# Java editor

The following Java editor preferences can be set on this page and its sub-pages.

- Appearance and Navigation
- Code Assist
- Syntax Coloring

Note that some options that are generally applicable to text editors can be configured on the text editor preference page.

## Appearance and Navigation

Java editor appearance and navigation options.

Appearance and Navigation
Option | Description | Default
--- | --- | ---
Smart caret positioning at line start and end | If enabled, the Home and End commands jump to the first and last non whitespace character on a line. | On
Smart caret positioning in Java names (overrides platform behavior) | If enabled, there are additional word boundaries inside `|Camel|Case|` Java names. | On
Report problems as you type | If enabled, the editor marks errors and warnings as you type, even if you do not save the editor contents. The problems are updated after a short delay. | On
Highlight matching brackets | If enabled, whenever the cursor is next to a parenthesis, bracket or curly braces, its opening or closing counter part is highlighted. The color of the bracket highlight is specified with Appearance color options. | On
Light bulb for quick assists | If enabled, a shows up in the vertical ruler whenever a quick assist is available. See the quick assist section for a list of the available assists. | Off
Appearance color options | The colors of various Java editor appearance features are specified here. Matching brackets highlight The color of brackets highlight. Find scope The color of find scope. Completion proposal background The background color of the completion proposal window Completion proposal foreground The foreground color of the completion proposal window Method parameter background The background color of the parameter window Method parameter foreground The foreground color of the parameter window Completion overwrite background The background color of the completion overwrite window Completion overwrite foreground The foreground color of the completion overwrite window | default colors

## Code assist

Configures Code Assist behavior.

Code Assist
Option | Description | Default
--- | --- | ---
Completion inserts/Completion overwrites | If Completion inserts is on, the completion text is inserted at the caret position, so it never overwrites any existing text. If Completion overwrites is on, the completion text replaces the characters following the caret position until the end of the word. Note that pressing Ctrl when applying a completion proposal toggles between the two insertion modes. | Completion inserts
Insert single proposals automatically | If enabled, code assist will choose and insert automatically single proposals. | On
Insert common prefixes automatically | If enabled, code assist will automatically insert the common prefix of all possible completions similar to unix shell expansion. This can be used repeatedly, even while the code assist window is being displayed. | Off
Automatically add import instead of qualified name | If enabled, type proposals which are in other packages will invoke the addition of the corresponding import declaration. Otherwise, the type will be inserted fully qualified. | On
Fill argument names on completion | If enabled, code assist will add the argument names when completing a method or generic type. | Off
Guess filled method arguments | If enabled, code assist will try to guess method parameters from the context where a method proposal is inserted. | Off
Present proposals in alphabetical order | If enabled, the proposals are sorted in alphabetical order. | Off
Hide proposals not visible in the invocation context | If enabled, the Java element proposals are limited by the rules of visibility. For example, private field proposals of other classes would not be displayed. | On
Hide forbidden references | If enabled, references to Java elements forbidden by access rules are not displayed. | On
Hide discouraged references | If enabled, references to Java elements discouraged by access rules are not displayed. | Off
Enable auto activation | If enabled, code assist can be invoked automatically. The condition for automatic invocation is specified with the preferences Auto activation delay, Auto activation triggers for Java and Auto activation triggers for Javadoc. | On
Auto activation delay | If the time starting when an auto activation trigger character is encountered until a new character is typed exceeds the auto activation delay, code assist is invoked. | 200
Auto activation triggers for Java | If one of the trigger characters is typed inside Java source code (but not inside a Javadoc comment) and no other character is typed before the auto activation delay times out, the code assist is invoked. | '.'
Auto activation triggers for Javadoc | If one of the trigger characters is typed inside a Java doc and no other character is typed before the auto activation delay times out, the code assist is invoked. | '@#'

## Syntax Coloring

Syntax Coloring specifies how Java source code is rendered. Note that general text editor settings such as the background color can be configured on the general 'Text Editors' preference pages. Fonts may be configured on the general 'Colors and Fonts' preference page.

Syntax Coloring
Option | Description | Default
--- | --- | ---
Element | Each category (Java, Javadoc and Comments) contains a list of language elements that may be rendered with its own color and style. Note that some semantic highlighting options can be disabled by the user in order to ensure editor performance on low-end systems. | default colors and styles
Preview | Displays the preview of a Java source code respecting the current colors and styles. | n/a

Java Editor

Using the Java editor

Java editor
Code Formatter preferences
Java outline
Java Content Assist
Quick Fix