Updating the Parser Database

The IDE's parser database enables several Source Editor features of the IDE, including Java code completion, Fast Import, Go To Class, Go to Source, Go to Declaration, and Show Javadoc.

By default, the parser database consists of files for the Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition, v. 1.3, plus Java Servlet 2.2 and the Ant build tool. If you install the apisupport module, database files for OpenAPIs are also included.

You can update the parser database so that your own classes are among the choices offered when using code completion, Go To Class, Fast Import, and the other features that depend upon the parser database.

To update the parser database:

  1. In the Explorer, right-click the package or filesystem containing the classes you want to add to the database. Choose Tools and choose Update Parser Database from the contextual menu.

    The Update Parser Database dialog box is displayed.

  2. Type a file name (with no extension) in the Parser Database File Prefix field of the Update Parser Database dialog box. Use a different prefix for each package or filesystem.

    Two files are created for each parsed filesystem: <prefix>.jcs, where classes and interfaces are stored, and <prefix>.jcb, where methods and fields are stored.

  3. In the Storage Levels panel of the same dialog box, select the level of code for classes, fields, and methods that you want included in the database.

    For libraries that you cannot edit, you probably want the parser database to include only protected and public members. For libraries (filesystems) that you are working on, you might want to also include private members.

    Only static fields and methods are included in the database.

  4. Click OK to add the files to the parser database.

Automatic Parser Database Updates

You need to manually update the parser database only one time per filesystem. After the first manual update (which defines the parser database files for a filesystem), the database is automatically updated for that filesystem whenever a file is saved or successfully parsed.

If you delete classes or packages, however, they are not automatically removed from the parser database. If you don't want these elements to appear in the code completion box and other features dependent upon the parser database, you can delete the parser database files manually.

If you modify code externally, the parser database is not updated until the file is modified within the IDE and successfully parsed or saved. Alternatively, you can update the parser database manually after source is modified externally. Examples of external modification include using an external editor or updating files from a team source code versioning server.

See also
Deleting Parser Database Files
Using Code Completion
Opening a Java File With "Go To Class"
Adding an Import Statement With Fast Import
Using "Go To" Shortcuts

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