Options: Code Editing

Saving options

Auto-format when saving methods

Automatically  formats any methods that are saved in the standard browsers using the formatting options set by the user.

Enable auto save

Allows the developer to avoid those pesky "Save Changes?" dialogs. With Auto Save enabled, the system will automatically save any changes that have been made to a method when switching to another one.

Discard any errors and continue on cancel

By default, if an error is encountered, clicking "Cancel" in the error window will return the selection back to the method with the error. If you would prefer to ignore the error and continue, turn on this option.

Text selection options

Double-click at beginning or end of line selects line

Determines whether double clicking at the beginning or end of a line selects the entire line. Triple-clicking on a word will also select the entire line.

Double-click at beginning or end of text selects everything

Determines whether double or triple clicking at the beginning or end of a text selects all of the text.

Key binding options

Tab key always block indents partially selected lines

Normally, if a line is partially selected, the Tab key will replace the selected text with a Tab character. In order for the Tab key to block indent the lines, they must be completely selected. This options allows the block indent function to work with partially selected lines as well.

Use Windows default style word select

Normally, VA Java selects words in a right-to-left manner (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+Right/Left keys), unlike other IDEs and word processors (including WordPad and MS Word) that select text in a left-to-right manner. This option makes VA Java use Windows default left-to-right word selection.

Make "beginning of line" key jump to first character

Normally, the "beginning of line" key (e.g., Home key) jumps to the very beginning of the line. Many IDEs are intelligent and will jump to the first character in a line (assuming it is indented). This option makes VA Java jump to the first non-whitespace character of the line.

Add word delete key bindings

VA Java does not provide any key bindings for forward and backward word delete. This option adds key bindings for both and pre-assigns them to Ctrl+Backspace and Ctrl+Del.

Add find matching bracket key binding

Normally, to find a matching bracket, you must double-click on its counterpart. VA Java does not provide any key bindings for this feature. This option adds a key binding for this feature and pre-assigns it to Ctrl+[ and Ctrl+].

Code assist options

Use period for code assist

Normally, the VA Java code assistant is triggered proactively via hitting the Ctrl+Space key combination. This option automatically invokes the code assistant whenever the period key is hit (after a user settable delay.

Show JavaDoc in code assist

This options determines whether JavaDoc is shown in the code assist hover help for method parameters and class names. The number of lines shown is configurable.