Refactorings for C++

The Change Signature refactoring allows you to make one or more different modifications to the signatures of a function. All usages, implementations, and overrides of the function will be updated accordingly.

You can also invoke this refactoring with the dedicated shortcut Ctrl0R,0V.

The Convert to Scoped Enum refactoring helps you convert a C-style enumeration declaration into a C++11 scoped enumeration. To invoke it, place the caret at an enumerator and select Convert to Scoped Enum from the Refactor This menu, or choose Refactor | Convert | Unscoped Enum to Scoped Enum from the main menu:

Gif

This refactoring allows you to create a new method based on the selected code fragment. JetBrains Rider analyzes the selected statements and detects variables that can be converted into method parameters or represent its return value.

You can also invoke this refactoring with the dedicated shortcut Ctrl0R,0M.

Suppose that you want to extract the logic of calculating a discriminant to a separate method:

In the Extract Method dialog, you can pick method arguments, choose a return value and preview the resulted method:

As soon as you click Next, the new method is created and the selected expression is replaced with the method call.

This refactoring allows you to create a new field based on a selected expression, initialize it with the expression or from the constructor, and replace occurrences of the expression in the current type with references to the newly introduced field.

You can also invoke this refactoring with the dedicated shortcut Ctrl0R,0F.

In the example below, we use this refactoring to replace two occurrences of the same string with a new private field and initialize it from the existing constructor:

#include <exception>
#include <iostream>
 
class ErrorHandler
{
  ErrorHandler()
  {
  }
 
public:
  void logError(std::exception& e)
  {
    auto errorLogFIle = fopen("log.txt", "w");
    fprintf(errorLogFIle, "Something has failed: %s", e.what());
    fclose(errorLogFIle);
  }
 
  void printError(std::exception& e)
  {
    printf("Something has failed: %s", e.what());
  }
 
private:
};

#include <exception>
#include <iostream>
 
class ErrorHandler
{
  ErrorHandler(): error_message("Something has failed: %s") {}
 
public:
  void logError(std::exception&; e)
  {
    auto errorLogFIle = fopen("log.txt", "w");
    fprintf(errorLogFIle, error_message, e.what());
    fclose(errorLogFIle);
  }
 
  void printError(std::exception& e)
  {
    printf(error_message, e.what());
  }
 
private:
  const char* error_message;
};

This refactoring helps you create a namespace alias for a namespace usage and replace the currently selected usage or all usages in the current document with the alias. Depending on the selected usages, the namespace alias is declared in the closest possible scope to the usages.

To invoke this refactoring, place the caret at a namespace usage and CtrlShift0R or choose Refactor | Refactor This… from the main menu, and then select Introduce namespace alias in the Refactor This popup. If there are multiple occurrences of the namespace usage in the document, you will be able to choose whether to replace the current usage or all usages.

In the example below, we use this refactoring to add a namespace alias for the SpaceOne::SpaceTwo namespace.

namespace SpaceOne
{
  namespace SpaceTwo
  {
    int ten = 10;
    inline void foo()
    {
      // do something
    }
  }
}
 
inline int test()
{
  SpaceOne::SpaceTwo::foo();
  return SpaceOne::SpaceTwo::ten;
}

namespace SpaceOne
{
  namespace SpaceTwo
  {
    int ten = 10;
    inline void foo()
    {
      // do something
    }
  }
}
 
inline int test()
{
  namespace s_two_alias = SpaceOne::SpaceTwo;
  s_two_alias::foo();
  return s_two_alias::ten;
}

The Introduce typedef refactoring lets you quickly create a typedef for the selected data type and replace the selected data type and optionally, all occurrences of this data type in the current file, with the newly created typedef.

The Inline typedef refactoring makes exactly the opposite - it removes the selected typedef and replaces all its usages with the declared data type.

Gif

If you want the Introduce typedef refactoring to use type alias instead of typedef, select the corresponding checkbox on the Languages & Frameworks | C++ | Code Style page of JetBrains Rider settings CtrlAlt0S. For more information, refer to Aliases and typedefs (C++) on Microsoft Docs.

The C++20 using enum syntax allows you to add all the enumerators from the target enumeration. As a result, you can omit repetitions of the enumeration name when using its member enumerators.

The Introduce Using Enum refactoring helps with adding using enum statements. To invoke this refactoring, place the caret at an enumerator and press CtrlShift0R or choose Refactor | Refactor This… from the main menu, and then select Introduce Using Enum in the Refactor This popup. If there are multiple occurrences of the enumeration usage in the document, you will be able to choose whether to replace the current usage or all usages.

Gif

This refactoring allows you to create a new local variable based on a selected expression, initialize it with the expression, and finally replace all occurrences of the expression in the method with references to the newly introduced variable.

You can also invoke this refactoring with the dedicated shortcut .

Gif

This refactoring allows you to replace all occurrences of a variable in the code with its initializer. Note that the refactoring should be only applied if the variable value stays unchanged after initialization.

You can also invoke this refactoring with the dedicated shortcut .

This refactoring allows you to replace a function call with the body of the function. JetBrains Rider will perform the necessary transformations, handle all the name conflicts, and reformat the resulting code, or show you a short pop-up message explaining why it’s not a good idea to try inlining some method.

You can also invoke this refactoring with the dedicated shortcut .

Gif

One of the most time-consuming refactorings is supported for C++. Modifying the name of a symbol can cause many problems if you try to do it manually. When you invoke the Rename refactoring (also available with the dedicated Ctrl0R,0R shortcut), all checks are done by JetBrains Rider. Either all modification are performed smoothly if no conflicts exist, or you get the list of conflicts that you can resolve manually to be sure that only necessary and appropriate changes are made.

When you use this refactoring to rename a class, JetBrains Rider will automatically rename corresponding files (source and header).

You can also invoke this refactoring on a file in the Solution Explorer. As soon as you provide a new name for the file, JetBrains Rider will update all its usages in includes.

note

When you rename a class derived in blueprints, make sure to Reparent Blueprint from the File menu of Unreal Editor.