Format XML code in Eclipse

Question

When I write .xml files in Eclipse, I often have to manually indent code. For example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:background="@color/background"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_width="fill_parent" />

After formatting it looks like this.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <LinearLayout   
      xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      android:background="@color/background"
      android:layout_height="fill_parent"   
      android:layout_width="fill_parent" />

How to automate this? I can't find formatting settings in Eclipse for XML.

Burck

CTRL + A to select the entire text and then CTRL + SHIFT + F – Bluecollar

I know of this feature. Where do I set it up? I can't find it in Window->Preferences->XML. I don't like the way it cuts attributes. – Burck

Answer 1

Ctrl+Shift+F

Will do it for you, and you can configure it in

Window -> Preferences -> XML -> Xml Files -> Editor

Leucoplast

I know of this feature. Where do I set it up? I can't find it in Window->Preferences->XML. I don't like the way it cuts attributes. – Burck

if options in Window->Preferences->XML->Xml Files->Editor not enough then I don't know the answer – Leucoplast

Took me awhile to figure out there are actually two "sub-tabs" in the Eclipse XML Editor, "Design" and "Source", and this only applies to the "Source" one. The "sub-tabs" are underneath the actual editor tab/view. – Columba

This does not solve the issue for me, There is no "Save Action" menu as there is for Java. If I have a document that already has Tabs and spaces in. When I click save, the tabs are not removed and converted to spaces. – Dodona

and then "[v] Split multiple attributes each on a new line" and then ReStart eclipse. – Vivavivace

Answer 2

As stated above, Ctrl+Shift+F will auto-format. However, by default Eclipse will split attributes in a naive way. If you're like me and prefer to have all the attributes on their own lines, go to Window→Preferences→XML→XML Files→Editor and check Split multiple attributes each on a new line.

Butterwort

Answer 3

You need to open the file using the XML Editor, swap to Source view and then do the Ctrl + Shift + F trick.

Fought

It's critical to open the XML file using the XML Editor in order for CTRL+Shift+F key combination to work. – Avner

Answer 4

CMD + SHIFT + F for Macintosh users

Reduce

this doesn't work for me under OSX Mavericks, using the Eclipse Luna Modeling Tools configuration. – Hereabouts

This is the correct default key sequence for autoformat. It's possible to change it, or to have a plugin change/interfere with it. Which can be annoying! – Sancha

Answer 5

open windows->preferences->xml files->editor enter some high number for line width, say 999 and then format the xml file with ctrl+shift+F.

You ll see the lines are aligned properly.

Sybarite

this answer is already posted. then why are posting it again the same answer...?? – Applicative

Answer 6

You can set the default XML editor to “Java Editor”:

• Right-click on the XML
• Open With
• Other...
• Java Editor

This applies all java formatting and controls over XML file.

Redvers