My 8 Favorite ColdFusion Builder Shortcuts

July 18, 2009 by Mike Henke    16 Comments
Posted under: CFEclipse · ColdFusion Builder

I haven't been able to use ColdFusion Builder extensively yet, but here are my favorite 8 key assists so far.

First group is

First group is not too amazing and still should be mentioned. They are available in CFEclipse but the wrap in pound signs binding is a different combination.

  • ctrl+shift+a – insert cfabort
  • ctrl+shift+d – insert cfdump
  • ctrl+shift+h – wrap in ##
  • ctrl+space – Content Assist (image below is the CFBuilder assist within a cfparam)

ColdFusion Builder Content Assist

Here are some new key assists in ColdFusion Builder

  • ctrl+shift+f – format code, this has been missing since I switched to Eclipse for my ColdFusion coding.
  • ctrl+= – insert cfset – I am not certain, but don't think CFEclipse has a shortcut for cfset. I have missed it, if it exists in CFEclipse.
  • ctrl+t – tag wizard, opens up a dictionary for ColdFusion tags and if you select a tag it will walk you through a wizard. I would like to see syntax usage of the tags in the dictionary view before having go to the wizard. Also it would be great if ColdFusion functions were available also for searching and help.

ColdFusion Builder Tag Wizard

And my favorite is…

ctrl+o – opens a outline fast view and you can filter on the contents to quickly get to code on the page. See Raymod Camden's video on the Outline view for more.

ColdFusion Builder Outline view key assist

16 Comments + Add Comment

  • Sam Farmer

    Those are some cool features.

    I couldn't get the format code to work on the Mac though.

  • Mike Henke

    I tried a couple releases ago and it worked, kinda. Guess it isn't up to par yet. In a cfc, I get a log error dialog box and in a cfm file, nothing happens.

  • Paul Kukiel

    The cool this is that the keybord short cuts ( dump, abort etc ) work in both script and tag mode so if you within script blocks or script components you get the script versions.

  • Grant Shepert

    My faves: ctrl+shift+m for commenting a block of code. Also, hitting shift-space after "</" will show you (or automatically fill in) the most immediate open tag.

  • Mike Henke

    @Paul - Didn't know about the shortcuts working in cfscript. Very cool

    @Grant - True. The commenting shortcut is great. Thanks for the tip on auto-finishing.

  • Matthew Zimmer

    CFBuilder is awesome! Does anyone know the shortcut for entering the <br />? In CFEclipse it was Shift+Enter. I can't seem to find this one in the Keys preferences.

  • Mike Henke

    Hi Matthew,

    If you go to Windows - Preferences - ColdFusion - Editor Profiles - Editor - Keys

    You will be able to see the bindings. You might request that as a default.

  • Matthew Zimmer

    I would also like to point out *my* all time favorite keyboard shortcut that I use heavily in my Java, Flex, and now in CFBuilder development (CFEclipse overrode this one):

    Command|Ctrl+Shift+R --> Open Resource

    If you don't use this option I highly recommend you invest the time to train your subconscious for rapidly opening class files and templates without the assistance of your mouse. You won't regret it! ;-)


    @Mike,

    I checked the bindings on my Mac standalone version of CFBuilder (Adobe ColdFusion Builder > Preferences > ColdFusion > Editor Profiles > Editor > Keys) and I do not see the option to inject "<br />". Also, to correct my previous comment, it wasn't Shift+Enter. It was Ctrl+Enter (http://www.simonwhatley.co.uk/cfeclipse-keyboard-shortcuts).

    Are you suggesting I submit a request to the CFBuilder Dev Team or are you saying you see it in your version of CFBuilder? If the former, I have four other highly utilized CFEclipse shortcut keys I would like brought over too:

    Command|Ctrl+Shift+Space --> &nbsp;
    Command|Ctrl+B --> <strong></strong>
    Command|Ctrl+I --> <em></em>
    Command|Ctrl+Shift+P --> <p></p>

    Anybody else missing their CFEclipse shortcuts in CFBuilder?

  • Mike Henke

    Here is the ticket system for ColdFusion Builder to submit your request - http://bit.ly/2DPsha

    Please post the ticket number here so people can vote for it. Thanks

    Windows > Preferences > ColdFusion > Editor Profiles also allows you to "manage" your profile also. One of the choices is CFEclipse along with Dreamweaver and Default.

  • MikeQ

    How can you match tags? In CFstudio is Ctrl+M.
    Could not figure out in builder

  • Mike Henke

    Use to be Ctrl + Shift + N but not sure if it works in CFBuilder.

  • MikeQ

    Unfortunately it doesn't. It's cfeclipse only.

    I have tried all the combinations I could think of. I think that cfbuilder team should have a central place for all the shorts cuts (and any other tricks) related to cfbuilder.

    Thanks

  • charlie arehart

    Hey Mike, about ctrl+shift+f (code formatting), I find that it works only in HTML files, not in CFML files. Maybe that's why you and Sam were having issues. Would be really nice if Adobe would do whatever it took to make that work in the CF editor, too.

  • Mike Henke

    Thanks Charlie for that info.

  • Reinhard Jung

    Thanx 4 this.BlogEntry.

    Is is true that there is now() no possibility for a key to use [br /] and [.nbsp;]

  • Eric Pierce

    Here are a couple shorts I use daily. Not really CF or CF Builder specific but none the less very useful.

    ctrl-alt-down - duplicate the current line. Can also select a code block for duplication in the same manner.
    ctrl-up / ctrl-down - move the editor up/down one line at a time.

    I'm sold on the object view now (ignored it for years). It'd be awesome if they implemented F3 for quickly looking up cffunction definitions in CF Builder as it works for Java files in Eclipse. Might be more difficult than it sounds.

    Thanks for the post, Mike.

    @Reinhard
    ctrl-t in CF Builder 2 brings up a quick list of about a dozen CF/HTML centric shortcuts. You'll see br and nbsp in there.

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