What's new in the VisualAge for Java IDE

Several usability and customization features have been added to the IDE for this release.

A new way to browse the workspace
Previously, when you opened a browser for a program element (for example, a class browser), a new window was opened for the browser.  Now, there is a new setting that allows you to open a new browser in the current window.   Back and Forward buttons allow you to move to previously opened browsers (similar to moving back to a previously visited page in a Web browser).  You still have the option of opening a browser in a new window, instead. 
 
You can select the browsing style that you prefer on the General page of the Options dialog.  See "Changing the IDE browsing style" and "Browsing the workspace" for more information.
Customizable key bindings
With key bindings, you can map editor commands to your choice of shortcut keys.   Two standard mappings are provided: "VisualAge for Java", a typical Windows-style mapping; and "Emacs", similar to an Emacs editor mapping.   You can change the settings for these mappings, or create your own.  See "Customizing key bindings" for more information.
Reference help for program elements and Java keywords
For instant information on program elements, use the following new features:

See "Accessing context-sensitive API help" for more information.

More Code Assist features
Now you can create macros that Code Assist (Ctrl+Space) can insert in your code with only a few keystrokes.  Some macros are provided, including one that inserts timestamps and another that inserts the user name (for team development in Enterprise Edition).  You can specify the location of the cursor within the text after the macro is expanded.  You can also create keyword completion macros for programming structures like case or if/then statements, which add appropriate punctuation, braces, and cursor locations.
 
See "Defining Code Assist macros" for more information.
Method generation and filters
New SmartGuide options let you generate accessor (get and set) methods for fields, method stubs for interfaces that you are implementing, and method stubs for abstract methods in superclass.  Also, in a methods view, you can filter which methods are shown using a combination of the following options on the filter toolbar: Public Members Only nishpubl.gif (897 bytes) , Static Members nishstat.gif (912 bytes) , Root Minus 1 nirootm1.gif (937 bytes), and Show Fields nishowfl.gif (907 bytes). This can help in finding which interface methods you have implemented.
 
See "Generating field accessor methods" and "Generating method stubs" for more information.
A view of Project resources inside the IDE
A new tab has been added to project browsers; the Resources page shows you the contents of the project_resources directory for the project that you are browsing.  Project resources reside outside the workspace, on your hard drive or on a shared drive.   From the Resources page, you can do the following things:
 
See "Including resource files in a project" for more information.
A new visual application SmartGuide
The Visual Application SmartGuide generates the first steps of a traditional GUI application, given a few basic specifications.  With it, you can create the basis of an AWT or Swing-based application with customizable menu bar, tool bar, status bar, splash screen (for start-up) and "About" dialog.
 
After generating the code, the SmartGuide opens the application in the Visual Composition Editor, so you can finish implementing the stubs that have been generated.
 
For more information about the Visual Application SmartGuide, see "Generating a customizable visual application."
Revised debugger layout
The integrated debugger has the following new features:

You can separate the Visible Variables panes from the Debug page into their own window.  When you close the Visible Variables window, it integrates back into the debugger.

For more information on the integrated debugger, including these new features, see "Debugging during the development cycle with the integrated debugger."
Improved handling of fields
Fields are now treated similar to methods and classes within the Workspace.   They are listed along with methods when you browse a class, and you can optionally filter them out of the browser, completely or by access level.
Run and Search toolbar buttons remember previous actions
The Run run.gif (1013 bytes) and Search search.gif (1033 bytes) toolbar buttons have small black arrows above them, which indicate that they "remember" the past five runs and searches.   So, if you have already run some applets, for example, right-click the Run button and you will see a pop-up list of the last five applets you ran.  Select one of them to run it again.