Code Style. Java

Tabs and indents

Item	Description
Use tab character	If this check box is selected, tab characters are used: On pressing the TabTab key For indentation For code reformatting Otherwise, spaces are used instead of tabs.
Smart tabs	If this check box is selected, IntelliJ IDEA inserts tabs for indentation and reformatting, but fine alignment to a necessary column is done only via spaces. This is done in order to preserve visual representation of the source code, when the Tab Size is changed. If this check box is not selected, then spaces are used for alignment if necessary. This check box is available if the Use Tab Character check box is selected.
Tab size	In this text box, specify the number of spaces included in a tab.
Indent	In this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted for each indent level.
Continuation indent	In this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted at the next line in case of a construct break.
Label indent	In this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted at the next line before a label statement.
Absolute label indent	If this check box is selected, label indentation is counted as an absolute number of spaces. Otherwise, label indentation is counted relative to previous indent levels.
Do not indent top level class members	Select this check box to have top level class members located at the class declaration indentation level.
Use indents relative to expression start	Use this check box to switch between the two possible indentation behaviors: If this check box is not selected, the blocks of code will be formatted against the closest ancestor block that starts on a new line. If this check box is selected, the blocks of code will be formatted in columns.

Spaces

Use this tab to specify where you want spaces in your code. To have IntelliJ IDEA automatically insert a space at a location, select the check box next to this location in the list. The results are displayed in the Preview pane.

Wrapping and braces

In this tab, customize the code style options, which IntelliJ IDEA will apply on reformatting the source code. The left-hand pane contains the list of exceptions (Keep when reformatting), and placement and alignment options for the various code constructs (lists, statements, operations, annotations, etc.). The right-hand pane shows preview.

Note

Alignment takes precedence over indentation options.

Keep when reformatting

Use the check boxes to configure exceptions that IntelliJ IDEA will make when reformatting the source code.

Wrapping options

The wrapping style applies to the various code constructs, specified in the left-hand pane (for example, method call arguments, or assignment statements).

Item	Description
Wrapping style	From this drop-down list, select the desired wrapping style: Do not wrap - when this option is selected, no special wrapping style is applied. Note If this option is selected, the nested alignment and braces settings are ignored. Wrap if long - select this option to have lines going beyond the right margin wrapped with proper indentation. Chop down if long - select this option to have elements in lists that go beyond the right margin wrapped so that there is one element per line with proper indentation. Wrap always - select this option to have all elements in lists wrapped so that there is one element per line with proper indentation.

Item

Description

Wrapping style

From this drop-down list, select the desired wrapping style:

Do not wrap - when this option is selected, no special wrapping style is applied.

Note

If this option is selected, the nested alignment and braces settings are ignored.
Wrap if long - select this option to have lines going beyond the right margin wrapped with proper indentation.
Chop down if long - select this option to have elements in lists that go beyond the right margin wrapped so that there is one element per line with proper indentation.
Wrap always - select this option to have all elements in lists wrapped so that there is one element per line with proper indentation.

Alignment options

Item	Description
<character(s)> on next line	Select this check box to have the specified character or characters moved to the next line when the lines are wrapped.
New line after <character>	Select this check box to have the code after the specified character moved to a new line.
Place on new line	Use this check box to have the corresponding statements or characters moved to the next line.
Align when multiline	If this check box is selected, a code construct starts at the same column on each next line. Otherwise, the position of a code construct is determined by the current indentation level.
Special else if treatment	If this check box is selected, else if statements are located in the same line. Otherwise, else if statements are moved to the next line to the corresponding indent level.
Indent case branches	If this check box is selected, the case statement is located at the corresponding indent level. Otherwise, case statement is placed at the same indent level with switch.

Braces placement options

Item	Description
Braces placement style	Use this drop-down list to specify the position of the opening brace in class declarations, method declarations, and other types of declarations. The available options are: End of line - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the declaration line end. Next line if wrapped - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the beginning of the line after the multiline declaration line. Next line - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the beginning of the line after the declaration line. Next line shifted - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the line after the declaration line being shifted to the corresponding indent level. Next line each shifted - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the line after the declaration line being shifted to the corresponding indent level, and have the next line shifted to the next indent level as well.
Force braces	From this drop-down list, choose the braces introduction method for if, for, while, and do () while statements. The available options are: Do not force - select this option to suppress introducing braces automatically. When multiline - select this option to have braces introduced automatically, if a code construct occupies more than one line. Always - select this check box to have braces always introduced automatically.

Item

Description

Braces placement style

Use this drop-down list to specify the position of the opening brace in class declarations, method declarations, and other types of declarations. The available options are:

End of line - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the declaration line end.
Next line if wrapped - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the beginning of the line after the multiline declaration line.
Next line - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the beginning of the line after the declaration line.
Next line shifted - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the line after the declaration line being shifted to the corresponding indent level.
Next line each shifted - select this option to have the opening brace placed at the line after the declaration line being shifted to the corresponding indent level, and have the next line shifted to the next indent level as well.

Force braces

From this drop-down list, choose the braces introduction method for if, for, while, and do () while statements. The available options are:

Do not force - select this option to suppress introducing braces automatically.
When multiline - select this option to have braces introduced automatically, if a code construct occupies more than one line.
Always - select this check box to have braces always introduced automatically.

Blank lines

Use this tab to define where and how many blank lines you want IntelliJ IDEA to retain and insert in your code after reformatting. For each type of location, specify the number of blank lines to be inserted. The results are displayed in the Preview pane.

Item	Description
Keep Maximum Blank Lines	In this area, specify the number of blank lines to be kept after reformatting in the specified locations.
Minimum Blank Lines	In the text boxes in this area, specify the number of blank lines to be present in the specified locations. Warning These settings do not influence the number of blank lines before the first and after the last item.

JavaDoc

Item	Description
Alignment	In this area, define how JavaDoc comments should be aligned. 11.0+ Align parameter description: select this check box to have parameter descriptions aligned against the longest parameter name. Otherwise, the description is separated from the corresponding parameter name by a single space. Align thrown exception description: select this check box to have thrown exception descriptions aligned against the longest exception name. Otherwise, the description is separated from the exception name by a single space.
Blank Lines	In this area, define where blank lines should be inserted in JavaDoc comments. After description: select this check box to have a blank line automatically inserted after the description section of a JavaDoc comment. After parameter descriptions: select this check box to have a blank line inserted after the group of @param tags. After return tag: select this check box to have a blank line inserted after the @return tag.
Invalid Tags	In this area, define whether invalid tags should be preserved or not. Keep invalid tags: select this check box to have the @invalidTag preserved. Keep empty @param tags: select this check box to have @param tags without description preserved. Keep empty @return tags: select this check box to have @return tags without description preserved. Keep empty @throws tags: select this check box to have @throws tags without description preserved.
Other	In this area, specify additional formatting options for JavaDoc comments. Enable leading asterisks: select this check box to have each line of a JavaDoc comment start with an asterisk. Use @throws rather than @exception: select this check box to have the @throws tag used. Wrap at right margin: select this check box to have the text that exceeds the right margin wrapped to the next line. Generate </p> on empty lines: select this check box to have a </p> tag automatically inserted in an empty line. Keep empty lines: select this check box to have manually added empty lines preserved. Do not wrap one-line comment: select this check box to have short comments kept in one line with the opening and closing tags. Preserve line feed: If this check box is not selected (by default), line feeds are not preserved on reformatting. This is convenient when comments should be formatted within the boundaries of a paragraph, to occupy minimum space. If this check box is selected, line feeds will be preserved. Parameter description on new line: select this check box to instruct the IntelliJ IDEA formatter to place the description of a JavaDoc parameter (if any) to a new line. It uses indent based on the continuation indent value.

Imports

Item	Description
General	In this area, configure general import options. Options: Use single class import: Select this check box to have IntelliJ IDEA import only a particular class from a package during code generation or import optimization. Otherwise, a statement importing an entire package is inserted. Use fully qualified class names: Select this check box to have IntelliJ IDEA use the fully qualified name of the class to be imported during code generation or import optimization. Otherwise, a normal import statement is inserted. Insert imports for inner classes: Select this check box to have IntelliJ IDEA create imports for the inner classes referenced in your code. Use fully qualified names in Javadoc: Select this check box to have IntelliJ IDEA use a fully qualified class name in Javadoc. Otherwise, a class is imported. Class count to use import with '': In this text field, specify the number of classes to be imported from a single package until all statements importing a single class are substituted with a statement importing an entire package. Names count to use static import with '': In this text box, specify the number of classes to be imported from a single package until all statements importing a single class are substituted with a statement importing an entire package.
JSP Imports Layout	In this area, configure how JSP import statements should be organized in your code. The introduced changes are displayed in the Preview pane below. Options: Prefer comma separated import list: Select this option to import statements organized in a comma separated list. Prefer one import statement per page directive: Select this option to have one import statement created per line.
Packages to Use Import with '*'	In this area, configure a list of packages to be always imported completely. Options: Static: Select this check box, if you want to declare static import for the selected package. Package: In the text fields of this column, specify the packages to be always imported completely. With Subpackages: Select this check box to have all the subpackages of the selected package imported completely. Add Package: Click this button to add a new entry to the list of packages. Remove: Click this button to delete the selected package from the list.
Import Layout	In this area, configure how import statements should be organized in your code. You can set up certain classes to be positioned first, or last, or one after another. Imported classes will be grouped as per their packages and sorted alphabetically within a package. Options: Layout static imports separately: If this check box is selected, all static imports will be kept in a separate section. Otherwise, all import statements will be sorted according to the specified layout rules. Static: Select this check box, if you want to declare static import for the selected package. Package: In the text fields of this column, specify the packages to be imported. With Subpackages: Select this check box to have IntelliJ IDEA apply the layout rules to all the subpackages of the selected package. Add Package: Click this button to add a new entry to the list of packages. Add Blank: Click this button to have a blank line inserted after the selected entry, which indicates that a blank line should be inserted between the corresponding import statements. Move Up / Move Down: Click these buttons to move a package or a blank line up or down in the list thus defining the order of import statements. Remove: Click this button to delete the selected package from the list.

Code generation

Item	Description
Naming	Options: Prefer longer names: select this check box to have the longest name highlighted in a lookup list for code completion. Otherwise, the shortest name is highlighted. Name prefix / suffix: in these text boxes, type the prefixes and suffixes to be used when generating suggestions for naming new symbols through the IntelliJ IDEA code-generation features. If the fields are left blank, then the default name suggestions without prefixes or suffixes will be used. When you add a prefix value, IntelliJ IDEA automatically converts the first letter of the suggested base name to upper case. For example, if the prefix for a static field is defined as s, and the type of the field is Counter, then the suggested static field name will be sCounter. Note that this prefix will not take part in the generation of the getter and setter method names. So, in our example, the accessor names will be getCounter and setCounter respectively. Specify the name prefixes and suffixes for fields, static fields, parameters, and local variables.
Final Modifier	Options: Make generated local variables final - select this check box to have local variables in the IntelliJ IDEA-generated code supplied with final modifiers. Make generated parameters final - select this check box to have parameters in the IntelliJ IDEA-generated code supplied with final modifiers.
Comment Code	Options: Line comment at first column - select this check box to have generated line comments placed in the first column. Block comment at first column - select this check box to have generated block comments placed in the first column.
Order of Members	Specify the necessary order: Order of Members - the list defines the order in which code elements appear when IntelliJ IDEA inserts them by itself (for instance, in case of Intention Actions). Move Up/Move Down - Use these buttons to change the order of members on the list and thus re-define the order in which corresponding elements appear in the generated code.
Other Controls	Select the necessary options: Use External Annotations - if this check box is selected, IntelliJ IDEA will prompt to specify whether you want an annotation to be stored in the source code or externally. Otherwise, if the check box is cleared, annotations are added to the source code by default. Insert @Override Annotation - Select this check box to have IntelliJ IDEA insert @Override annotations automatically.

JavaEE names

Use this tab to specify prefixes and suffixes for the names of bean classes, bean interfaces, <ejb-name> tags, servlets, filters, and listeners. These prefixes and suffixes will by default appear in the corresponding fields of the New Bean, New Servlet, New Filter, and New Listener dialog boxes. For entity beans, you can also specify the default primary key class that appears in the Create CMP Field dialog box.

Item	Description
Entity Bean	Use the text boxes in this area to specify prefixes and/or suffixes to be used in the names of Entity Bean components: EJB Class: default suffix Bean. Home Interface: default suffix Home. Remote Interface Local Home Interface: default prefix Local, default suffix Home. Local Interface: default prefix Local. <ejb-name> tag: default suffix EJB. Transfer Object: default suffix VO. Default PK Class: java.lang.String.
Session Bean	Use the text boxes in this area to specify prefixes and/or suffixes to be used in the names of Session Bean components: EJB Class: default suffix Bean. Home Interface: default suffix Home. Remote Interface Local Home Interface: default prefix Local, default suffix Home. Local Interface: default prefix Local. Service Endpoint Interface: default suffix Service. <ejb-name> tag: default suffix EJB.
Message Driven Bean	Use the text boxes in this area to specify prefixes and/or suffixes to be used in the names of Message Driven Bean components: EJB Class: default suffix Bean. <ejb-name> tag: default suffix EJB.
Servlet	Use the text boxes in this area to specify prefixes and/or suffixes to be used in the names of Servlets: Servlet Class <servlet-name> tag
Filter	Use the text boxes in this area to specify prefixes and/or suffixes to be used in the names of Filters: Filter Class <filter-name> tag
Listener	In this area, specify the prefix and suffix to be used in the names of listener classes.

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