emacs scheme, there are many multiple-key stroke key sequences beginning with the key stroke Ctrl+X . Ctrl+X K is assigned to Close . Ctrl+X H is assigned to Select All .

As previously mentioned, the Emacs scheme borrows key bindings from the Default scheme. In the default scheme, Ctrl+X is assigned to Cut . Though the Emacs scheme doesn't explicitly redefine Ctrl+X , pressing Ctrl+X is required as part of many of its key bindings. In the Emacs scheme, when one presses Ctrl+X , one is half way to entering one of many possible assigned key sequences. One would not expect the Cut action to be invoked at this time.

For this type of conflict, the rule is that the Ctrl+X key sequence assigned to Cut would be ignored. Otherwise, it would not be possible to complete many of the key bindings in the Emacs configuration.

Export Key Bindings

The bindings can be exported to a CSV file. For this purpose, press the button Export CSV ... . This will launch a file dialog, where you can specify the location of the export file. Note: The export file is for reporting purposes only and can not be used to import the binding files into Eclipse.

Show Key Bindings When Command is Invoked

For learning purposes, presentations or screen casts it is very helpful to show the corresponding key binding when a command is invoked. Whenever the command is invoked (via the keyboard or via menu clicks), the key binding, the command's name and description are shown on the screen.

Key binding of triggered command shown on screen

Related concepts

Related reference.

108 Eclipse IDE Keyboard Shortcuts

For windows, download eclipse ide shortcuts pdf.

Table of Contents

  • 1.1 Managing files and projects Shortcuts
  • 1.2 Editor Shortcuts
  • 1.3 Navigation in Editor Window Shortcuts
  • 1.4 Text Editing Shortcuts
  • 1.5 Search and Replace Shortcuts
  • 1.6 Indentions and comments Shortcuts
  • 1.7 Editing Source Code Shortcuts
  • 1.8 Code Information Shortcuts
  • 1.9 Refactoring Shortcuts
  • 1.10 Running and Debugging Shortcuts
  • 1.11 Team SVN Subversive Shortcuts

Learn Eclipse IDE Shortcuts for Windows

Managing files and projects Shortcuts

Editor shortcuts, navigation in editor window shortcuts, text editing shortcuts, search and replace shortcuts, indentions and comments shortcuts, editing source code shortcuts, code information shortcuts, refactoring shortcuts, running and debugging shortcuts, team svn subversive shortcuts.

  • Visual Studio Code Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Databricks Notebook Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Python IDLE Keyboard Shortcuts
  • DBeaver Keyboard Shortcuts

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Except for the above keys, eclipse also allows us to create our own key combinations.

Customize Keys

In order to create a customized key, follow the steps given below:

Go to Windows menu -> Preference -> General -> Keys

Press Ctrl + 3, type keys, and press Enter.

After that type Name Description, Binding, and When for the customized key.

  • Name Description: Provides the description of the key.
  • Binding: Press the keys you want to create.
  • When: It describes when the key will work.

After completing the above three steps, click on the Apply and Close button to reflect the changes.

Eclipse Shortcuts Java

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  1. Eclipse

    Ctrl + Shift + F Format code. Ctrl + Shift + / Comment out XML or JSP code. Ctrl + L Go to line number N in the source file. Ctrl + E Show a list of open editors. Ctrl + F6 Move between open editors. Ctrl + 1 Quick Fix. Ctrl + 3 Quick Access. Ctrl + Q Go to the last edit location. Ctrl + T Go to a supertype/subtype.

  2. Common Shortcuts in Eclipse

    In Eclipse, we have shortcuts at our disposal for both kinds of comments. We can comment and uncomment individual lines of code using ⌘ + / or Ctrl + /: To create comment blocks of code, let's use ⌘ + Opt + / or Ctrl + Alt + /. We can undo block comments with ⌘ + Opt + \ or Ctrl + Alt + \: 3.5. Advanced Editing Options.

  3. Eclipse Shortcuts

    Ctrl + 1. Quickfix; result depending on cursor position. Ctrl + Space. Content assist/ code completion. Ctrl + T. Show the inheritance tree of the current Java class or method. Ctrl + O. Show all methods of the current class, press Ctrl + O again to show the inherited methods. Ctrl + M.

  4. 25 Eclipse Shortcut Keys for Code Editing

    Ctrl + Shift + /: Adds block comment to a selection. Ctrl + Shift + \: Removes block comment. Alt + Shift + S: Shows context menu that lists possible actions for editing code: From this context menu, you can press another letter (according to the underscore letters in the names) to access the desired functions.

  5. Top 30 Eclipse Keyboard Shortcuts for Java Programmers

    27) Alt + Shift + j to add Javadoc at any place in Java source file. 28) CTRL+SHIFT+P to find closing brace. Place the cursor at the opening brace and use this. 29) Alt+Shift+X, Q to run Ant build ...

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    Navigate through the Eclipse environment with ease using these Eclipse shortcut keys. These shortcuts will navigate you in a jiffy from switching between editors to jumping to a specific feature/location. Ctrl + 3: Quick access to any menu item or feature in Eclipse. Ctrl + Shift + T: Open a type quickly.

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    Ctrl + L: Go to Line - Jump to a specific line in the current editor. Ctrl + T: Type Hierarchy - View the hierarchy of a Java type. Ctrl + F3: Open Type Hierarchy - Open the type hierarchy for the selected element. Ctrl + O: Quick Outline - Display an outline of the current source file.

  8. 40+ Eclipse Shortcuts for Java Developers

    Unlock the power of Eclipse with this comprehensive guide to 40+ essential shortcuts for Java developers. In this video, we'll take you through a wide range ...

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  10. Eclipse Shortcuts

    Eclipse is one of the most widely used IDE for Java developers. I have been using it for more than 10 years and there are so many shortcuts that can help you in development by saving time. Eclipse Shortcuts. I am using Eclipse on Mac and Windows system. Here I am providing the most widely used Eclipse shortcut commands.

  11. Most Used Eclipse Keyboard Shortcuts That Every Java ...

    to view the listing for all Eclipse keyboard shortcuts. 7. Ctrl+Shift+P: to find a closing brace. Place the cursor at the opening brace and use this. 8. Ctrl + Shift +F: for Autoformatting. 9. Alt + Shift + j: to add Javadoc at any place in the Java source file. 10. Alt+Shift+X, Q: to run the Ant build file using keyboard shortcuts in Eclipse. 11.

  12. 8 Eclipse Shortcut Keys for Code Refactoring

    1. Alt + Shift + R: Renames a variable, a method, a class or even a package name. This is the most frequently used shortcut in code refactoring. Select whole name of the class, method or variable you want to rename, and then press this shortcut: Type new name and press Enter when done, Eclipse automatically updates all related references for ...

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    Ctrl+N Ctrl+Alt+N Alt+F, then . Ctrl+Shift+R Alt+Enter Ctrl+S Ctrl+Shift+S Ctrl+W Ctrl+Shift+W. Create new project using the Wizard Create new project, file, class, etc. Open project, file, etc. Open Resource (file, folder or project) Show and access file properties Save current file. F5. Save all files Close current file Close all files ...

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    Alt + Shift + Up / Down : This one is a useful one. If you hit up, it selects the next biggest code block, down selects the next smallest. Useful in conjunction with refactoring shortcuts like extract local variable, extract method, etc. Useful to know. Alt + Shift + T : Brings up the Refactor menu.

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    Eclipse IDE Shortcuts. Rename selected element and all references. Alt + Shift + R. Move the selected element to another class or file (with the complete method or class selected) Alt + Shift + V. Change method signature (with method name selected) Alt + Shift + C. Extract selection to method. Alt + Shift + M.

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    2. You can try: Go to Window -> Preference -> Java -> Code Style -> CodeTemplates. Edit the constructor template to fit your requirement. Edit the class template and add a constructor var. Then, when you create a new class, Eclipse will automatically add the constructor into your code. edited Oct 2, 2012 at 8:12.

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    If you press Ctrl+1 anywhere in this line, Eclipse will offer "Create local variable 'insertedItems'". Fewest keystrokes to get the desired result: catCT Ctrl+Space -> categoryCT. .getII Ctrl+Space -> categoryCT.getInsertedItems() ; Shift+Alt+Left to select the whole method invocation. Ctrl+1 + select "Create new local variable".