Eclipse Tip: Add your own Code Template in Eclipse

If you are using Eclipse as your primary development IDE, then you may want to know about Code templates in Eclipse. Code templates are certain user defined (some are available by default) templates which can assist in rapid code writing. Not only code templates increase your code writing speed, but it also add consistency across the code. To add a code template, all you need to do is to write first character and then press CTRL + SPACE. For example, in Eclipse write tr and press ctrl+space. It will add a try-catch block in your editor.

User defined code templates

You can defined your own code templates. Just goto Windows > Preferences > Java > Editor > Templates. You can click on New.. button to add your own code template. eclipse-code-templates Lets create our own code template. For this example, we will create a template which will check if a local variable is null or not, if its null then it will throw a NullPointerException. Open Template editor from above path and press New.. Then enter following details. Name: npe Description: To check if a local variable is null or not. Pattern:
if (${arg:localVar} == null) throw new ${exception:link(NullPointerException,IllegalArgumentException)}("${arg:localVar} is null");
Code language: Java (java)
And press Ok to save the template. Now go to any editor window in Eclipse and press npe and press CTRL + SPACE. You will see a suggestion window which will display you an option to select the npe code template.
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9 Comments

  1. newJavaDeveloper says:

    This is great!..Thanx..

  2. Gautam says:

    Code Templates are very useful indeed.

  3. vinayak says:

    This is very usefull to me .i want learn more different kind of coding template

  4. Hrushikesh says:

    Great post !!! Thanks for sharing !!

  5. shailesh says:

    Hi,
    I have done with the above code. it works fine for me. But when i shift the workspace it is gone.
    How to persiste the templates in eclipse ide.

    I have definde a new shorcut key to do duplicate line code.(CTRL+L) and again .(CTRL+L)
    but it also not persiste in my new works space.

    How to do that
    is it possibe?

  6. nitendra says:

    I imported my template file but its not reflected.

  7. Avishek says:

    I have done with the above code. it works fine for me.Thank you…

  8. Leena says:

    I am using code templates. It is very useful. Try using Fast Code Templates.

  9. sunil says:

    i got difficult in that ,template not added succefullyt. please give step to add any template in eclipse.?

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