IntelliJ IDEA auto-completion for collection type declaration with generics

Question

I'm trying to figure out how it would be more efficient to type a declaration of a collection type with a generic.

Typing:

List<

Automatically expands to:

List<|>

(cursor position is marked with "|")

Typing

List<St|>

using the autocomplete it gets to

List<String|>

notice the cursor position

Now the question: how could it be possible to get to the following state without using the arrow keys:

List<String> |

Ideally, id like to use statement autocompletion for this, but it rather jumps to the new line which is not desired in this situation.

Answer 1

Why don't you make a Live Template for yourself?

For example, go to Live Templates, add a new template under other, give it an abbreviation list, a description as you like, and enter the template text:

List<$TYPE$> $VAR$ = new $END$

Where it says No applicable contexts, define: Java -> Statement

Now click Edit variables and bind as follows

TYPE -> expectedType()
VAR -> suggestVariableName()

Et voila. The keypresses are now: list tab St enter enter (varname) enter

result, with cursor:

List<String> myvar = new |

And from here you can hit ctrl-shift-space to autocomplete like so:

List<String> myvar = new ArrayList<>(|);

Hope this helps :)