IntelliJ IDEA not recognizing .feature files

Question

I have installed the cucumber-java and gherkin plugins in IntelliJ IDEA but when I create a .feature file it is not recognized as a feature file. I did restart IntelliJ and have checked to make sure the plugins are enabled in the plugins settings window.feature file in IntelliJ

Answer 1

Check File -> Settings -> Editor -> File Types and click on the Text file type. Look at the Registered Patterns section below and verify that the file you're trying to create is not in the list of recognized patterns for Text file types.

This might happen if you created the file without initially giving it the .feature extension. If you do that and then try to add the extension afterwards IntelliJ will probably still think it's a text file and will not treat it as a feature file. This was the fix for me.

If you're seeing IntelliJ recognizing your intended feature file as some other type of file then check the recognized patterns for that file type and verify again that the file you're trying to create is NOT in that list.

See http://www.gisremotesensing.com/2014/11/solution-intellij-not-recognizing.html

For some setups, this is only half the story. Once, you have removed the old file type; now follow the steps:

• Select "Cucumber scenario" in the "Recognized file types"
• In the "Registered patterns" box click the "+" and type "*.feature"

Now you are all set. The feature files will be back to normal.

Answer 2

InjelliJ IDEA 2021.1.2

I had my feature filename listed under Settings > Editor > File Types > Auto-Detect file type by content. Removed it and its all working.

Answer 3

Navigate to the settings from File option at menu then -> Editor -> File Types --> Select Cucumber scenario (Recognized file types ) observe that if Registered patterns has *.feature if not then click on + icon and add *.feature in Registered patterns. Apply changes and save. It solved my problem of .feature file. Thanks!

Answer 4

If you have Substeps IntelliJ Plugin enabled then that might be the issue. you will need to remove and restart.

Answer 5

Check Settings->Editor->File Types. Verify that Cucumber Scenario is set to a Registered Pattern of *.feature.

Answer 6

The root cause for this problem is Cucumber-Java plugin looking for BDD annotations that are imported from the package cucumber.api.java.en.Given (depricated) in StepDefinitions file. If the StepDefinitions file consists of BDD annotations from the package io.cucumber.java.en.Given the feature file won't recognize/highlight those steps. This issue is nowhere related to Intellij Version.

Temporary solution

Change your import statement in your StepDefinitions file from import io.cucumber.java.en.Given; to import cucumber.api.java.en.Given; Apply the same to When, Then and But unless if you don't mind using deprecated methods ;)

Note

If you use the info.cukesdependency you won't have any problem with the cucumber-java plugin

<dependency>
  <groupId>info.cukes</groupId>
  <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>
  <version>1.2.5</version>
</dependency>

You need to use the Temporary Solution if you have the io.cucumber dependency

<dependency>
  <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
  <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>
  <version>4.6.0</version>
</dependency>