AppCode 2020.3 Help

View code hierarchy

With AppCode, you can examine the hierarchy of types, method calls, and imports and explore the structure of the source files.

Build hierarchies

When built, a hierarchy can be immediately viewed and examined in the Hierarchy tool window. By default, every new built hierarchy overwrites the contents of the current tab. You can retain the current tab and have the next hierarchy built in a new one.

Build a type hierarchy

  1. In the editor, position the caret at the desired class.

  2. From the main menu, select Navigate | Type Hierarchy or just press ⌃H.

    Class hierarchy shown in the Hierarchy Tool Window

Build a call hierarchy

Call hierarchies show callers or callees of a method or function.

  1. Open the file in the editor and place the caret at the declaration or usage of the desired method.

  2. From the main menu, select Navigate | Call Hierarchy or press ⌃⌥H.

    Build a call hierarchy

Build a hierarchy of imports

Imports hierarchies show where the current file is included and track all files included in the current file.

  1. Open the file in the editor or select it in the Project tool window.

  2. From the main menu, select Navigate | Imports Hierarchy.

    Build an import hierarchy

Retain a hierarchy tab

  • In the Hierarchy tool window, click the Pin Tab button Pin button on the toolbar.

View hierarchies

Open the Hierarchy tool window

  1. Make sure, you have already built hierarchies to show, see Building hierarchies above.

  2. Select View | Tool Windows | Hierarchy from the main menu.

Navigate between the tabs

  • Click the currently displayed tab, and select the next one to display from the list.

    Switching between pinned tabs in the Hierarchy tool window

Toggle between views

  • With AppCode, you can build and explore ascending or descending hierarchies, that is, callee or caller methods, parent or children classes, and so on.

    Click the Caller Hierarchy toolbar button or the Callee Hierarchy toolbar button to show caller methods or callee methods respectively.

Hierarchy tool window buttons

ItemDescriptionAvailable In
the Class Hierarchy button

Shows both the parent and child classes of the selected class, which is marked with an arrow in the tree of results.

Type hierarchies
the Supertypes Hierarchy buttonDepending on the hierarchy type:
  • Type hierarchies: shows the hierarchy of each supertype of the current type.

  • Call hierarchies: shows the callers of the selected method.

  • Import hierarchies: shows the files where the current file is included.

All hierarchies
the Subtypes Hierarchy button

Depending on the hierarchy type:

  • Class hierarchies: shows all classes that extend the selected type.

  • Call hierarchies: shows the callees of the selected method.

  • Import hierarchies: shows the files that include the current file.

All hierarchies
the Sort Alphabetically buttonSorts all elements within a tree alphabetically.

Type hierarchies

Call hierarchies

Scope

Use this list to limit the scope of the current hierarchy:

  • Project: traces usages of the method across the project.

  • Test: traces usages of the method across the test classes.

  • All: traces usages of the method across the project and the libraries.

  • This class: limits the scope to the current class.

In addition to the preconfigured scopes, you can define your own one. To define a scope, select Configure from the list and define the required scope in the Scopes dialog.

Call hierarchies
the Refresh buttonShows all updated classes or class structures.All hierarchies
the Navigate with Single Click buttonMoves to a file and a section in a source code that corresponds to the selected node in the hierarchy tree.All hierarchies
the Expand All buttonExpands all nodes.All hierarchies
the Pin buttonLocks the current tab from closing and reusing. Results of the next command are displayed in a new tab.All hierarchies
the Export to Text FileExports a hierarchy into a text file. You can specify a location for this file.All hierarchies
the Close buttonCloses the tool window.All hierarchies
Last modified: 08 March 2021