# JDE User's Guide

## Introduction

Welcome to the JDE User's Guide. This guide explains how to use the JDE to develop Java applications and applets. The guide assumes that you are familiar with Emacs and JavaSoft's Java development tools.

## About the JDE

The Java Development Environment (JDE) is an Emacs Lisp package that interfaces Emacs to third-party Java application development tools, such as those provided by JavaSoft's Java Development Kit (JDK). The result is an integrated development environment (IDE) comparable in power to many commercial Java IDEs. Features include:

- source code editing with syntax highlighting and auto indentation

- automatic completion of class fields and methods

- compilation with automatic jump from error messages to responsible line in the source code.

- generates class and method skeletons automatically

- run Java application in an interactive (comint) Emacs buffer

- integrated debugging with interactive debug command buffer and automatic display of current source file/line when stepping through code

- browse JDK doc, using the browser of your choice

- browse your source code, using the Emacs etags facility or a tree-structured speedbar.

- supports latest version of JavaSoft's Java Development

- runs on any platform supported by Emacs and Sun's Java SDK (e.g., Win95/NT and Solaris)

- easily and infinitely customizable

- works with FSF Emacs and XEmacs

## JDE Requirements

The JDE requires the following software:

- FSF Emacs or XEmacs on Unix platforms; the 20.6.1 version of NT/Emacs on Windows platforms, for general source file editing and tool integration functions.

- Java Development Kit (JDK) or compatible set of Java development tools (compiler, virtual machine, debugger, class libraries, etc.)

- Web browser (e.g., Netscape or Internet Explorer) for viewing documentation.

- latest versions of Eric Ludlam's speedbar, semantic bovinator, and eieio packages available for download from Eric's home page

- The elib package available from the JDE web site

- bash or other Unix-style shell highly recommended for Windows95/NT environments.

## JDE Components

The JDE distribution includes the following files:

- `jde.el`. Defines jde-mode, a major Emacs mode for developing Java code.

- `jde-run.el`. Runs Java applications and applets

- `jde-db.el`. Interfaces Emacs to jdb, the command-line debugger that comes with the JDK.

- `jde-gen.el`. Contains code generation templates.

- `bsh.jar`. Compiled files for the BeanShell, a Java source code interpreter developed by Pat Neimeyer.

- `beanshell.el`. Provides an Emacs interface to the BeanShell interpreter.

- `jde-wiz.el`. Provides "wizards" that generate skeleton implementations of interfaces and skeleton overrides of methods declared by superclasses.

- `jde-complete.el`. Automatic field and method completion package.

- `jde-parse.el`. Java parser package.

- `java.bnf`. Java grammar used to generate the JDE's lisp-based Java parser.

- `jde-bug.el` . JDEbug user interface package.

- `jde-dbs.el`. JDEbug low-level command interface package.

- `jde-dbo.el`. JDEbug output processing functions.

- source code, jar files, and documentation for the Java components of the JDE.

- `jtags` is a bash shell script that tags Java source hierarchies.

- `jtags.csh` is a c shell script that tags Java source heierarchies.

## Latest Version

See Downloading the JDE on the JDE website for instructions on downloading the most recent version of the JDE.

## Installing the JDE

See the JDE Installation Guide on the JDE website for information on installing the JDE on your system.

## Contacting the Author

Please send bug reports and enhancement suggestions to Paul Kinnucan.

## Editing Java Source Files

To edit an existing Java source file, load it into an Emacs buffer by executing C-x C-f. Loading a Java source file into a buffer causes the buffer to enter into `jde-mode`, a variant of `java-mode`, which is in turn a variant of the standard Emacs `cc-mode` for editing source files written in C and related languages. `jde-mode` offers all the specialized source file editing commands of `cc-mode` plus functions for compiling, running, and debugging Java source files. You can invoke the commands by selecting them from the JDE menu that `jde-mode` displays on the Emacs menu bar or by typing the commands in the Emacs minibuffer.

## Documenting Code

The JDE provides complete support for generating HTML documentation for Java classes from comments inserted into the source code for those classes.

See also

Displaying Java Documentation

### Inserting Javadoc Comments

To insert a skeleton javadoc comment for a class or method, position point in the first line of the method or class and select JDE->Document from the Emacs menubar or type C-c C-v j.

To customize the javadoc skeletons, select JDE->Options->Project->Javadoc from the Emacs menubar.

### Thanks...

to David Ponce for developing the JDE's javadoc comment generation facility.

### Generating the Documentation

To generate documentation for the current project, open any source file in the project and select Make Doc from the JDE menu or enter M-x jde-javadoc-make.

The jde-javadoc-make command runs the JDK's javadoc program to generate the documentation. The javadoc command must be on your system's command path.

The jde-javadoc-make command uses `jde-global-classpath` as the `-classpath` and `jde-db-source-directories` as the `-sourcepath` option for generating the doc. You can specify all other javadoc options via JDE customization variables. To specify the options, select Project->Options->Javadoc from the JDE menu. Use `jde-javadoc-gen-packages` to specify the packages, classes, or source files for which you want to generate javadoc. If this variable is `nil`, the jde-javadoc-make generates javadoc for the Java source file in the current buffer.

### Note

Thanks to Sergey A Klibanov for developing the JDE's javadoc generation facility.

## Code Completion

With the JDE, you can enter the first few letters of a Java keyword, field, or method name and then have the JDEenter the remaining characters. When completing methods, the JDE enters the method arguments as well. The following sections describes the completion options that the JDE offers.

### Java Keyword Completion

The JDE defines a set of abbreviations for Java keywords. When you type one of these abbreviations followed by a space in a Java source buffer, the JDE optionally expands the abbreviation into the keyword. For example, when the abbreviation mode is enabled, you need only type `fa` followed by a space to enter the Java keyword `false`. To enable or disable abbreviation mode, select JDE->Project->Options->General and toggle the boolean variable `jde-enable-abbrev-mode`. To change, remove, or add an abbreviation, edit the variable `jde-mode-abbreviations` in the project customization buffer.

### Note

The JDE's Java keyword expansion facility is based on the Emacs `abbrev-mode` facility. For more information, see the Emacs user manual.

### Control Flow Completion

The JDE defines abbreviations for Java control flow structures, such as if-then-else. When you enter the abbreviation followed by a space, the JDE expands the abbreviation into a corresponding control structure template.

Example 1. Expanding a Control Flow Abbreviation

The if-then-else abbreviation

    	    ife

expands to the control flow structure

    	    if ( ) {
    	    } // end of if ()
    	    else
    	    } // end of if ()else

#### Control Flow Abbreviations

The JDE defines the following abbreviations for control structures.

Table 1.

Statement | Abbreviation
--- | ---
`if-then` | `if`
`else` | `else`
`if-then-else` | `ife`
`while` | `while`
`for` | `for`
`for (int I=0;I<UL;I++)` | `for`
`main method` | `main`
`switch` | `switch`
`case` | `case`

### Note

You must enable the JDE's Java keyword abbreviation mode to use the control flow abbreviations. See Java Keyword Completion for more information.

#### Left Brace Placement

The JDE's Java control flow templates support two options for opening brace placement: placement on the first line of the template (Kerningham & Ritchie Style, the default) and placement on a separate line. Type M-x customize-variable jde-gen-k&r to specify the style you prefer.

#### Customizing the Control Flow Templates

You can customize the templates to suit any indentation style. To customize the templates, select Project->Options->Autocode from the JDE menu.

#### Enabling Variable Content

Some templates optionally prompt you for items to insert into the template. To enable prompting, set the variable `tempo-interactive` to a non-`nil` value in your `.emacs` file.

#### Disabling the Control Flow Abbreviations

To disable the control flow abbreviations, set the variable `jde-gen-cflow-enable` off.

### Thanks to...

Thanks to Eric D. Friedman >friedman@lmi.net< for contributing the control flow templates.

### Dynamic Keyword Completion

Emacs provides dynamic completion commands attempt to find completions for the word at point in the current buffer or other buffers.

Example 2. Using Dynamic Completion

Suppose that the current source buffer contains the class names `Component` and `Container`. Now suppose you enter `Co` somewhere in the buffer and type M-/. The text `Component` replaces `Co` in the buffer.

Typing M-/ again changes `Component` to `Container`. In this way, you can cycle through all the possible completions for `Co` in the current buffer.

#### Dynamic Completion Commands

Emacs provides two dynamic completion commands.

The dabbrev-expand command is bound to the key combination M-/ by default. It searches the current buffer for completions of the word at point and, if none are found, other buffers of the same type. For example, if the current buffer is a Java source buffer, it searches other Java source buffers for completions if none are found in the active buffer.

The hippie-expand command provides more extensive search capabilities. See the docstrings for these functions for more information.

### Field and Method Completion

The JDE provides two commands for completing a Java field or method name at point in the current buffer.

- jde-complete-at-point (C-c-C-v-.)

- jde-complete-at-point-menu (C-c-C-v-C-.)

#### jde-complete-at-point

This command is bound to C-c-C-v-.. It finds all the fields and methods that complete the name at point. It then inserts the first potential completion in the buffer at point. Repeatedly typing C-c-C-v-. causes the JDE to cycle through the other potential completions. If the completion is a method name, the command completes the method name and displays the method signature in the minibuffer.

Example 3. Completing a String Method Name

Typing C-c-C-v-.

    	      String s;
    	      s.get
    	      ^

completes the method name at point as follows

    	      String s;
    	      s.getClass(
                  ^

and displays

    	      java.lang.Class getClass()

in the minibuffer. Repeatedly typing C-c-C-v-. cycles through all the other get methods for the Java `String` class.

This command works for all of the following cases.

- objects referenced by variables declared in the current buffer

- static fields and methods

- fields and methods of objects defined by the current class and its parent

  Names of fields and methods of the current class must start with `this` or `.` (period). Names of fields and methods declared by the parent of the current class must start with `super`.

  For example, this command completes

      		.
      		^
      		this.
      		^
      		super.
      		^

- objects referenced by the fields of objects referenced by variables declared in the current class or its parent or by static fields

  For example, this command completes

      		System.out.prin
      		^

- objects returned by methods of objects referenced by variables defined in the current

  For example, this command completes

      		Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().get
      		^

- objects referenced by method parameters

  For example, this command completes

      		void setColor(String color) {
      		color.get
      		^
      		}

The jde-complete-at-point command uses the Beanshell to run Java code that in turn uses Java's reflection (class introspection) capability to determine the fields and methods defined for the class of object at point. The command starts the Beanshell if it is not running. This can cause a noticeable delay in the execution of the command the first time it is used in a session. The response can also be slow for classes containing many methods and fields.

The completion command works only for compiled classes that reside in the classpath defined by `jde-global-classpath` when the Beanshell starts. Thus, if the command is unable to complete a method or field, make sure that the class that defines the field or method is compiled and exists on `jde-global-classpath`.

#### jde-complete-at-point-menu

This command works exactly like jde-complete-at-point except that it displays the potential completions for a field or method in a popup menu. Selecting a completion from the menu causes the command to use it to complete the method or field at point.

## Generating Code

The JDE provides the following code generation capabilities.

- Code wizards

- Code templates

### Code Wizards

The JDE provides code generation wizards that generate class-dependent code without requiring you to supply any other information than the unqualified name of the class.

The wizards use the BeanShell to run a Java utility that searches the classpath specified by `jde-global-classpath` for classes that match the unqualified name. If a wizard finds more than one class of the same unqualified name on the classpath, i.e., a class that exists in more than one package, it prompts you to select one of the classes.

### Note

A wizard starts the Beanshell interpreter if it is not already running. Thus, you may experience a slight delay when invoking a wizard for the first time in a session.

#### Import Wizard

The import wizard generates an import statement for the class name at point if an import statement does not already exist for that class. The wizard generates the import statement at the head of the source buffer.

To import the class at point, select JDE->Wizards->Import Class from the Emacs menubar or type C-c-C-v-C-z.

The import wizard searches the current classpath for classes that match the class name at point, which may be unqualified. If the import wizard finds more than one class of the same unqualified name on the current classpath, it prompts you to select one of the classes to import.

### Note

The classpath that the import wizard searches for import candidates is the classpath specified by `jde-global-classpath` when the BeanShell was last started.

The customization variable `jde-wiz-import-excluded-packages` allows you to specify a list of packages to exclude from consideration for import into the current source file. If the import wizard finds any classes on the classpath that belong to the list of prohibited packages, it removes them from the list of classes considered for import.

#### Method Override Wizard

The method override wizard generates a skeleton method that overrides a similarly named method defined by a superclass.

To override a method of a superclass:

1. Position the Emacs point at the location in the buffer where you want the generated method to appear.

   The point must be within the class that is overriding the method.

2. Select Wizards->Override Method from the JDE menu or enter M-x `jde-wiz-overrided-method`.

   The JDE prompts you to enter the name of the method to be overridden in the minibuffer.

   The name must be the name of a method defined by an ancestor of the class in which the Emacs point is located. The compiled class of the ancestor must be on the classpath specified by `jde-global-classpath`.

3. Enter the name of the method to be overridden.

   If the ancestors of the class in which you are overriding the method define more than one method of the same name, the wizard displays a dialog buffer that lists the methods. For example, Java's awt class hierarchy defines several variants of the method `repaint`. If you specify `repaint` as the method to override, the JDE displays the following dialog buffer:

   The dialog buffer lists the signature of each variant of the method you specified. Next to each signature is a radio button. The radio button of the currently selected signature contains an asterisk. To select another signature, right-click the radio button next to the variant. To confirm your selection and dismiss the dialog, right-click the [Ok] button.

4. Select the method variant you want to override and click the [Ok] button.

   The wizard inserts a skeleton implementation of the selected method at the current point in the Java source buffer.

   The wizard also inserts import statements for any classes referenced by the method that are not already imported by the containing class either explicitly or implicitly. The wizard inserts the import statements at the head of the source buffer after any existing import statements, or any package statement, or the first blank line in the buffer.

   ### Note

   The method override wizard uses the BeanShell to create the interface implementation. If the BeanShell is not currently running, the wizard starts the BeanShell. Thus, if the BeanShell is not already running, you may experience a short pause the first time you override a method.

#### Interface Wizard

This wizard creates a skeleton implementation of any interface defined on the classpath specified by `jde-global-classpath`.

To create an implementation of an interface:

1. If the interface is to be implemented by a new class, create the class in a buffer.

2. Position the Emacs point at the point in the class where you want the implementation of the interface's methods to appear.

3. Select JDE->Wizards->Implement Interface or enter M-x `jde-wiz-implement-interface`.

   The JDE prompts you to enter the name of the interface to be implemented.

4. Enter the fully qualified name of the interface, for example, `java.awt.Event.MouseListener`.

   The wizard inserts skeleton implementations of the methods declared by the interface at the current point in the current buffer. It inserts import statements for any classes required by the interface at the head of the current buffer (only if import statements do not already exist for the required classes). It also updates or creates an implements clause for the class.

### Note

The interface wizard uses the BeanShell to create the interface implementation. If the BeanShell is not currently running, it starts the BeanShell. Thus, if the BeanShell is not already running, you may experience a short pause the first time you use the wizard.

#### Delegate Wizard

This wizard generates methods that delegate calls to a class in the current buffer to an attribute of the class, i.e., to an object that is a field of the current class. For example, if the current buffer contains class `A` and `A` has an attribute, `A.b`, that is an instance of class `B`, this wizard generates all the public methods of class `B` in `A` and delegates handling of those methods to `b`.

### Thanks to...

Charles Hart for contributing this wizard.

### Code Templates

#### Buffer Templates

These commands create buffers containing a skeleton Java class. Each command prompts you to enter the path to a new Java source file. They then create a buffer for the new file and insert a template for a class of the same name as the newly created file. In particular, the command

- Files->JDE New->Class creates a buffer containing a generic Java public class.

- Files->JDE New->Console creates a buffer containing the main class of a Java console application.

- Files->JDE New->Other prompts you to create any of the above buffers or a custom (user-defined) buffer.

You can create an empty Java class buffer by selecting Files->Open (C-x f) and entering the path for a new file whose root name is the same as the class you want to create and whose extension is `.java.`

##### Specifying Boilerplate Text

You can specify boilerplate text (for example, a copyright notice) to be inserted at the head of class source files created by the JDE. The JDE provides two ways to specify the boilerplate text. The simplest way is to enter the lines of boilerplate text as the value of the customization variable `jde-gen-buffer-boilerplate`. Another way to specify the text is to set the value of the customization variable `jde-gen-boilerplate-function`to a function that generates the boilerplate text. (The default value of this variable is `jde-gen-create-buffer-boilerplate`, which returns the value of the boilerplate variable, `jde-gen-buffer-boilerplate`). The functional approach allows you to generate boilerplate text dynamically by evaluating the appropriate Lisp code. By saving the values of boilerplate variables in project files, you can specify different boilerplate text for each project.

##### Customization Variables

The following JDE customization variables control creation of autocoded Java source buffers:

Table 2.

Variable | Group | Usage
--- | --- | ---
`jde-gen-class-buffer-template` | Autocode | Template for a generic public class buffer.
`jde-gen-console-buffer-template` | Autocode | Template for a console application buffer.
`jde-gen-jfc-app-buffer-template` | Autocode | Template for a JFC (Swing) application.
`jde-gen-buffer-templates` | Autocode | Specifies templates available to create Java buffers.
`jde-gen-buffer-boilerplate` | Autocode | Specifies lines of text to be inserted at the head of class files.
`jde-gen-boilerplate-function` | Autocode | Specifies a function that returns a string of boilerplate text. The default value is `jde-gen-create-buffer-boilerplate`, which returns the value of `jde-gen-buffer-boilerplate`.

See Customizing Autocode Templates for information on how to customize the class autocode templates.

#### Point Templates

The following commands insert templates at the current point in the buffer:

- JDE->Generate->Get/Set Pair generates an instance variable and a get and set method . for that variable

- JDE->Generate->Println generates a

      System.out.println(...);

  statement.

- JDE->Generate->Action generates and registers an action listener for a specified component.

- JDE->Generate->Listener->Window generates and registers a window listener for a specified window.

- JDE->Generate->Listener->Mouse generates and registers a mouse listener for a specified component.

- JDE->Generate->Other allows you to select any of the above templates or a custom (user-defined) template.

The following variables control generation of code at point:

Table 3.

Variable | Group | Usage
--- | --- | ---
`jde-gen-get-set-var-template` | Autocode | Defines a get/set method pair template.
`jde-gen-listener-action-template` | Autocode | Defines an action listener template.
`jde-gen-listener-window-template` | Autocode | Defines a window listener template.
`jde-gen-listener-mouse-template` | Autocode | Defines a mouse listener template.
`jde-gen-inner-class-template` | Autocode | Defines a template for creating a class inside another class or inside an existing source buffer.
`jde-gen-code-templates` | Autocode | Specifies available code templates.

See

- Customizing Standard Templates for information on how to customize templates provided by the JDE.

- Creating Custom Templates for information on how to create templates from scratch.

#### Customizing Templates

You can customize the JDE's standard code templates, using the Emacs customization feature.

To customize an autocode template:

1. Select JDE->Options->Autocode

   The JDE displays a customization buffer containing the autocode templates.

2. Edit the template to suit your needs.

   The JDE uses the template format defined by `tempo.el` to represent class templates. Each template consists of a list of strings, symbols, and functions, each of which represents content to be inserted successively into the buffer at the current point. The strings represent fixed content. The symbols and functions represent variable content. See the docstring for the function `tempo-define-template` for more information, including the meaning of special symbols such as `'n`.

3. Select the state button associated with the template.

   A menu pops up with a list of options for saving your changes.

4. Save your changes.

   Select Save for Future Sessions if you want your changes to apply to all projects. If you want your changes to apply only to the current projects, select Set for Current Session. Then select JDE->Options->Save Project to save your changes in the current project's project file.

#### Creating Templates

The JDE considers any command (interactive function) that inserts code into a buffer at point to be a template. The JDE uses the Emacs tempo library to create built-in templates. You can use tempo to create your own, add-on templates (see below and the doc for the `tempo-define-template` for more information) or create templates from scratch. In either case, once you have created a template, you can add it to the JDE's lists of available code and/or buffer templates, using the JDE's `jde-gen-code-templates` and/or `jde-gen-buffer-templates` variables, respectively. Adding a template to these lists enables you to invoke the templates from the JDE menus. When adding a template, you need to specify a unique title for the template. These titles enable you to specify the templates when invoking them, using the JDE's custom code template commands (Files->JDE New->Custom and JDE->Generate->Custom). You can use auto completion to enter a template title when invoking a custom code generation command. Note that you can specify different sets of templates for different projects, by setting and saving the template list variables in project files. See the following sections for more information:

- Defining a Template and Template Insertion Function

- Registering Custom Templates

- Assigning Keys To emplates

##### Defining a Template and Template Insertion Function

The `tempo-define-template` macro enables you to define a template and a function that inserts that template at the current point in the current buffer. You specify the template as a list oftemplate elements where each element is text, a special symbol, or a Lisp expression. The function inserts each text element exactly as specified in the buffer; it replaces special symbols with some text (e.g., user input), and it replaces Lisp expressions with the text that results from evaluating them.

For example, the following Lisp code

    	      (tempo-define-template
    	      "foo"                              ;; template name
    	      '("System.out.println(\"foo\");") ;;template definition
    	      "f"                               ;; abbreviation
    	      "Inserts a print foo message")       ;; template documentation

defines a template for Java code that always prints "foo" to standard out:

    	      System.out.println("foo");

Notice that the template definition uses the Lisp string escape character to specify the string "foo". This is necessary when you want to include quoted strings in a template definition.)

The sample Lisp form also defines an interactive template function `tempo-template-foo`. Now suppose you insert the sample code in your `.emacs` file. After Emacs starts up, whenever you enter the command M-x `tempo-template-foo,` Emacs inserts

    	      System.out.println("foo");

at the current point in your Java source buffer (or any buffer, tempo doesn't care).

The preceding example is admittedly not vary useful because it always prints the same text. You can create more useful templates, using special tempo template symbols and lisp forms. This approach, for example, allows you to create a template that can print any user-defined text to standard out:

    	      (tempo-define-template
    	      "debug"                          ;; template name
    	      '("if (debug)" n>                ;; insert new line plus indent
    	      "System.out.println("
    	      (p "Enter debug message:")       ;; Prompts for debug message
    	      ");")
    	      "d"                              ;; abbreviation

    	      "Inserts a print debug message") ;; template documentation

The template function produced by this example prompts you to enter the text to be printed when inserting the function into a buffer. In particular, it inserts

    	      if (debug)
    	      System.out.println(DEBUG-MESSAGE);

where `DEBUG-MESSAGE` is any text that you enter. For example, suppose you enter

    	      "Selected color = " + color

at the prompt. The template function inserts

    	      if (debug)
    	      System.out.println("Selected color = " + color);

at the current point in the buffer.

See the documentation for `tempo-define-template` (type c-h f `tempo-define-template`) for more information on creating templates.

##### Registering Custom Templates

You can register templates that you create with the JDE. When you register a template with the JDE, it appears among the list of templates that you can select when you select JDE->Generate->Other..... You register a template by customizing the JDE variable `jde-gen-code-templates`. The value of this variable is a list of the template functions that the JDE command JDE->Generate->Other.... can invoke. To register a custom template, add its name to the list. For example, the following screen shows the customization buffer for `jde-gen-code-templates` after it has been customized to include the template defined in the previous example.

To insert a template that you have registered

1. Select JDE->Generate->Other....

   The JDE displays the prompt

       		  Enter template:

   in the minibuffer.

2. Enter the template's name and press Enter

   or,

   press the Tab key to display a list of templates in a completion buffer:

   Select the template you want by double-clicking its name.

##### Assigning Keys to Templates

You can assign templates to keyboard keys to speed use of frequently used templates. For example, insert this form

    	      (global-set-key [f9] 'jde-gen-to-string-method)

in your `.emacs` file to assign the F9 function key to the JDE template that generates a skeleton `toString` method.

##

The `jde-compile` command (JDE->Compile, Cc-Cv-Cc) compiles the Java source file in the current buffer, using `javac`, the Java compiler provided by the JDK, or another compiler that you specify (see Specifying a Compiler). The compile command displays the output of the compiler in a separate compilation buffer. If a compilation buffer does not exist, the compile command creates the buffer; otherwise, it reuses the existing compile output buffer. The compilation buffer operates in `compilation-mode`, a standard Emacs buffer mode. This mode greatly simplify locating compilation errors in the Java source code. For example, to find the line that cause a compilation error, simply click the error message in the compilation buffer.

The JDE uses the Emacs command `start-process-shell-command` to launch a Java compile process. This command in turn uses the equivalent of

          SHELL COMMAND_SWITCH javac OPTIONS BUFFER_NAME.java

to launch the compile process where `SHELL` is the command shell specified by the Emacs variable `shell-file-name` and `COMMAND_SWITCH` is the value of the Emacs variable `shell-command-switch`. You must set these variables to be compatible in your `.emacs` file. For example, if you set `shell-file-name` to `bash`, you must set `shell-command-switch` to `-c`, the command switch used by `bash`.

### Note

Compile processes are the only processes launched by JDE, using a command shell. The JDE uses the Emacs command `start-process` to launch all other processes, e.g., java, jdb, and JDEbug processes. The `start-process` launches processes as subprocesses of Emacs, without doing any wild-card expansion or environment variable substitution of command-line arguments.

## Compilation Options

The JDE allows you to specify compilation options by setting compilation variables.You must use the Emacs customization feature or, if available, JDE functions to set compilation variables. To use the customization feature, select JDE->Options->Compile. (See Configuring the JDE for more information on using the customization feature). To save the compilation settings in the project file (see Using Project Files) for the current source buffer, select JDE->Options->Update Project.

### Setting Compile Options Interactively

If you set the customization variable `jde-read-compile-args` to a non-`nil` value, the JDE compile command prompts you to enter compilation options in the minibuffer. It appends the options that you enter to the options specified via customization variables. The JDE saves the arguments that you enter in a minibuffer history list. You can recall previously entered options by pressing the up or down arrows on your keyboard.

### Note

The JDE uses the values of the JDE customization variables to set the compiler's command-line option switches. The JDE assumes that the compiler you are using (specified by the customization variable `jde-compiler`) has the same set of command-line switches as the latest version of `javac` , the compiler supplied with JavaSoft's JDK. If the command-line switch for a particular option supported by the compiler your are using is not the same as that specified by the latest version of `javac`, you must use the variable `jde-compile-option-command-line-args` to select the option.

### Customization Variables

The following table lists the JDE compilation variables and the functions used to set them.

Table 1.

Name | Group | Usage
--- | --- | ---
`jde-compiler` | Project | Specifies the compiler (javac, by default) to use to compile the code in the current source buffer. The command `jde-set-compiler` sets the buffer-local value of this option.
`jde-compile-option-command-line-` `args` | Compile | Specifies a string of command-line arguments to be passed to the compiler.
`jde-global-classpath` | Project | Specify class paths for compile, run, and debug commands.
`jde-read-compile-args` | Project | Specify whether to read compile options from the minibuffer.
`jde-compile-option-classpath` | Compile | Specifies the classpath for compile command. If set, this variable overrides `jde-global-classpath`.
`jde-compile-option-sourcepath` | Compile | Specifies the path of source files for classes required to compile the current class.
`jde-quote-classpath` | Project | Quote the classpath argument.
`jde-compile-option-directory` | Compile | Specifies the directory into which to place the compiled class.
`jde-compile-option-deprecation` | Compile | Warn of use or override of a deprecated member or class
`jde-compile-option-debug` | Compile | Generate information about local variables for debug tools.
`jde-compile-option-optimize` | Compile | Directs the compiler to try to generate faster varname.
`jde-compile-option-depend` | Compile | Analyze dependencies.
`jde-compile-option-depend-switch` | Compile | Command line switch that causes the compiler to analyze dependencies.
`jde-compile-option-vm-args` | Compile | Specify command-line arguments for Java interpreter used to run the compiler.
`jde-compile-option-verbose-path` | Compile | Print verbose messages.
`jde-compile-option-verbose` | Compile | List directories searched to compile current class.
`jde-compile-option-nowarn` | Compile | Turn off warnings.
`jde-compile-option-encoding` | Compile | Specify the source file encoding name, such as EUCJIS\SJIS.
`jde-compile-option-target` | Compile | Generate code compatible with a specified vm version.
`jde-compile-option-bootclasspath` | Compile | Specify classpath of standard libraries for target vm.
`jde-compile-option-bootclasspath` | Compile | Specify path of directories containing extensions for target vm.

## Building Java Applications

The JDE->Build command builds or rebuilds an application. This command has two operating modes: java and make. In java mode, this command uses javac's built-in make (`-depend`) facility to rebuild a project. In make mode, this command uses a user-specified make utility, such as GNU make, to rebuild a project. See Sample Makefile for an example of a makefile for building a Java project. JDE configuration variables control which mode is used. In particular, if the variable `jde-build-use-make` is non-`nil`, this command invokes the make program specified by the variable `jde-make-program`. If the variable `jde-make-args` is a non-empty string, this function uses its contents to invoke make; otherwise, it prompts you to enter command-line arguments for make. If `jde-build-use-make` is `nil`, this function invokes javac on the source file for the class specified by `jde-run-app-class`, with the `-depend` option. This causes javac to recompile all missing or out-of-date files required to run the application's main class. JDE finds the source for your application's main class by searching the directories specified by `jde-db-source-directories`. Thus, you must set this variable to use the Java build mode.

## Build Options

The following table summarizes the usage of the build configuration variables.

Table 1.

Name | Group | Usage
--- | --- | ---
`jde-build-use-make` | Project | A non-nil values causes the JDE to use a make utility (specified by `jde-make-program`) to execute the JDE->Build command. A nil values causes the JDE to use `javac` with the `-depend` option to execute the JDE->Build command.
`jde-make-program` | Project | Specifies the name of the make utility used to execute the JDE->Build command. The default values is `make`.
`jde-make-args` | Project | Specifies a string of command-line arguments (for example, "`-f mymakefile all`") to be passed to the make utility used to execute the JDE->Build command. If the null string (""), the JDE prompts the user to enter the command-line arguments in the minibuffer.

### Sample Makefile

The following is a sample makefile that you can use as a model for creating makefiles to build Java projects.

    	  JDK = d:/jdk1.2/lib/classes.zip
    	  JMATH = d:/jmath/src
    	  CLASSPATH = $(JMATH);$(JDK)
    	  COMPILER = javac
    	  VM = java
    	  COPTIONS = -g -deprecation
    	  ROPTIONS =

    	  CLASSES = Test.class \
              JMathError.class \
              JMathException.class \
              LinearSystem.class

    	  .SUFFIXES: .java .class

    	  all : $(CLASSES)

    	  # Rebuild (if necessary) and run the JMath test suite.

    	  run: $(CLASSES)
    	  $(VM) -classpath "$(CLASSPATH)" jmath.Test

    	  # Remove all class files from the project directory.
    	  clean:
    	  rm *.class

    	  # Implicit rule for making Java class files from Java

    	  # source files.
    	  .java.class:
    	  $(COMPILER) $(COPTIONS) -classpath "$(CLASSPATH)" $?

## Running Java Applications

The JDE allows you to run a Java application as an Emacs subprocess. You can run multiple applications concurrently, but only one instance of each application at a time. The JDE displays each application's standard and error output in an Emacs command interface (`comint`) buffer. You can interact with applications that accept command line input via the `comint` buffer. When interacting with an application, you can use any of `comint-mode`'s extensive set of command-line history commands to speed interaction. To run an application, enter

          M-x jde-run

or select Java->Run App from the Emacs menubar or type C-c C-v C-r.

## Specifying the Application's Main Class

The term main class refers to the class that contains the application's main method. The JDE's Run App command assumes by default that the class in the current buffer is the application's main class. This can be inconvenient if you have an application that has multiple classes. You may want to be able to run the application from any buffer containing one of the application's classes. To do this, set the variable `jde-run-application-class` to the fully qualified name of the application's main class.

You can temporarily override the setting of `jde-run-application-class` by typing `C-u` before executing the jde-run command, for example, by typing `C-u C-c C-r`. This causes the JDE to prompt you to enter the fully qualified name of the application's main class.

## Specifying a Startup Directory

The JDE can start an application from any directory that you specify. By default, the JDE starts an application from the default directory of the current source buffer. The default directory of the current source buffer is the directory containing the source file displayed in the buffer. You can specify another directory as the startup directory by setting the JDE customization variable `jde-run-working-directory`.

To set this variable,

1. Display its customization panel.

   You can do this by typing

   M-x `customize-variable` `jde-run-working-directory`

   or selecting JDE->Options->Project to display the project customization panel and searching this panel for `jde-run-working-directory`.

2. Enter the working directory in the variable's edit field.

3. Save the new setting.

   To save the edited bindings, right click the [State] button and choose Set for current session if you want the settings to apply only to the current project or Save for future sessions if you want the settings to apply to all projects. In either case, you should save the new settings in you project file if your project has a project file. To save the new settings in your project file, switch to a source buffer and choose JDE->Options->Save Project.

## Setting VM Command-Line Arguments

If you set the customization variable `jde-run-read-vm-args` to a non-`nil` value, the JDE compile command prompts you to enter virtual machine options in the minibuffer. It appends the options that you enter to the options specified via customization variables. The JDE saves the arguments that you enter in a minibuffer history list. You can recall previously entered options by pressing the up or down arrows on your keyboard.

## Setting Command-Line Application Arguments

If you set the customization variable `jde-run-read-app-args` to a non-`nil` value, the JDE compile command prompts you to enter command-line application arguments in the minibuffer. It appends the options that you enter to the arguments specified via the customization variable `jde-run-option-application-args`. The JDE saves the arguments that you enter in a minibuffer history list. You can recall previously entered options by pressing the up or down arrows on your keyboard.

## Navigating Exception Traces

If an exception occurs while your program is running, the Java vm outputs an exception trace. This trace appears in the run buffer for the application.

To view the source line corresponding to a point in the exception stack trace, right-click the corresponding stack trace line in the run buffer. You can move up and down the stack trace by typing the key combinations `C-c C-v C-[` or `C-c C-v C-]`.

## Run Customization Variables

The JDE allows you to specify run-time options by setting run variables.You can use the Emacs customization feature to set run-time variables interactively. To use the customization feature, select JDE->Project->Options->Run. (See Configuring the JDE for more information on using the customization feature). To save the compilation settings in the project file (see Using Project Files) for the current source buffer, select JDE-> Project->Project File->Save Project.

The following table lists the JDE run variables and the functions used to set them.

Table 1.

Variable | Group | Usage
--- | --- | ---
`jde-run-mode-hook` | Project | List of hook functions run by `jde-run-mode`
`jde-run-working-directory` | Project | Startup directory for running or debugging Java applications.
`jde-run-application-class` | Project | Name of the Java class to run. The command `jde-run-set-app` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.
`jde-run-java-vm` | Project | Specify Java interpreter for non-Windows platforms. The command `jde-run-set-vm` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.
`jde-run-java-vm-w` | Project | Specify Java interpreter for Windows platforms. The command `jde-run-set-vm-w` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.
`jde-global-classpath` | Project | Specify class paths for compile, run, and debug commands. The command`jde-set-global-classpath` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.
`jde-run-classic-mode-vm` | Project | Specifies that the JDE should run the JDK's classic version of the Java virtual machine (as opposed to the HotSpot version). This option applies only to versions of the JDK that include both a classic and a HotSpot vm.
`jde-run-read-vm-args` | Project | Specifies whether to read vm arguments from the minibuffer.
`jde-run-option-classpath` | Run | Specifies the classpath for the Java interpreter. This option overrides the jde-global-classpath option.
`jde-run-option-verbose` | Run | Print messages about the running process.
`jde-run-option-properties` | Run | Specify property values.
`jde-run-option-heap-size` | Run | Specify the initial and maximum size of the interpreter heap.
`jde-run-option-stack-size` | Run | Specify size of the C and Java stacks.
`jde-run-option-garbage-` `collection` | Run | Specify garbage collection options.
`jde-run-option-java-profile` | Run | Enable Java profiling.
`jde-run-option-heap-profile` | Run | Output heap profiling data.
`jde-run-option-verify` | Run | Verify classes.
`jde-run-option-vm-args` | Run | Specify command-line arguments to be passed to the Java vm. The command jde-run-set-args sets the buffer-local value of this variable.
`jde-run-option-application-args` | Run | Specify command-line arguments to pass to the application. The command `jde-run-set-app-args` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.

## Working with Applets

The JDE provides specialized commands for running and debugging applets.

## Running Applets

To run an applet:

1. Open the applet's source file in a buffer.

2. Choose JDE->Run Applet.

   The JDE searches for an html file in the directory containing the applet source file and displays the first file it finds, using your system's default browser. If the JDE cannot find an html page in the applet's source file directory, it signals an error by default.

The JDE->Run Applet command assumes by default that the directory containing the applet's source also contains an html page for testing that applet. If this is not true in your case, you have two options. You can either specify the path of the applet file via the JDE customization variable `jde-run-applet-doc` or you can use the `jde-run-applet` command to run your applet. If the `jde-run-applet-doc` variable is not a null string, JDE->Run Applet displays the document that the variable specifies instead of searching the source file directory for a document to display. The `jde-run-applet` command prompts you to enter in the minibuffer the path of an html file to display. If you enter nothing, the command defaults to the behavior of JDE->Run Applet.

The run commands chooses the viewer as follows. If `jde-run-applet-viewer` is a null string (the default) or browse-url, the JDE uses browse-url to launch the applet doc in your system's default browser. Otherwise, the menu command uses comint to launch the viewer (e.g., appletviewer) specified by `jde-run-applet-viewer`.

## Debugging Applets

To debug an applet:

1. Open the applet's source file in a buffer.

2. Choose JDE->Debug Applet.

   The JDE searches for an html file in the directory containing the applet source file. If the JDE cannot find an html page in the applet's source file directory, it signals an error by default. Otherwise, it runs appletviewer in debug mode on the first file that it finds.

   The Emacs window splits into two panes.

The top pane shows the applet's source file with the debug cursor pointing to the first line of the applet's init file. The bottom pane displays the debugger's command line interface. You can now set breakpoints, single-step, or continue running the applet. See Debugging Applications for more information.

If you want to specify the document to be used to test the applet, customize the variable jde-run-applet-doc or execute `M-x jde-db-applet`. This command prompts you to enter the test document's name.

## Applet Customization Variables

The JDE allows you to specify run-time options for applets by setting JDE configuration variables.You must use the Emacs customization feature to set applet run-time variables . To use the customization feature, select JDE->Options->Run. (See Configuring the JDE for more information on using the customization feature). In some cases, the JDE also provides functions for setting the buffer-local values of the compilation variables. To save the compilation settings in the project file (see Using Project Files) for the current source buffer, select JDE->Options->Update Project.

The following table lists the JDE applet run-time variables and the functions used to set them.

Table 1.

Variable | Group | Usage
--- | --- | ---
`jde-run-applet-viewer` | Project | Specify name of viewer to use to display page containing the applet. The command `jde-run-set-applet-viewer` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.
`jde-run-applet-doc` | Project | Specify name of document containing applet to be viewed. The command `jde-run-set-applet-doc` sets the buffer-local value of this variable.

## Debugging Applications

The JDE provides two options for debugging Java applications.

- An Emacs interface to jdb, the command-line debugger that comes with the JDK. See Debugging with jdb for more information.

- JDEbug, a Java debugger developed specifically for use with the JDE. See JDEbug User's Guide for more information

JDEbug provides more debugging features but requires a JDK 1.2 or higher vm. You must use jdb to debug applications running on earlier vms.

## Specifying Classpaths

The JDE provides customization variables that permit you to specify a classpath for the JDE's compile, run, debug, Beanshell, and other commands. The following table lists these variables.

Table 1. Classpath Variables

Variable | Applies To ...
--- | ---
`jde-global-classpath` | All JDE commands that use a classpath.
`jde-compile-option-classpath` | Compile command
`jde-run-option-classpath` | Run App command
`jde-db-option-classpath` | Debug App command

The `jde-global-classpath` variable is so named because it specifies a classpath that is used by all JDE commands unless overridden by a classpath variable specific to a particular command. For example, the JDE's Compile command uses `jde-global-classpath` unless the value of `jde-compile-option-classpath` is set. Typically you want to use the same classpath to compile, run, and debug an application. So typically `jde-global-classpath` is the only variable you need to set.

## Setting a Classpath Variable

As with other JDE customization variables, you must use Emacs' customize-variable command to set the JDE's classpath variables. You can use relative paths, cygwin paths, and paths with tilde notation and environment variables as values of JDE classpath variables. See Specifying Paths for more information.

When setting a classpath variable, you must enter each path as a separate entry in the customization buffer. Do not enter the paths as semicolon or colon-separated lists of paths. The following examples show the right and wrong way to specify a classpath.

Example 1. Wrong Way to Specify a Classpath

    	  jde-global-classpath: [Hide]
    	  [INS] [DEL] Path: c:/jde-dev/jmath/classes;c:/jde-dev/jmath/src
    	  [INS]
    	  [State]: this option has been set and saved.

Example 2. Right Way to Specify a Classpath

    	  jde-global-classpath: [Hide]
    	  [INS] [DEL] Path: c:/jde-dev/jmath/classes
    	  [INS] [DEL] Path: c:/jde-dev/jmath/src
    	  [INS]
    	  [State]: this option has been set and saved.

## Including Class Libraries

If you store your class libraries as jar or zip files in separate directory, you need specify only the path of the directory in a JDE classpath variable. Whenever the JDE encounters a library directory in a classpath variable, it expands the classpath to include all the jar and zip files in the library directory.

For example, suppose you organize your project directory as follows:

    	  myproj
    	    classes
    	    lib
    	    src

where the `src` directory contains all of your source files, the `lib` directory all of your jar and zip files, and the `classes` directory all of the classes compiled from the `src` directory. Further, suppose you store your project file (see Using Project Files) at the root of your project directory. Then, you can specify `jde-global-classpath` simply as follows.

    	  jde-global-classpath: [Hide]
    	  [INS] [DEL] Path: ./classes
    	  [INS] [DEL] Path: ./src
    	  [INS] [DEL] Path: ./lib
    	  [INS]
    	  [State]: this option has been set and saved.

If you do not want the JDE to expand library directories, set the variable `jde-expand-classpath-p` off. The JDE expands directories whose names match the regular expression specified by `jde-lib-directory-name`. The default value of this variable is `lib`. So by default, the JDE expands names that contain the string `lib`, e.g., `lib`, `mylib`, `utility_lib`, etc. However, you can customize `jde-lib-directory-name` to reflect any library naming scheme you prefer.

## Using Project Files

A project file is a Lisp file that the JDE loads and evaluates whenever you open a Java source file belonging to a specific project. Project files allow you to save and restore project-specific JDE configurations. For example, you can use a project file to set the value of the `jde-global-classpath` variable to a project-specific classpath automatically whenever you load a file belonging to that project.

## How the JDE Finds Project Files

To simplify the task of finding project files, the JDE makes two assumptions. First, it assumes that all Java source files relating to a particular project live in a single directory tree. Second, it assumes that all project files have the same file name. The name assumed by default is `prj.el`. You can use the JDE configuration variable `jde-project-file-name` to specify another name.

When you open a Java source file, the JDE looks for project files in the directory tree containing the source file. If the JDE finds one or more project files, it loads the project files in the following manner.

The JDE first sets all the JDE variables to their Emacs startup values (i.e., the default value or the value saved in your `.emacs` file). It then loads all the project files in the directory tree containing the current source buffer, starting with the topmost file.

What this means is that you can use project files to extend and/or override the settings in your `.emacs` file and in other project files. For example, your `.emacs` file can specify settings that are common to all your projects. You can put settings common to a group of projects at the top of the directory tree containing the projects, settings common to each project at the top of the directory containing each projects, and so on.

## Project File Contents

A project file can contain any Lisp code that can be evaluated correctly as the last step in creating a Java source buffer. For example, a project file can contain code that sets the value of JDE configuration variables. In general, a project file can contain any code that could be implemented as a `jde-mode` hook function. In fact, you can think of a project file as a project-specific `jde-mode` hook function.

## Creating a Project File

The easiest way to create a project file is to use the `jde-save-project` command (JDE->Project->Project File->Save Project). This command saves the current values of all customized JDE configuration variables in the project file for the selected Java buffer. (To be precise, the command inserts Lisp code in the project file that restores the current settings of the configuration variables; if such code already exists in the file, it replaces it with updated code.) If the project file does not exist, the command creates the project file. Thus, to create a project file that sets JDE configuration variables to project-specific values:

1. Open any source file belonging to the project.

2. Set the values of the JDE configuration variables to the appropriate values for the project to which the source file belongs.

3. See Configuring the JDE for information on how to set the values of the JDE configuration variables.

4. Select JDE->Project->Project File->Save Project.

5. The JDE prompts you to enter the path to a directory in which to store the project file.

6. Enter the directory where you want to store the project file or press Enter to store the project file in the current directory.

Once you have created the project file, you can insert additional configuration code into the file if desired. Note that the `jde-save-project` command edits rather than replaces existing project files. Thus, you can use the command to update configuration variable settings without disturbing any other configuration code that you have inserted manually into the project file.

## Creating Portable Projects

You can use relative paths and environment variables to construct portable project files. For example, suppose your project directory has the following structure:

        myprj
          classes
            pkg1
            pkg2
          src
            pkg1
            pkg2
          prj.el

Further suppose that your project uses beans from a shared library specified by the environment variable `BEANS`. With this setup, you can specify `jde-global-classpath` as

          ./src
          ./classes
          $BEANS/lib/dials.jar

and `jde-compile-option-directory` as

          ./classes

This causes the JDE to store classes compiled from your src directory in the classes directory. Note that you have not used any absolute paths in creating your project file. This means you can move your project anywhere without having to update the project file.

## Disabling Context Switching

When you select a buffer that belongs to another project, the JDE loads the project file for that project and may update the class list for the project. This causes a slight delay before you can begin using the new buffer. The delay can be irritating if you need to switch frequently among open projects, for example, when copying or diffing code from different projects. Accordingly, the JDE provides ways for you to disable context-switching either permanently or temporarily.

To disable context-switching permanently, toggle the customizat variable `jde-project-context-switching-enabled-p` off. Be sure to use customize to do this and save the customization in your `.emacs` or `prj.el` file. Note that you can use the JDE's project file loading command, JDE->Project->Project File->Load, to switch contexts manually.

To disable context-switching temporarily during a session, select JDE->Project->Auto Switch or enter `M-x jde-toggle-project-context-switching`. To reenable context-switching, execute the same command again.

## Displaying Java Documentation

The JDE provides commands for displaying the JDK API documentation and context-sensitive help for classes.

## Browsing JDK Documentation

The `jde-browse-jdk-doc` command (JDE->Browse JDK Doc, C-c C-v C-n) opens the JDK documentation in a browser. By default, this command displays the JDK documentation page at JavaSoft's web site. To display a different copy, set the variable `jde-jdk-doc-url` to the url of the index page of the copy you want to be displayed.

## Context-Sensitive Class Help

The JDK provides context-sensitive help for Java classes. To use this facility, you must first customize the variable `jde-help-docsets` to specify the location of class documentation on your system. The JDE class help facility supports javadoc documentation by default but it works with other types of documentation as well.

Once you have specified the location of class documentation on your system, you can get help for the class at point in the current buffer by selecting JDE->Help->Symbol at Point .

## Browsing Source Code

The JDE provides the following facilities for browsing Java source code:

- `jde-show-class-source` command

- Classes index menu

- Speedbar

- Etags

## jde-show-class-source Command

The `jde-show-class-source` command (C-c C-v C-y) finds and opens the Java source file for the class whose qualified or unqualified name appears at point.

### Note

The JDE uses Java reflection to determine the fully qualified name of the class at point. Therefore, the class must be on `jde-global-classpath`.

If more than one class with the same name exists on `jde-global-classpath`, this command prompts you to select one of the classes. The following conditions must be true for this command to work. First, a class file for this class must exist on the cclasspath specified by `jde-global-classpath`. Secondly, the source for the class must exist on one of the paths specified by `jde-db-source-directories`. This command uses the Beanshell to determine the fully qualified name of the class to be found. It starts the Beanshell if necessary. Thus, the command may respond somewhat slowly the first time you it in a session.

## Classes Index Menu

The Classes index menu appears by default in the Emacs menubar whenever a Java source buffer is active. The menu consists of a cascading list of all classes, methods, fields, and imports defined in the current buffer plus the package to which the current buffer belongs. Selecting any item scrolls the buffer to the statement that defines the item.

The top-level menu contains an entry for each each class defined by the active buffer followed by entries for the imports and package of the current buffer. Selecting the entry for a class displays a submenu listing the inner classes, methods, and fields defined by the class. Selecting the entry for an inner class displays another submenu for that class, and so on. Selecting the imports entry on the top-level menu displays a submenu listing all the classes and packages imported by the active buffer.

### Special Index Entries

The index menu includes the following special index entries:

- *Rescan*

  Selecting this item causes the JDE to rebuild the index menu. You should rebuild the menu whenever you edit the buffer.

- *class def*

  Selecting this item takes you to the start of the definition of the class on whose submenu it appears. Turn the variable `jde-imenu-include-classdef` off to suppress inclusion of these items in the menu.

### Alphabetizing the Classes Menu

By default the Classes menu lists methods and fields in the order in which the active buffer defines them. Use the variable `jde-imenu-sort` to customize the menu to list methods and fields alphabetically in either ascending or descending order.

### Suppressing Method Signatures and Field Types

By default the Classes menu displays the signatures of methods and the types of fields displayed in the active buffer. The method signatures enable you to distinguish overloaded method names. The menu can also display the names of methods and fields without signatures and types. Use the variable `jde-imenu-include-signature` to turn signature and type display off or on.

### Disabling the Classes Menu

Set the variable `jde-imenu-enable` off to disable the Classes menu. When disabled, the menu does not appear in the Emacs menubar.

## Using the Speedbar

To display the speedbar, select JDE-> Speedbar. The speedbar opens in a separate frame.

The speedbar displays a list of the files and subdirectories in the directory containing the file displayed in the current buffer. The speedbar highlights the file displayed in the current buffer.

Click on the expand (+) button in front of any file. The node for the file expands

to show up to three entries, depending on the contents of the source file.

### Package

This item expands to show the package to which the file belongs.

Clicking on the package scrolls the buffer to the corresponding package declaration.

### Types

This item expands to show the classes in the selected file.

Each class expands to show the constructors, methods, fields, and inner classes defined by the class and the class's parent, if any. Inner classes also expand and their inner classes, and so on. The constructors and methods expand to show arguments and argument types and return types. Fields expand to show their type.

Clicking on any class, inner class, method, constructor, or field scrolls the buffer to show that item.

### Dependencies

Click on class or package to scroll the buffer to the corresponding import statement.

### Updating the Speedbar

If you make changes to a source buffer, you must update the speedbar view to reflect the changes. To update the speedbar view of a buffer:

1. Collapse the speedbar view of the buffer.

   This is necessary only if the speedbar view is expanded. To collapse the speedbar view, click the collapse button (-) next to the buffer's file name in the speedbar view.

2. Hold the shift key down while clicking the expand button (+) next to the buffer's name in the speedbar view.

## Tags

To use the `etags` facility, you must first construct a TAGS file that indexes every symbol in your source code. The JDE package contains two shell scripts that you can use to tag your source code, one for csh shells and the other for bash. The bash version is called jtags; the csh version, jtags.csh.

### Tagging Java Source Code

To tag your source code, first copy the appropriate shell script to a directory in your Emacs path. Then start a shell (M-x shell). Change to the top-level directory containing your source code and then enter jtags. The jtags script tags every `.java` file in the current directory and in all descendants of the current directory, storing the result in a file called `TAGS` in the top-level directory.

### Finding the Definition of a Symbol

To find the definition of a symbol, put your cursor anywhere in the symbol and enter M-.. Emacs responds by locating and opening (if necessary) the file containing the definition and positioning the point at the definition. (The first time you type M-., Emacs prompts you to load the `TAGS` file.)

## Customizing the JDE

This section describes various ways you can customize the JDE.

## Customization Variables

JDE customization variables allow you to specify compile, run, debug, and other JDE options.

### Note

The traditional way of customizing Emacs is to use `setq` forms to set the values of customization variables in the Emacs initialization (`.emacs`) file. This method does not work for JDE customization variables. To set a JDE customization variable, you must use the customization buffer for a variable (see the Emacs online manual for information on the customization feature). This is because the JDE context switching code resets all JDE customization variables to their default or customized (via a custom buffer) values whenever you open a Java source file or switch projects.

The following section explains how to use the Emacs customization feature to set the value of a JDE customization variable.

## Setting a Variable

To set a JDE customization variable:

1. Determine the name of the variable you want to customize.

   Refer to the section of this guide that documents the feature you want to customize for the name of the corresponding variable. Or type C-h v followed by the JDE group prefix (`jde-`) or subgroup prefix (e.g., `jde-compile-option-`, see JDE Customization Groups). Emacs displays all variables belonging to the JDE group or subgroup. You can then browse this list, using Emacs search, completion, and documentation display command, to find the applicable variable.

2. Display a customization buffer for the variable.

   If you know the name of the variable, the easiest way to display a customization buffer for the variable is to select Help->Customize->Specific Option... from the Emacs menubar or type M-x `customize-variable`. If you know the group to which the variable belongs (.e.g., compile options), you can display the customization buffer for the group. This is useful when you want to customize several related variables. See JDE Customization Groups for more information.

3. Edit the value for the variable displayed in the customization buffer.

4. Save the value for the variable in your `.emacs` or `.prj` file.

   If you want the setting to apply to all projects that do not have a project file (see Using Project Files), you should save the variable in your `.emacs` file. To save the variable in your `.emacs` file, select Save for Future Sessions from the State menu for the variable in the customization buffer.

   If you want the setting to apply only to a particular project, you should save the setting in the `.prj` file for that project. To do this, open a source file from that project, select Set for Current Session from the State menu for the variable, select the source buffer, and select JDE->Project->Project Files->Save (C-c C-v C-p) from the Emacs menubar.

   ### Note

   If a project file does exist for the project, the JDE will prompt you to enter a name for the project. It then creates a project file for the project with the name that you enter.

## Specifying Paths

You can use paths containing environment variables and or a tilde (~), cygwin paths, and relative paths as a value of any JDE customization variable that requires a path.

### Environment Variables

The JDE accepts paths that contain envirnoment variables, for example,

    	    $JDK_HOME/src

The JDE replaces the environment variables with their actual values before passing the paths to commands (e.g., javac) that require them. You must use Unix notation (i.e., `$VARNAME` or `${VARNAME}`) to specify an environment variable in a path even on Windows.

### Tilde (~) Notation

The JDE accepts paths that begin with a tilde, for example, `~/myproj/classes`. The JDE replaces the tilde with the path to your home directory.

### Relative Paths

A relative path is a path that begins with a period, for example, `./src`. If `jde-resolve-relative-paths` is set to a non-nil value (the default), the JDE converts a relative path to an absolute path by appending the relative path to the path of the project file that set the path variable, or if no such file exists, to the path of the current Java source buffer.

### Cygwin Paths

You can use cygwin style paths in JDE classpath variables on Windows. The JDE converts such paths to DOS paths before using them, using a conversion function that you can specify.

The jde-cgywin-path-converter variable allows you to choose the path conversion function used by the JDE.

- `jde-cygwin-path-converter-internal`

  This is the default path conversion function used by the JDE. It converts any paths of the form `//[a-z]/` or `//cygdrive/[a-z]/` to the corresponding DOS form. For example it converts `/c/jde/java/classes` to `c:/jde/java/classes`.

- `jde-cygwin-path-converter-cygpath`

  This function invokes the cygwin `cygpath` utility to perform the path conversion. The advantage is that the cygwin path utility can recognize and convert Unix style paths that represent mount points in the cygwin mount table. For example, suppose that you have mounted `d:/javadev` as `/javadev` in the cygwin mount table. Then choosing `jde-cygwin-path-converter-cygpath` allows you to use paths beginning with `/javadev` in JDE classpaths. The drawback is that the conversion is slow as it requires running the cygwin utility for each Unix-style path to be converted.

- A custom conversion function that you supply.

## JDE Customization Groups

The JDE defines a top-level customization group, the JDE Group, for JDE customization variables. The JDE Group itself contains the following subgroups:

### Compile Option Group

Specifies compile options corresponding to the command-line arguments (e.g., -d) accepted by the JDK compiler, javac. When you execute the JDE compile command, the JDE uses the settings of this group to construct a list of command-line arguments that it passes to the Java compiler that the JDE uses to compile Java source programs. The compiler is itself an option that you can specify (see the Project Option Group). You can specify command-line arguments directly by setting the value of the `jde-compile-option-command-line-args` variable. You can display the customization buffer for the Compile Option Group by selecting JDE-> Project->Options->Compile from the Emacs menubar.

### Run Option Group

Specifies run-time options corresponding to the command-line arguments (for example, -classpath) accepted by the JDK virtual machine, java. When you execute the JDE Run command, the JDE uses the settings of this group to construct a list of command-line arguments that it passes to the Java interpreter used by the JDE to run applications. This group also contains options for specifying non-java command-line arguments (in case you want to use a VM that accepts a different set of arguments than java does) and for specifying arguments to be passed to the application (as opposed to the virtual machine interpreting the application.) You can display the customization buffer for the Run Option Group by selecting JDE->Project->Options->Run from the Emacs menubar.

### Debug Option Group

Specifies run-time options corresponding to the command-line arguments (for example, -classpath) accepted by the JDK debugger, jdb. jdb accepts the same command-line arguments as java. However, the JDE maintains two parallel sets of configuration variables for these programs in case you want to use a different set of options for running a program in debug mode then you use for running it normally. When you execute the JDE Debug command, the JDE uses the settings of this group to construct a list of command-line arguments that it passes to the Java debugger used by the JDE to run applications in debug mode. You can display the customization buffer for the Debug Option Group by selecting JDE->Project->Options->Debug from the Emacs menubar.

### Autocode Group

Specifies templates used to generate code automatically.

### General Options Group

Specify all other JDE options. You can display the customization buffer for the General Option Group by selecting JDE->Project->Options->General from the Emacs menubar.

## Customizing jde-mode

The JDE defines a major mode, named jde-mode, for editing Java source files. This mode derives from the standard Emacs Java source editing mode java-mode. In particular, it inherits all the functions and customization variables defined by java-mode and adds its own customization variables. When you load a Java source file, Emacs runs a JDE mode initialization function called jde-mode. The jde-mode function in turn calls the Java mode intialization function, java-mode. The last thing that jde-mode does before returning is to call a JDE mode function, if it exists. You can customize the JDE by defining a JDE mode hook function in your .emacs file. The following is an example of how to do this:

          (defun my-jde-mode-hook ()
          (message "my-jde-mode-hook function executed"))
           (add-hook 'jde-mode-hook 'my-jde-mode-hook)

The preceding example defines a JDE mode hook function named my-jde-mode-hook and adds it to the list of JDE mode hook functions, using the Emacs Lisp function add-hook. Now, whenever you open a Java source file, jde-mode invokes the function my-jde-mode-hook. Of course, the hook function defined in this example is trivial. A real-world example might do something more useful, such as setting a custom indentation style.

## Customizing Key Bindings

A key binding establishes an equivalence between a keystroke or a sequence of keystrokes and an interactive Lisp function. The keystroke or keystroke combination causes Emacs to execute the function to which the keystroke (combination) is bound. For example, the JDE by default binds the keystroke C-c C-v C-c to the function `jde-compile`. You can use the JDE customization facility to change the standard JDE bindings or create bindings for functions that do not have default bindings.

To customize key bindings:

1. Open a buffer on the JDE customization variable `jde-key-bindings`.

   You can do this by typing M-x `customize-variable` `jde-key-bindings` or by selecting JDE->Options->Project and searching the resulting JDE project customization buffer for `jde-key-bindings`.

   The key bindings panel looks like this:

2. Edit the buffer to specify altered or new bindings.

   For example, to add a binding, right click the [INS] button, then enter the key stroke in the Key field and the interactive function (command) to which it is bound in the Command field.

3. Save the edited bindings.

   To save the edited bindings, right click the [State] button and choose Set for current session if you want the settings to apply only to the current project or Save for future sessionsif you want the settings to apply to all projects. In either case, you should save the new settings in you project file if your project has a project file. To save the new settings in your project file, switch to a source buffer and choose JDE-> Options->Save Project from the Emacs menubar.