# Formatting

> **TL;DR**
> `File | Settings | Editor | Copyright | Formatting` for Windows and Linux
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> `IntelliJ IDEA | Settings | Editor | Copyright | Formatting` for macOS
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> `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) ![the Settings icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.settings.svg)

> **Note:**
> This page describes controls. For more information about configuring a copyright notice, refer to [Copyright](copyright.html).

| Item | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Comment Type | In this area, specify the type of comment to enclose copyright notices in. The available options are:       * Use block comment: select this option to have copyright notices enclosed in block comments.    * Prefix each line: select this checkbox to have each line of a copyright notice prepended with the character defined in the Separator field. By default, an asterisk is used.    * Use line comment: select this option to have copyright notices represented as a sequence of line comments.    |
| Borders | In this area, define how to separate copyright notices from other comments.       * Separator before: select this checkbox have a copyright notice prepended with a line of characters defined in the Separator field. The number of characters in a separator line is defined in the Length field.    * Separator after: select this checkbox have a copyright notice followed by a line of characters defined in the Separator field. The number of characters in a separator line is defined in the Length field.    * Separator: in this field, type the character that will be used in the separator strings and as a prefix or ending character in block comments.    * Box: select this checkbox to have each line of a copyright notice followed by a character defined in the Separator field.    * Add blank line before: select this checkbox to have a blank line inserted before a copyright notice.    * Add blank line after: select this checkbox to have a blank line inserted after a copyright notice.    |
| Relative Location | In this area, specify the location of a copyright notice relative to other comments in a file.       * Before other comments: when this option is selected, copyright notices are inserted above other comments.    * After other comments: when this option is selected, copyright notices are inserted below other comments.    |
| Preview | Use this area to view a sample copyright notice with the formatting you have defined. |