Live Templates
Use this page to create, manage, and edit live templates.
Main settings
Item | Description | |
|---|---|---|
By default expand with | Specifies the default invocation key for all templates. Individual expansion keys for the particular templates are defined in the editing area. If the standard expansion keys (Tab, Enter, or Space) are not desirable, select the Custom option from this list. When Custom is selected, the Change link appears next to the drop-down, leading you to the Keymap page. | |
Live Templates | Displays all currently available template abbreviations with their descriptions. The abbreviations are grouped below nodes and sorted alphabetically within each group. To activate a template or an entire group, select the checkbox near the template or the group. | |
| Add Alt+Insert | Adds a new template item to the current group of templates. You can define the template abbreviation, description, text, variables, expansion key, and context in the editing area below. |
| Remove Delete | Removes the selected live template from the list. |
| Duplicate | Click this button to create a new template based on the selected template. A new template item is added to the current node, and the fields in the Template Text area show the definition of the selected template. |
| Restore deleted default templates | Click this button to restore the deleted live templates. This button is only enabled when the changes are applied. |
Context menu of a live template
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Move | Moves the selected template to a specified group. |
Change context | Changes context or contexts where the current template is enabled. When you select this command, a list of supported language contexts is displayed. To make IntelliJ IDEA consider a context-sensitive to the template, select a checkbox next to the context name. The available context types depend on the enabled plugins. |
Copy | Creates a serialized template XML in the system clipboard. |
Paste | Pastes an XML representation of the copied templates to the selected group of templates. |
Restore defaults | This command only appears on the context menus of the modified templates, marked blue. Choose this command to restore the default template settings. |
Template editing area
The focus is moved to this area in the following cases:
When you click the Add
or Copy 
button.When you select a live template in the list.
When you select a fragment of code in the editor and choose .
Use controls of this area to create new live templates and edit the settings for the existing ones.
You can navigate through the Template Text Area using the hot keys that are marked in the field labels.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Abbreviation | In this field, specify the template abbreviation. For example, a sequence of characters that identify the template in the editor. |
Description | In this field, provide optional description of a template or an example of its usage. |
Template Text | In this field, type the template body that may contain plain text and variables in the format |
Applicable in | This read-only field shows the languages and pieces of code where the editor should be sensitive to the template. Upon pressing Ctrl+J in such context, IntelliJ IDEA displays a list of templates that are valid for this context. |
Change | Click this link to modify the set of contexts where the current template is enabled. Upon clicking the link, a list of supported language contexts is displayed. To make IntelliJ IDEA consider a context-sensitive to the template, select a checkbox next to the context name. The available context types depend on the enabled plugins. |
Edit Variables | Open the Edit Template Variables dialog, where you can define how IntelliJ IDEA should process template variables upon template expansion. For more information, refer to Live template variables. |
Options | In this area, define the behavior of the editor when a template is expanded.
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