AppCode 2017.2 Help

Code Style. C/C++/Objective C


Use this page to configure formatting options for C, C++, Objective C files. View the result in the Preview pane on the right.

On this page:

Set from

Click this link to choose the base for the current language default code style from the pop-up list, that appears. The list contains the following options:

ItemDescription
Language Choose this option to inherit the coding style settings from another language. Select the source language from the list, that opens. So doing, only the settings that are applicable to the current language are taken. All the other settings are not affected.
Predefined Style Choose this option to use the coding styles defined for a specific framework or coding standard. Select one of the following standards from the list.

Note: the coding styles of the below set affect only the certain items of base settings and leave the rest of them unchanged.

The following styles of the list are applicable for braces placement only:

Tabs and Indents

ItemDescription
Use tab character
  • If this check box is selected, tab characters are used:
    • On pressing the N/A key
    • For indentation
    • For code reformatting
  • When the check box is cleared, AppCode uses spaces instead of tabs.
Smart tabs
  • If this check box is selected, the part of indentation defined by the nesting of code blocks, is made of the tabs and (if necessary) spaces, while the part of indentation defined by the alignment is made only of spaces.
  • If this check box is cleared, only tabs are used. This means that a group of spaces that fits the specified tab size is automatically replaced with a tab, which may result in breaking fine alignment.

The Smart Tabs check box is available if the Use Tab Character check box is selected.

Tab sizeIn this text box, specify the number of spaces included in a tab.
IndentIn 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 indentIn this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted between the elements of an array, in expressions, method declarations and method calls.
Indent members of 'namespace'In this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted before each member of a 'namespace'.
Indent members of '@interface' and '@protocol'In this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted before each member of '@interface' and '@protocol'.
Except instance variables listIf this check box is selected, the instance variables list of '@interface' and '@protocol' is not indented.
Indent members of '@implementation'In this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted before each member of an '@implementation'.
Indent visibility keywords in classesIn this text box, specify the number of spaces (or tabs if the Use Tab Character check box is selected) to be inserted before each visibility keyword in all classes.

Spaces

Use this tab to specify where you want spaces in your code. To have AppCode 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 AppCode 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.

Alignment takes precedence over indentation options.

Right Margin (columns)

Use Right Margin field to specify a margin space required on the right side of an element. If you select Default option then a value of the right margin from the global settings is used.

Wrap on typing

Use Wrap on typing settings to specify how the edited text is fitted in the specified Right margin. You can select one the following options:

  • Default - in this case AppCode uses the Wrap on typing option that is specified in the global settings.
  • Yes - in this case AppCode uses the value specified in the Right Margin field.
  • No - in this case this option is switched off and a line can exceed the value specified in the right margin.

Keep when reformatting

Use the check boxes to configure exceptions that AppCode will make when reformatting the source code. For example, by default, the Line breaks check box is selected. If your code contains lines that are shorter than a standard convention, you can convert them by disabling the Line breaks check box before you reformat 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).

ItemDescription
Wrapping styleFrom this drop-down list, select the desired wrapping style:
  • Do not wrap - when this option is selected, no special wrapping style is applied.

    With this option 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.
  • Wrap always - select this option to have all elements in lists wrapped so that there is one element per line 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.

Alignment options

ItemDescription
Align when multilineIf 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.
Align in columns If this check box is selected, the variables names, types and initializers are aligned in columns, each variable on next line, as in example:

Before

var myName: String var myTitle: String var myOrderNumber: Int

After

var myName: String var myTitle: String var myOrderNumber: Int
<character(s)> on next lineSelect this check box to have the specified character or characters moved to the next line when the lines are wrapped.
'else' on new lineUse this check box to have the corresponding statements or characters moved to the next line.
New line after <character> Select this check box to have the code after the specified character moved to a new line.
Special else if treatmentIf 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

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

    Blank lines

    Use this tab to define where and how many blank lines you want AppCode 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.

    ItemDescription
    Keep Maximum Blank LinesIn this area, specify the number of blank lines to be kept after reformatting in the specified locations.
    Minimum Blank LinesIn the text boxes in this area, specify the number of blank lines to be present in the specified locations.

    These settings do not influence the number of blank lines before the first and after the last item.

    Code Generation

    Use this tab to configure formatting options for generated code.

    General

    ItemDescription
    Line comment at first columnSelect this check box to have generated line comments placed in the first column.
    Block comment at first columnSelect this check box to have generated block comments placed in the first column.

    Objective C

    ItemDescription
    Prefix for instance variables
    Suffix for instance variables
    In these text boxes, type the prefixes and suffixes to be used when generating instance variables.
    Retain object parameters in initWith...Select this check box to retain object parameters when generating initWith. This option will not work unless Automated Reference Counting is disabled.
    Use property setters in initWith...Select this check box to use property setters when generating initWith. This option will not work unless instant variable has a synthesized property.
    Semicolon after method signature in implementationSelect this check box to insert a semicolon after method signature when generating method implementation.
    Put ivars to implementation if possibleSelect this check box to insert instant variables where possible when generating implementation.
    Use NSInteger and CGFloat in introduce variableSelect this check box to use NSInteger and CGFloat in introduce variable. Otherwise int and float will be used.
    Ivars release style (for 'dealloc') Choose instant variables release style for dealloc method. The available options are:
    • [ivar release]
    • [ivar release], ivar=nill
    • property=nill
    Generate ivar declarations for properties Choose the behaviour for generating instant variable declarations for properties. The available options are:
    • Always generate
    • Never generate
    • Ask

    C++

    ItemDescription
    Prefix for fields Type the prefix that will prepend a name of an automatically generated field.
    Suffix for fields Type the suffix that will be appended to a name of an automatically generated field.
    Prefix for getters Type a prefix that will prepend a name of an automatically generated getter. The default name is get
    Prefix for setters type a prefix that will prepend a name of an automatically generated setter. The default name is set
    Generate != together with == select this check box to enable this setting as default for Select Fields dialog when generating an equality operator.
    Generate >,<=,>= together with < select this check box to enable this setting as default for Select Fields dialog when generation a relational operator.

    Documentation comments

    ItemDescription
    Add @brief tag Select this check box to enable the @brief tag in Doxygen style comments.
    Tag prefix in line comments Click @param or \param radio button to select the preferred prefix type.
    Tag prefix in block comments Click @param or \param radio button to select the preferred prefix type.
    Last modified: 13 December 2017