Boost Your Productivity: Essential IntelliJ IDEA Settings & Shortcuts

Common Settings

After reinstalling IntelliJ IDEA, apply the following configuration steps to restore a productive environment:

Theme : Switch to Dark via Settings → Appearance & Behavior → Appearance.

Editor font size : Adjust in Settings → Editor → Font.

File encodings : Set both global and project encodings in Settings → Editor → File Encodings.

Code templates : Create or edit templates via Settings → Editor → File and Code Templates.

Keymap : Customize shortcuts to match personal habits via Settings → Keymap.

Shortcut Adjustments

Replace several default shortcuts that conflict with logical operation flow or input‑method shortcuts:

Copy current line : Ctrl+D → Ctrl+Alt+↓ (original does not match operation logic).

Delete current line : Ctrl+Y → Ctrl+D (original does not match operation logic).

Move line up/down : Alt+Shift+↑/↓ → Alt+↑/↓ (key combination too complex).

Basic code completion : Ctrl+Space → Alt+/ (conflicts with common input‑method shortcuts).

Usage Tips

The IDE displays three toolbars (left, middle, right). Any action shown can be invoked with the mouse, reducing the need to memorize shortcuts.

Search Everywhere (double‑press Shift) searches files, classes, actions, and settings from a single entry point.

If an action is forgotten, use Search → Action (shortcut Ctrl+Shift+A) to locate it directly.

When editing MyBatis mapper.xml files, SQL and column suggestions may be missing. Resolve this by adding a MySQL data source: Database → Data Source → MySQL.

For unknown tags without suggestions, inject the language reference: Inject Language or Reference → MySQL.

After selecting code, a floating toolbar appears offering quick actions such as Surround With , Extract Variable , and Reformat Code , further reducing shortcut reliance.

Frequently Used Shortcuts

Global Search (files, classes, actions, settings) : Shift+Shift (double‑press). Menu: Navigate → Search Everywhere.

Search Class : Ctrl+N. Menu: Navigate → Class.

Find Action (execute command) : Ctrl+Shift+A. Menu: Help → Find Action.

Go to Declaration : Ctrl+Click. Menu: Navigate → Declaration.

Show Implementations : Ctrl+Alt+B. Menu: Navigate → Implementation.

Find Usages : Alt+F7. Menu: Edit → Find Usages.

Navigate Back/Forward : Alt+← / →. Menu: Navigate → Back / Forward.

Go to Line : Ctrl+G. Menu: Navigate → Line….

File Structure (method list of current file) : Ctrl+F12. Menu: Navigate → File Structure.

Basic Code Completion : Ctrl+Space. Menu: Code → Completion → Basic.

Smart Code Completion (type‑matching) : Ctrl+Shift+Space. Menu: Code → Completion → Smart.

Auto‑Import / Show Intentions : Alt+Enter. Menu: Right‑click → Show Context Actions.

Reformat Code (current file) : Ctrl+Alt+L. Menu: Code → Reformat Code.

Comment/Uncomment Line : Ctrl+/. Menu: Code → Comment with Line Comment.

Comment/Uncomment Block : Ctrl+Shift+/. Menu: Code → Comment with Block Comment.

Copy Line : Ctrl+D. Menu: Edit → Duplicate Line.

Delete Line : Ctrl+Y. No default menu entry.

Move Line Up/Down : Alt+Shift+↑ / ↓. Menu: Edit → Move Line Up/Down.

Undo : Ctrl+Z. Menu: Edit → Undo.

Redo : Ctrl+Shift+Z. Menu: Edit → Redo.

Rename (variable/class/method) : Shift+F6. Menu: Refactor → Rename.

Column Selection (vertical editing) : Hold Alt and drag the mouse. Menu: Edit → Column Selection Mode.

Git Commit : Ctrl+K. Menu: Git → Commit.