How to find where an abstract method is implemented in Eclipse?

Question

I would like to find where an abstract method is implemented, in which class? Is there a link in Eclipse like call hierarchy/open declaration or something like that that shows where the method implemented is?

Solution 1

Quick methods:

• Hold Ctrl, hover over the method name, and select "Open Implementation".

• Click on the method name and press CtrlT.

• Right-click on the method name → "Quick Type Hierarchy".

For more navigation power, see the post by ADTC.

Solution 2

Great answers here! I found an additional trick to quickly navigate from implementation to implementation.

It is rather strange that Eclipse uses a temporary pop-up to show "Types implementing or defining 'Class.method()'" instead of a permanent view that can be pinned to the sides.

The advantage of this pop-up is, when you click on an implementing type, you are taken directly to the method implementation. The disadvantage of this pop-up is that it closes as soon as you do so, and there is no way to pin it permanently.

The Type Hierarchy shows the same list of implementing types (as they are subclasses of the abstract class). Since it is a view, it can be pinned permanently on the side. However, if you double-click on a type name here, you are taken to the declaration line of the type. You then have to find the implementation of the abstract method yourself.

Except, you don't have to, with the following trick:

1. Right-click on the abstract method and click Open Type Hierarchy.¹ In the Type Hierarchy view, you will notice the following:
   • All the subtypes of the abstract class type are listed in the primary list (P).²
   • All the members of the abstract class are listed in the secondary list (S).³
   • The abstract method you right-clicked on is selected in the secondary list.⁴
     
     
2. Click on the Lock View and Show Members in Hierarchy button (1) above the secondary list.
   • The selected method and its implementations will be listed in the primary list under each of the subtypes as well as the parent type.

You can now quickly navigate between implementations by clicking or double-clicking on the methods listed in the primary list.

^{1 You can also click on the method name and press F4.
2 If they are not listed, click either one of the Show the Type Hierarchy (2) or Show the Subtype Hierarchy (3) buttons above the list.
3 If there's no secondary list, click on the View Menu (4), choose Layout > [any option other than Hierarchy Only].
4 If it is not selected, just click on it to select it.}

Solution 3

You can use the TypeHierarchy view for this. Here's an example of the type hierarchy view for the Spring framework abstract class FrameworkServlet:

In the left pane you see the class inheritance tree. The 'A' icon next to the class name in the left pane indicates that FrameworkServlet is an abstract class. In the right pane, the highlighted method doService( request, response ) also has the 'A' icon, indicating that this is an abstract method.

Now if we click on the class DispatcherServlet, which is a concrete (not abstract) class, you see this:

In this case, the DispatcherServlet's doService method does not have the 'A' icon and instead has the up triangle, indicating that it overrides a superclass method.

Solution 4

If you Ctrl + mouse hover over a method you can see a popup where you can choose from an array of options and one of them is "Open Implementation". If you click you will be presented with a list of all implementations.

It can also be used to see the declaration and/or super implementation, so it is pretty useful.

If you have the cursor over the method you can simply press Ctrl + T for the same effect.

If you want to display the results in the "Type Hierarchy" view use the F4 key.

View more solutions

Comments

[ppeterka]

You could try hitting F4 to reveal the class hierarchy starting from the class/interface you see, or while holding Ctrl, hover over the abstract function's name, an select "Open implementation"

[ZelelB]

thankyou for your answer! But I don't know why for this abstract method it doesn't show anything.. for the other ones yes! And i'm sure it was at some place on the project implemented and works! here is my method signature: public abstract void onShiftRight(AjaxRequestTarget target);

[Konstantin Yovkov]

What happens when you select the method and press Ctrl + T ?

[ZelelB]

I found the method alone in a class now.. With "Ctrl + T" I get a little window with title "Types implementing or defining _the_method_name" but the last one is the class where the method is as abstract defined.. with holding Ctrl + hover over the name, I choose show Implementation, then I see very fast down "searching for implementation of....." and then nothing!

[Pacerier]

+1 Good info, sadly not read at all (0 votes after 1 year!) because of how this forum implements ranking. I've attached a link right at the top to give it more visibility.

[ADTC]

I don't get you. I posted my answer 4 days ago, not 1 year ago :)

[Pacerier]

My bad, I misread the date (thought Aug 13 was Aug 2013). Stackoverflow's UI is... I don't even.

[ADTC]

It's not a forum. Take the tour :) it's way better than a forum.