Beautify / Format Java code in Visual Studio Code

Question

I have tried some proposals on here and here, but none of them works. How do you accomplish it for Java code or is there a way for general? En passant, I've install XML formatter in order that it may work, but not.

Answer 1

Formatting a JAVA Document in VSCode requires one to follow the below steps:

1. Install the plugin: Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat from the Extensions window in VSCode.

   • You can open the Extensions window from the left aligned sidebar or simply by pressing Ctrl + Shift + X

2. Post Installation, from the required page with JAVA code

   • Right Click and choose Format Document With..
   • In the command pallette that opens up on top, select Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat option

The Java Document should be now properly formatted.

PS: Trying Alt+Shift+F may not work for users who have set their default formatter as Prettier - Code formatter or alike. By default, java formatting is not supported by it.
If Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat is the only formatter plugin installed, then Alt+Shift+F might work for you.

If you wish to bind Alt+Shift+F to format your JAVA Document,
then you can add the below configuration to your settings.json by:

1. Pressing Ctrl+, to open your Settings
2. From Top Right Corner, select Open Settings(JSON) either for User or Workspace settings.
3. Append the below JSON property to it and save:

    "[java]": {
        "editor.defaultFormatter": "redhat.java",
      },

Answer 2

For proper formatting, you need to install a VSCode extension that provides Java formatting. Try this one from Redhat: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=redhat.java

After the extension is installed, that standard code format commands / shotcuts should work for Java code.