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My 8 Favorite ColdFusion Builder Shortcuts

2009 July 18
tags: CFEclipse · ColdFusion Builder
by Mike Henke

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

Related Entries:

My 8 Favorite ColdFusion Builder Shortcuts

14 Responses leave one →
  1. Sam Farmer
    Sam Farmer PERMALINK
    Jul 18, 2009 at 4:23 PM

    Those are some cool features.

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

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    Jul 18, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    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.

  1. Paul Kukiel
    Paul Kukiel PERMALINK
    Jul 19, 2009 at 11:55 AM

    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.

  1. Grant Shepert
    Grant Shepert PERMALINK
    Jul 21, 2009 at 12:13 AM

    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.

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    Jul 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM

    @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.

  1. Matthew Zimmer
    Matthew Zimmer PERMALINK
    Oct 17, 2009 at 2:20 PM

    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.

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    Oct 17, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    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.

  1. Matthew Zimmer
    Matthew Zimmer PERMALINK
    Oct 17, 2009 at 9:53 PM

    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?

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    Oct 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM

    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.

  1. MikeQ
    MikeQ PERMALINK
    Oct 19, 2009 at 9:34 PM

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

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    Oct 20, 2009 at 9:10 PM

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

  1. MikeQ
    MikeQ PERMALINK
    Oct 21, 2009 at 12:16 PM

    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

  1. charlie arehart
    charlie arehart PERMALINK
    May 25, 2010 at 10:11 AM

    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.

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    May 26, 2010 at 1:27 PM

    Thanks Charlie for that info.

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