Eclipse: Set maximum line length for auto formatting?

Question

I am working with Java. If I hit Ctrl+Shift+F in Eclipse Helios, it will auto format my code. At a certain point, it wraps lines. I would like to increase the maximum line length. How can I do this?

Note: starting Eclipse Mars 4.5 M1 (August 2014), the default line length in Eclipse is 120 (instead of 80). See [my answer](http://stackoverflow.com/a/25250064/6309). — VonC, Aug 11 '14 at 18:34

score 713 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 04 '16 at 18:08

713

In preferences Java -> Code Style -> Formatter, edit the profile. Under the Line Wrapping tab is the primary option for line width (Maximum line width:). In the Comments tab you have a separate option Maximum line width for comments:, which will also need to be changed to affect comment wrapping.

You will need to make your own profile to make these changes in if you using one of the [Built-in] ones. Just click "New..." on the formatter preferences page.

edited Nov 04 '16 at 18:08

BeeOnRope

51,419
13
149
309

answered Sep 13 '10 at 00:44

John Percival Hackworth

11,119
2
29
38

9

This wasn't working for me so I disabled formatting of comment lines entirely. It's nearly exactly the same except instead of the 'Line Wrapping' tab you want 'Comments' tab and uncheck 'Enable line comment formatting' – anon58192932 Jul 02 '13 at 18:24
Something may have changed. What version of eclipse are you using? – John Percival Hackworth Jul 04 '13 at 04:40
49

This is the correct answer, althought it doesn't force the width on comments. Go to the "Comments" tab, and on the bottom there's the field "Line width" to change the maximum line width for comments. – Henrique de Sousa Oct 02 '13 at 12:59
6

Note: Eclipse (Kepler, at least) very obnoxiously allows you to edit the built-in profile to your heart's content, only to stop you from saving it with an unobtrusive notification that you CAN'T edit built-in profiles, and must create a copy and edit that instead. – kungphu Dec 13 '13 at 16:59
3

"Line Wrapping tab" is not a complete answer. As Henrique Sousa and some other IDs mentioned, it still need to go to "Comments" tab. I was bugged by line-wrapping in comments. :) – user1914692 Mar 03 '14 at 19:51
1

Using Luna at least, all you have to do is change the text field at the top of the options tabs to something other than Eclipse [Default] and click Apply. It saved all my modifications I was trying to make to the default profile. – JReader Jun 16 '15 at 16:26
That would be a great improvement. – John Percival Hackworth Jun 16 '15 at 19:54
is there a way to have eclipse throw a warning when a line is longer then the margin? – Martin Klosi Jan 27 '16 at 22:21
If "Maximum line width for comments" is greyed out, you first need to enable some types of comments which you want to format (first four checkboxes). – Line Dec 28 '17 at 10:10

score 122 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 16 '13 at 05:32

122

Take a look of following image:

Java->Code style->Formatter-> Edit

enter image description here

answered Jan 16 '13 at 05:32

Sumit Singh

23,530
8
71
99

18

You forgot steps showing how to get to the preferences window =) Window > Preferences – rodrigo-silveira Jun 03 '13 at 15:26
1

@rodrigo-silveira yeah you are write, but i think people who wants to change line width will definitely know how to open preferences window. By the way thanks for adding it. – Sumit Singh Jun 03 '13 at 17:24
5

@rodrigo-silveira That's platform dependent, actually. On a Mac it's Eclipse -> Preferences. – ArtOfWarfare Jul 01 '13 at 15:08
1

@ArtOfWarfare Thanks for adding comment. – Sumit Singh Jul 02 '13 at 07:40
If you use Mac, the "Preference" menu is located in "Eclipse" menu, but not in "Window" menu. – siva636 Sep 19 '13 at 05:15
3

You forgot the part where you have to create a new "Active profile". Otherwise you will not be able to change any settings. – Darrell Aug 08 '14 at 17:53

score 38 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 16 '13 at 05:28

38

Comments have their own line length setting at the bottom of the setting page java->code style->formatter-> Edit... ->comments

edited Jan 16 '13 at 05:28

Sumit Singh

23,530
8
71
99

answered Nov 11 '11 at 00:42

boukah

391
3
2

score 29 · Answer 4 · edited Jan 16 '13 at 05:48

29

for XML line width, update preferences > XML > XML Files > Editor > Line width

edited Jan 16 '13 at 05:48

Sumit Singh

23,530
8
71
99

answered Nov 28 '11 at 11:02

Amir Arad

6,436
8
40
47

score 20 · Answer 5 · edited Nov 10 '15 at 10:03

20

For HTML / PHP / JSP / JSPF: Web -> HTML Files -> Editor -> Line width

edited Nov 10 '15 at 10:03

Elrond_EGLDer

47,430
25
189
180

answered Apr 12 '13 at 08:29

fbtb

789
10
22

score 9 · Answer 6 · edited Apr 12 '13 at 05:29

9

Click Project->preferences. Type format into the search - you should see java->code style->formatter. Click that, then edit - finally, the line wrapping tab - its there :)

edited Apr 12 '13 at 05:29

Sumit Singh

23,530
8
71
99

answered Sep 13 '10 at 00:46

Chozabu

975
1
8
33

score 6 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 26 '13 at 17:10

6

For XHTML files: Web -> HTML Files -> Editor -> Line width

answered Dec 26 '13 at 17:10

PhantomReference

618
1
12
25

score 6 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 04 '14 at 10:17

6

Preferences -> Java -> Code Style -> Formatter / "Edit..."

Tabs: "Line wrapping" , "Comments"

Field: "Maximum line width"

Set both to make comments have the same length too. You might need to create a new profile if you don't have one already.

answered Mar 04 '14 at 10:17

Roo

101
1
2

score 2 · Answer 9 · answered Oct 12 '17 at 06:14

I use the Eclipse version called Mars which works with Java 7.

Go to Preferences -> Java -> Code Style -> Formatter

Click on the Edit Button shown in the right side of "Active Profile" drop down

Tabs: "Line wrapping"

Field: "Maximum line width", Set the desired value (Default value set to 120) to increase/decrease the line length in the editor

Note: Remember to rename the Active profile to the name of your choice, as the default Eclipse profile won't accept your changes.

hariprasad · Answer 10 · 2019-02-03T11:59:23.237

1

Line length formatter setup is blocked for annotations (Eclipse Photon checked). Therefore it is needed in Line Wrapping -> Wrapping settings -> Annotations. Setup line wrapping as appropriate for you. There is couple of possibilities, e.q. Enable wrap when necessary to use first icon list.

edited Feb 03 '19 at 11:59

answered Feb 03 '19 at 11:51

hariprasad

455
10
20

Eclipse: Set maximum line length for auto formatting?

10 Answers10

Linked