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Hierarchy Page

The Hierarchy page in the Class browser shows the hierarchy of the class you are browsing, plus all the methods and source code for the class and its superclasses.   Here, you can organize, add, edit, create, and delete classes, methods, and fields.

Class Hierarchy Pane
The Class Hierarchy pane lists all the class you are browsing, plus its superclasses, in either a graph layout or a tree layout. Click the Graph Layout button btn_listUp.gif (873 bytes) or the Tree Layout btn_treeUp.gif (890 bytes) button in the title bar to change the layout.  Each of the classes in the package has a pop-up menu, which contains actions you can perform on it.  These options are also available from the Classes menu.   Classes that have been imported from bytecode (.class) files, or that are part of the standard class libraries provided in the VisualAge for Java product, are indicated by the bytecode symbol bytecode.gif (892 bytes).

Methods Pane
When you select a class in the Class Hierarchy pane, the Methods pane lists all methods in the selected class.  Each method has a pop-up menu, which contains actions you can perform on it.  These options are also available from the Methods menu.

Source Pane
When you select a class or method, the Source pane shows the source code, if available.  If a class has been imported from a Java bytecode file (.class), the source is not shown; if it is in one of the standard class libraries provided in the VisualAge for Java product, the source code is shown but is not editable.  These bytecode classes are indicated by the bytecode symbol bytecode.gif (892 bytes).

In the Source pane, you can compose Java code normally.  To save the code, select Save from the Edit menu, or from the Source pane's pop-up menu.  Use code assist (type Ctrl+Spacebar) to get help with class, method, and field names.  When you save, the source is automatically compiled.  Compiler errors are brought to your attention.

Tool Bar Buttons

run.gif (1013 bytes) Run Runs an applet or application.  If a method in a runnable class is selected, the class is run.
debugger.gif (1043 bytes) Open Debugger Opens the Debugger browser.
search.gif (1033 bytes) Search Launches the program element search.
newclass.gif (1035 bytes) Create a Class Starts the Add Class SmartGuide, for creating new classes or adding existing ones from the repository.
newapplet.gif (1034 bytes) Create an Applet Starts the Add Applet SmartGuide, for creating new applets or applications.
newmethod.gif (1035 bytes) Create a Method Starts the Add Method SmartGuide, for creating new methods or adding existing ones from the repository.
newfield.gif (1029 bytes) Create a Field Starts the Add Field SmartGuide, for creating new fields.
showedname.gif (1011 bytes) Show Edition Names Click to the down position to show edition names beside program elements.

Menus
The Classes page has the following menus:

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Browsing the Workspace
Finding and Fixing Problems
Running an Applet from the IDE
Running an Application from the IDE
Creating a Class
Creating a Method
Creating a Field
Saving Changes to Code
Setting IDE Options
Writing and Formatting Source Code

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Code Assist
VisualAge for Java IDE Symbols