How do I get eclipse to automatically add a semicolon?

Question

Here is the situation. I have the following Java code:

String a;
a.

Right after I press the "." I get the popup menu with the String methods. I choose one, fill in the arguments, but then I have to press the right-arrow key to get past the ) so I can type in the ;

In Emacs I used a macro (meta-Enter I think) which, when pressed, would add a semicolon to the end of the current line and then place me in the next line, at the proper indentation. Is there such a macro in eclipse?

Answer 1

There are a couple of Eclipse plugins that can help you with that:

• Jcolon: Intelligent Semicolon Inserter For Eclipse 4 http://mystilleef.github.io/eclipse4-jcolon/
• Smart Semicolon https://code.google.com/p/smartsemicolon/

Answer 2

This inserts the semicolon at the end of the line, but you still have to type it :

Preferences > Java > Editor > Typing > check "semicolons"

Still, better than nothing.

Answer 3

See this link.

"The preference is disabled by default, so you have to enable it. Go to Window > Preferences > Java > Editor > Typing. Then enable Semicolons under the section Automatically insert at correct position.

Now when you press semicolon from anywhere in a statement, Eclipse adds a semicolon to the end of the line and places the cursor right after the semicolon so you can start editing the next line."

Answer 4

I don't know which OS you are using, but don't forget that Eclipse, like the rest of the applications on your system, can be manipulated using external macro programs using simple UI commands.

I use a Mac and I use a program called Keyboard Maestro. What you asked took me about a minute to perform. Simply go to the end of the line, type ";" and press return to go to the next line (Eclipse takes care or indenting). I'm sure you can find similar tools for your OS of choice.