Learn how to
use the tools available to you. The NetBeans IDE for example, has a
multitude of useful features and shortcuts.
Are you constantly typing out the same code? Why not set up a code template for it?
1:
To do
this, click on the Tools menu -> Options -> Editor -> Code Templates. You
should see a table with three columns; Abbreviation, Expanded Text and
Description.
2:
The
Abbreviation column contains a short "template", the Expanded Text column
contains the text represented by the abbreviation and the description column
contains an optional description for the template.
3:
As an
example, we will create a template which will create a String containing
your name. Start by clicking on the "New" button. A dialog box will pop up.
Type the following into the dialog box: mn (We use this to abbreviate "My
Name") Click on the Ok button on the dialog. The dialog will disappear, and
the focus will move to the large
text area
below the table.
4:
Type the
following text into the text area: String name = "[Type your name here]";
Click the Ok button at the bottom of the form.
By creating templates, you can save time and effort by typing out two or three characters to write an entire line of code.
NetBeans has a number of built in templates. Among others, these include the following:
En : Enumeration
St : String
ab : abstract
cl : class
df : default
There a number of other templates available as well. You can view these by clicking on Tools -> Options -> Editor -> Code Templates.