The NetBeans IDE has so many wonderful features that makes a Java developer’s life easier. And many of these features have keyboard shortcuts attached to them. So I decided to make a list of the shortcuts that I think every developer should know.
- Ctrl+O : Quickly go to a class
This shows a dialog that allows you to start typing the name of the class that you are looking for. You can then choose the class from a list of matched names. - Ctrl+Shift+I : Fix imports
Add any new imports that are necessary and remove unused ones at the same time. If a class name matches multiple possibilities, a dialog is displayed that allows you to choose which class to import. - Alt+Shift+F : Format selection
Format the selected code according to the rules that can be changed in the IDE Options > Editor > Formatting. This is also a handy way to format XML in a useful way. - Alt+F7 : Find usages
Find where the currently selected type is used. - Ctrl+R : Rename
Rename the selected variable or class, refactoring if required. - Alt+Insert : Generate code
Choose from various context sensitive items that the IDE can generate, for example generating getters and setters. - Ctrl+Space : Auto complete
Context sensitive auto complete. - Ctrl+/ : Toggle comment lines
Adds // to the start of each of the selected lines. Or removes these if present. - Ctrl+Shift+Up/Down : Copy lines up/down
Make a copy of the currently selected lines, without going through the clipboard. - Alt+Shift+Up/Down : Move lines up/down
Move the currently selected lines, without going through the clipboard.
For a much more comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts, have a look at Highlights of NetBeans IDE 7.4 Keyboard Shortcuts & Code Templates.
Hermien Pellissier
Instructional designer, educational technologist and occasional lecturer who loves travel and photography
Great. I use 7 of this 10 shortcuts.