How Can I Prevent Eclipse from Formatting Specific Code Sections?

Preventing Eclipse Formatting for Specific Code Sections

When working with code that is formatted semantically across multiple lines, the Eclipse formatter can inadvertently alter the desired formatting. This can be particularly problematic for code like SQL statements, which become difficult to read and maintain when formatted by the IDE.

Eclipse 3.6 and Later: Using Off/On Tags

To address this issue in Eclipse 3.6 and later, a special comment syntax can be used to control formatting:

// @formatter:off
...
// @formatter:on

Within these comment blocks, the Eclipse formatter will be disabled. To enable the formatter within these blocks, use // @formatter:on.

Configuring the Off/On Tags

1. Navigate to Java → Code Style → Formatter.
2. Click Edit → Off/On Tags.
3. Enable Enable Off/On tags.
4. Customize the start and end tags if desired.

Additional Considerations

• Ensure team members using Eclipse are aware of the off/on tags and configure their formatters accordingly.
• This method does not require any IDE reconfiguration by team members.
• Avoid placing the off/on tags within Javadoc comments, as this can cause issues with Javadoc generation.

By utilizing these off/on tags, developers can effectively prevent Eclipse from automatically formatting specific sections of Java code, maintaining the desired vertical formatting for ease of reading and maintenance.

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