Eclipse 3.0 - New and Noteworthy

Java Tools - General


Method call hierarchy You can open a view that shows a method call hierarchy by choosing Navigate > Open Call Hierarchy (Ctrl+Alt+H) in the Java editor or any of the Java views that show methods.

Call Hierarchy View


Javadoc view There is a new Javadoc view (Window > Show View > Other > Java > Javadoc) which shows the Javadoc of the element selected in the Java editor or in a Java view. The Javadoc view uses the SWT Browser widget to display HTML on platforms which support it.

Javadoc view


Declaration view There is a new Declaration view (Window > Show View > Other > Java > Declaration) which shows the source of the element selected in the Java editor or in a Java view.

Declaration view


Type filters

The set of types that show up in code assist and quick fix proposals can now be filtered using the new Java > Type Filters preference page. Types matching one of these filter patterns on the list will not show up in the Open Type dialog, and will not be available in quick fix and code assist proposals. These filters do not affect whether the types show up in the Package Explorer and Type Hierarchy views.

Type Filters preference page

Improved filtering support Java-specific view menus which contain a "Filters..." entry now contain adjacent checkable entries for recently changed filters.

Improved filters


External Javadoc out of archives If you have Javadoc documentation stored in an archive, you no longer need to unpack the archive. The Javadoc location property dialog now supports documentation in archives. Select a JAR and bring up its property page (or equivalently Project > Properties > Java Build Path > Libraries > Javadoc location) to attach documentation to a JAR.

Javadoc location configuration dialog

Use Navigate > Open External Javadoc (Shift+F2) to open Javadoc in a browser.


Grouping options in search view You can switch the new Search view to flat or hierarchical layout mode in the view menu. Java search results in hierarchical mode can now be grouped by project, package, file, or type.

new search view


Match filters in Java search Java search results can be filtered. You can filter out Javadoc comments, import statements, read accesses, and write accesses. Only filters applicable to the current search will be shown.

search filters


Search local and anonymous types Local and anonymous types are now fully supported in search operations. In particular, you can now search for references to a selected local type. Also, search results are now properly rooted inside local or anonymous types (instead of always inside the outermost enclosing method).

Local types Local and anonymous types now show up in the various Java-specific views by default, along with filters on the views to hide them.

Locals in type hierarchy


Deprecated elements Types, fields and methods marked as deprecated are now rendered with a slash.

Deprecated elements in the outline


References in Javadoc comments The Java infrastructure now includes references in Javadoc comments. You can see this in several places, including Search, Organize Imports, linked renames in the editor, and editor occurrence markers.

Occurrences marked in Javadoc tags


Content assist in dialog fields Content Assist (Ctrl+Space) is now also available in input fields of various Java dialogs. Look for small light bulb icon beside the field when it has focus.

New Class Dialog


Working sets support in Type Hierarchy view

The Type Hierarchy view now supports filtering by a working set. Once a working set is selected in the view menu, the hierarchy view only shows Java types contained in the given working set, extended by parent types needed to complete the tree (the latter are shown with white-filled images).

Type hierarchy view with enabled working set

Interfaces in package type hierarchy The type hierarchy opened on packages (F4) now also shows interfaces of this package. Same for hierarchies on source folders, projects, and JARs.

Package type hierarchy with interfaces


Improved NLS wizard The NLS wizard (Source > Externalize Strings) has been updated to work on already externalized files:
  • rename pre-existing keys and values
  • rename multiple key prefixes simultaneously
  • change already externalized strings to 'ignored' or to the original, untagged (internalized) state or vice versa
  • improved inserting of new keys in the property files

NLS wizard on already externalized strings


User-defined libraries You can now group external JARs into a named library. Create user-defined libraries on the Java > Build Path > User Library preference page, and then add them to the build path on the project's properties.

User library preference page

Similarly to class path variable entries, the class path entry for a user library references user libraries by name (not to the JARs to the local file system).

Library in the package explorer


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