C/C++ editor

The CDT provides an editor that gives you specific support for editing C code. This C editor is invoked automatically when you edit a .c or .cpp file.

The C editor includes the following features:

• Syntax highlighting
• Content/code assist
• Code formatting
• Integrated debugging features
• A context-menu.

You can control some of the operation of the C editor from the Window > Preferences > C/C++ > C/C++ Editor preferences dialog.

Content Assist

You invoke the C editor's Content Assist function by typing the first characters of a C statement, then pressing Ctrl+Space. Eclipse proposes code templates based on the .c or .cpp file type.

The C/C++ editor context menu

To access the C/C++ Editor context menu, right-click in a C/C++ editor.

The C/C++ Editor context menu contains an Include feature. If you right-click on a function and choose Add Include, the editor attempts to determine the header in which the function is prototyped (this determination is done through a code-completion contributor extension). If this is successful, the editor adds the appropriate #include at the top of the file.

CDT Overview

Using Content Assist

C/C++ editor key binding actions
C/C++ editor preferences
Outline view for C/C++
Views and editors