Live template variables

When a live template abbreviation is expanded, variables are replaced by predefined values (default or calculated using functions) and appear as input fields that the user can modify.

Variables within templates are declared in the following format:

$<variable_name>$

Each variable is defined by an expression, and can accept some default value for cases when the expression fails to evaluate.

This expression may contain constructs of the following basic types:

String constants in double quotes.
The name of another variable defined in a live template.
Predefined functions with possible arguments.

Template variables can be configured in the Edit Template Variables Dialog.

To configure template variables

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open the Settings/Preferences dialog and then go to Editor | Live Templates.
Select a template where you want to configure variables.
Specify variables in the template text and click Edit variables
In the Edit Template Variables dialog, you can do the following for each variable:
- Change the variable name.
- Define the expression using predefined functions.
- Specify the default value for cases when the expression fails to evaluate.
- Specify whether you want to skip the variable when prompting the user for input if the variable was defined using its expression.

Predefined template variables

MPS supports the following predefined live template variables that cannot be modified:

$END$ indicates the position of the cursor when the code snippet is complete and you can no longer press Tab to jump to the next variable.
$SELECTION$ is used in surround templates and denotes the code fragment to be wrapped. After the template is expanded, the selected text is wrapped as specified in the template. For example, if you select EXAMPLE in your code and invoke the "$SELECTION$" template via the assigned abbreviation or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and selecting the desired template from the list, MPS will wrap the selection in double quotes as follows: "EXAMPLE".

Predefined functions used in live template variables

The following functions can be used to define live template variables:

Function	Description
`camelCase(String)`	Converts a string into camelCase. For example, `camelCase(my-text-file)`, `camelCase(my text file)`, and `camelCase(my_text_file)` all return `myTextFile`.
`capitalize(String)`	Capitalizes the first letter of the parameter.
`capitalizeAndUnderscore(sCamelCaseName)`	Capitalizes all the letters of a CamelCase name passed as the parameter, and inserts an underscore between the parts. For example, `capitalizeAndUnderscore(FooBar)` returns `FOO_BAR`.
`complete()`	Invokes code completion at the position of the variable.
`completeSmart()`	Invokes smart type completion at the position of the variable.
`concat(expressions...)`	Returns a concatenation of all the strings passed to the function as parameters.
`date(sDate)`	Returns the current system date in the specified format. Without a parameter, the current date is returned in the default system format.
`decapitalize(sName)`	Replaces the first letter of the parameter with the corresponding lowercase letter.
`defaultReturnValues`	Returns the default value if the expression is used in the return statement. Uses the `errorVariableName` parameter if the expression is of the error type.
`enum(sCompletionString1,sCompletionString2,...)`	Returns a list of comma-separated strings suggested for completion when the template is expanded.
`escapeString(sEscapeString)`	Escapes the string specified as the parameter.
`expectedType()`	Returns the expected type of the expression into which the template expands. Makes sense if the template expands in the right part of an assignment, after `return`, and so on.
`fileName()`	Returns the name of the current file with its extension.
`fileNameWithoutExtension()`	Returns the name of the current file without its extension.
`firstWord(sFirstWord)`	Returns the first word of the string passed as the parameter.
`lineNumber()`	Returns the current line number.
`lowercaseAndDash(String)`	Converts a camelCase string into lower case and inserts n-dashes as separators. For example, `lowercaseAndDash(MyExampleName)` returns `my-example-name`.
`regularExpression(String, Pattern, Replacement)`	Makes a replacement in a string according to a specified pattern.
`snakeCase(String)`	Converts a string into snake_case. For example, `snakeCase(fooBar)` returns `foo_bar`.
`spaceSeparated(String)`	Converts a string into lowercase and inserts spaces as separators. For example, `spaceSeparated(fooBar)` returns `foo bar`.
`spacesToUnderscores(sParameterWithSpaces)`	Replaces spaces with underscores in the string passed as the parameter. For example, `spacesToUnderscores(foo bar)` returns `foo_bar`.
`substringBefore(String,Delimiter)`	Removes the extension after the specified delimiter and returns only the filename. This is helpful for test file names (for example, `substringBefore($FileName$,".")` returns `component-test` in component-test.js).
`time(sSystemTime)`	Returns the current system time in the specified format.
`underscoresToCamelCase(String)`	Replaces underscores with camelCase letters in the string passed as the parameter. For example, `underscoresToCamelCase(foo_bar)` returns `fooBar`.
`underscoresToSpaces(sParameterWithUnderscores)`	Replaces underscores with spaces in the string passed as the parameter. For example, `underscoresToSpaces(foo_bar)` returns `foo bar`.
`user()`	Returns the name of the current user.

Last modified: 5 July 2019