Xcode auto-completion - replace text keystroke?

Question

Say we have a TestClass with the 2 methods, -getSomeString and -getAnotherString, and we are editing the following code and the cursor is in the location shown:

NSString *aString = [TestClass get<cursorIsHere>SomeString];

Say I want to change it to use -getAnotherString. If I bring up the auto-completion popup and select the other method via hitting enter or tab, I'm left with:

NSString *aString = [TestClass getAnotherStringSomeString];

i.e., it doesn't replace the existing text but rather just inserts.

Is there a special keystroke to make it replace the remaining text?

See IntelliJ for reference.

Answer 1

I don't think so. I have always used the following

• double click on getSomeString
• press Escape (or your autocomplete key)
• find replacement method

that double click step has never really bothered me, but I would be interested if anyone knows better!

Answer 2

My work-around for this problem is this: Since the cursor will be right after the inserted text, I just press Shift-Option-Rightcursor, which selects the word past the cursor, then I hit the Delete key.

Answer 3

I don't think that there is a one step operation to achieve this. My suggestion would be similar to Thomas Templemann, but rather than two steps of forward word select and then Delete, I would expand to the desired autocomplete, by bouncing on Control + . and then hit Option + forward delete, which kills to the end of the word.

Answer 4

You can use the Tab key to perform "replace" instead of "insert" when choosing the method from the auto-complete popup in IntelliJ 9 (don't know if it's available in previous versions).