Auto-Completion (IntelliSense)¶

Version: 2.1.0

The XML Editor includes smart auto-completion that helps you write XML faster and with fewer errors.

Overview¶

Auto-Completion in Action The XML Editor with a schema-backed document - typing < shows context-valid element suggestions

When you type < in the XML Editor, a popup appears showing only the elements that are valid at your current position. This is based on your XSD schema.

Key Features¶

1. Smart Element Suggestions¶

Context-Aware: Shows only valid child elements for your current location
Position-Aware: Inside an xs:sequence only the elements that may follow the siblings already present are offered - an element that has reached its maxOccurs (or an xs:choice whose alternative is already there) disappears from the list. Elements that already exist after the cursor are respected too, so you cannot insert a child in the wrong order. Completion is strict about position: only what the schema allows at exactly that spot is listed.
Repeatable elements: When the element you are inside may itself repeat (for example a FundsXML <Fund> with maxOccurs="unbounded"), only its remaining children are offered - the list does not start over with the first child just because the element can occur again. Only a repeatable group (xs:sequence / xs:choice with maxOccurs above 1) starts over once all of its members are present.
Namespace-Aware: Suggestions are inserted with the prefix your document declares for the element's namespace. A child of a type imported from another namespace (e.g. c:street when the document declares xmlns:c="…") is inserted as <c:street></c:street>; elements in the default namespace stay unprefixed. Typing the local name (<st) still matches c:street.
Based on Schema: Suggestions come from your loaded XSD schema
Reduces Errors: You can't accidentally add invalid elements

2. Path-Specific Values¶

Elements with the same name at different locations show their correct values:

Location	Suggested Values
`/Document/ControlData/Version`	4.0.0, 4.0.1, 4.1.0
`/Document/Report/Version`	V3, V3S1, V3S2

3. Automatic Tag Closing¶

When you type an opening tag like <element>, the editor automatically adds the closing tag </element>.

How to Use¶

Step 1: Load an XSD Schema¶

If your XML already references its schema (via xsi:schemaLocation), it is picked up automatically - and if you add or change that reference while editing, the new schema is picked up on the next validation run and IntelliSense follows automatically. Otherwise, bind one yourself:

Open your XML file in the editor
Click the "No XSD" indicator in the status bar (or the toolbar's Schema button - Set XSD Schema…)
Select your XSD file

The indicator changes to "XSD: name", and the binding drives both auto-completion and schema validation.

Step 2: Use Auto-Completion¶

Position your cursor where you want to add an element
Type <
A popup shows valid elements for this location
Use ↑/↓ arrow keys to navigate
Press Enter to insert the selected element
Press Escape to close without selecting

Example¶

1. Inside <document>, type <
   → Shows: header, body, footer

2. Inside <body>, type <
   → Shows: section, article, aside

3. Inside <section>, type <
   → Shows: title, paragraph, list

Keyboard Shortcuts¶

Key	Action
`<`	Open auto-completion
`↑` `↓`	Navigate suggestions
`Enter`	Insert selected element
`Escape`	Close popup
`>`	Close the current tag

Benefits¶

Benefit	Description
Faster Writing	No need to remember element names
Fewer Errors	Only valid elements are suggested
Schema Compliance	Your XML always matches the schema
Easy Learning	Discover available elements as you type

Troubleshooting¶

No Suggestions Appearing?¶

Make sure an XSD schema is loaded
Check that your cursor is inside an element
Verify the schema file is valid

Wrong Suggestions?¶

Check that the correct schema is loaded
Verify the XML structure is valid up to your cursor position

Nothing Offered Although the Element Is Empty?¶

The list also honours the elements that already exist after the cursor. If you type < directly in front of the first existing child of a sequence, nothing may legally go there - move the cursor after the last child that belongs before your new element.

The First Child Is Offered Again Inside a Repeatable Element?¶

It no longer is. Earlier versions treated a repeatable element like a repeatable group and restarted its content model. If you want to add another occurrence of the element itself, close the current one and type < after it.

Prefix Missing or Unexpected?¶

Prefixes are taken from the xmlns declarations of your document. If the namespace of the suggested element is not declared at all, the prefix used inside the schema is inserted - add the matching xmlns: declaration to the root element.

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