Java Eclipse/STS Tips | Disable formatting for specific section

Sometimes which is a necessary and we get habituated off using that more often then not may cause an undesirable effect. Confused?

Let me give you an example of how a frequently used practise possess issues.
Consider “formatting” (CTRL + SHIFT + F), this has been one of the favourite combination for all eclipse users .

If you are a java or spring developer, then you might have figured it out… right ?

No? No issues .. In Java when we use streams and we intentionally break steps  of the chain logically. But if we intended Eclipse to format all the codes in that .java file, it do not understands our logical breaking and brings everything to one line. Also Spring developers might have faced it during Security Configurations with HTTP chaining.

Before formatting

List persons = new ArrayList();
String name = persons.stream()
		.filter(x -> "sovan".equals(x.toString()))
		.map(String::toLowerCase)						
		.findAny()
		.orElse("");

After formatting

List persons = new ArrayList();
String name = persons.stream().filter(x -> "sovan".equals(x.toString())).map(String::toLowerCase).findAny()
				.orElse("");

Is there a way we can stop formatting for this section of code?

Yes!!!

This feature is there only inside our developer tool.. Hidden secret!! HUH!!
Now let this secret revealed..

• Go to Windows -> Preferences -> Java -> Code Styling -> “Formatter”
• Click on Edit on the details section. (You can create your own development profile)
• In the edit section, choose “On/Off tags”.
• Check “Enable Off/On Tags”. Leave the default @formatteroff and @formatteron or you can rename the tags.
• Done. Save your profile.
  

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Now wrap your codes around these off and on tag and eclipse will leave that section  untouched while formatting rest of the code.

If you like this post and is helpful, please do leave a comment below. If anyone knows any other better way of doing this, please do share.

Helps the community grow by sharing knowledge.
Happy Coding
Sovan