Scratch files
Create: CtrlAltShiftInsert
Sometimes you may need to create temporary notes or draft up some code outside the project context. Instead of switching to a different application, you can use scratch files and scratch buffers.
note
Scratch files and buffers are not related to a specific project. They are available for any project that you open with the specific IDE instance.
Scratch files are fully functional, runnable, and debuggable files that support syntax highlighting, code completion, and all other features for the corresponding file type. For example, while working on one project, you may come up with an idea for a method that you could later use in another project. You can create a scratch file with a draft of the method, which is not stored in your project directory but can be opened when you're working on any other project. You can use scratch files to draft code constructs, HTTP requests, JSON documents, and so on.
Scratch buffers are simple text files without any coding assistance features. Scratch buffers can be used for simple task lists and notes to yourself. They are also not stored in the project directory and can be opened from any other project. You can create up to five scratch buffers with default names, which are rotated and reused by clearing the content.
By default, existing scratch files and buffers are shown in the Scratches and Consoles node in the Files tool window . If you don't use scratches, you can hide this node: click the Options button () on the header and then clear the checkbox next to Scratches and Consoles
Go to File | New | Scratch File or press CtrlAltShiftInsert. Alternatively, in the Files tool window , right-click any area and navigate to New | Scratch File.
Select the dialect or language of the scratch file.
Scratch files of the same type are automatically numbered and added to the Scratches and Consoles directory of the Project view.
Alternatively, you can create a new scratch file with the contents of the current selection in the editor. Select some text or code, press AltEnter and then select Create new scratch file from selection. DataGrip will attempt to detect the language of the selected fragment and use the appropriate type and extension. If it can't detect the language of the selection, DataGrip will create the file with the same type and extension as the original file.
tip
DataGrip numbers scratch files sequentially starting from 1. If you close a tab with an empty scratch file, DataGrip deletes it.
There is no dedicated menu item for the action to create a new scratch buffer, but you can use the Find Action popup CtrlShift0A and run the New Scratch Buffer action.
You can also add a shortcut for the New Scratch Buffer action as described in Configure keyboard shortcuts.
DataGrip creates a text file named buffer1.txt.
The next scratch buffer you create is named buffer2.txt, and so on up to buffer5.txt. When DataGrip reaches that limit, it will recreate buffer1.txt and suggest clearing the content for it. If you want to make sure DataGrip does not clear the scratch buffer after you have five, you can rename it.
Open the Project view and expand Scratches and Consoles | Scratches.
Use the Find Action popup CtrlShift0A to invoke the Show Scratch Files action and view all available scratch files in a popup:
By default, DataGrip stores scratch files and buffers in the IDE configuration directory under scratches. They are available from any IDE and project that uses this configuration directory.
To change the location of the Scratches and Consoles directory, use the idea.scratch.path
platform property. To change the location of just the Scratches directory, use the idea.scratch.path/scratches
platform property. For more information, refer to Advanced configuration.
If a scratch file grows into something that you want to use in your project, move it into the desired directory of your project structure.
Open a scratch file in the editor or select it under the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches directory in the Project view, press F6, and select the target directory in your project.
Drag a scratch file from the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches directory in the Project view to the target directory in your project.
Select a scratch file in the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches directory in the Project view and press Ctrl0X, then select the target directory in your project and press Ctrl0V.
In the Files tool window, open the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches.
Right-click a scratch file or buffer and then click Change Language.
Select the desired language. You can start typing the name of the language to narrow down the list.
Select any scratch file or buffer in the Project tool window and press Ctrl0Q to view quick documentation with the location, type, size, creation and modification date of the file.
You can run scratch files the same way that you run regular files. For more information about running SQL files, refer to Run files.
To run queries in an SQL scratch file, you need to have a connection to a data source. For this, attach a scratch file to a session.
When you attach your scratch file to a session, DataGrip resolves the objects in your SQL code. As a result, you can navigate from the SQL code to the database objects.
Press CtrlEnter or click on the toolbar. In the Sessions window, select a session.
Click the <session switcher in the upper right corner of the window and select a session. The switcher menu includes sessions that are associated with the same language as your scratch file.
If you want to attach a session of another DBMS, change the scratch file language. To change a language, right-click any area in the open scratch file and click Change Language.
Right-click any area in the open scratch file and click Execute. In the Sessions window, select a session.
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