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Some features described here are available in Ultimate edition only.

By default, IntelliJ IDEA uses the javac compiler. So to use the AspectJ ajc compiler instead, you should change the corresponding IDE setting and specify the associated options.

Note that the ajc compiler is not bundled with the IDE and should be downloaded separately.

ajc is available as part of AspectJ Development Kit (AJDK) which you can download from the AspectJ website.

Controlling the ajc aspectpath

IntelliJ IDEA lets you flexibly control the aspectpath command-line option for the ajc compiler.

At the project level, the aspectpath may be defined in the ajc compiler settings.

The project aspectpath may be redefined at the level of individual modules. This is done by configuring the AspectJ facets associated with the corresponding modules.

Depending on whether or not the aspectpath is specified at the project and module levels:

  • The aspectpath is specified neither at the project nor at the module level: the ajc compiler uses the Java classpath of the project or module.
  • The aspectpath is specified only at the project level: the ajc uses this aspectpath in all cases.
  • The aspectpath is specified at the project level and redefined in certain modules (i.e. AspectJ facets): to compile the modules with the redefined aspectpath, ajc uses the corresponding module-specific aspectpath, and the project aspectpath in all other cases.

Note that the module aspectpath may be set automatically as a result of importing an appropriately configured Maven project into IntelliJ IDEA.

To specify the AspectJ compiler settings
  1. Open the Settings dialog.
  2. In the left-hand part of the dialog, under Project Settings, expand the Compiler node and select Java Compiler.
  3. On the Compiler > Java Compiler page that opens in the right-hand part of the dialog:
    1. Select Ajc from the Use compiler list.
    2. Specify the path to the compiler in the Path to Ajc compiler field.

      You can type the path in the field, or click browseButton and select the necessary file in the corresponding dialog.

      (The file that you want is aspectjtools.jar which is located in <AJDK installation directory>\lib.)

    3. If necessary, specify the maximum heap size for the compiler in the Maximum heap size (MB) field. (The default is 128 MB.)
    4. If necessary, specify the command-line options to be passed to the compiler in the Command line parameters field.

      You can type the parameters right in the field, or click shift-enter-button to open the Command line parameters dialog where the text entry area is larger.

      Note that the aspectpath option may be specified separately, using the GUI provided below.

    5. Click Test to check if the specified settings are correct.
    6. If you want to specify the aspectpath option, select the Explicit aspect path check box, and then use the available controls to form the aspectpath:
      • Use add (Alt+Insert) to add project and global libraries to the list. Select the necessary library or libraries in the Choose Libraries dialog that opens.
      • Use delete (Alt+Delete) to remove the selected items from the list.
      • Use arrowUp (Alt+Up) to move the selected item one line up in the list.
      • Use arrowDown (Alt+Down) to move the selected item one line down in the list.

      Note that the aspectpath specified here may be redefined at the module level.

  4. Click OK in the Settings dialog.
To redefine the aspectpath at the module level

To be able to redefine the aspectpath option at a module level, you should add an AspectJ facet to the corresponding module or modules. Once you have done that, you can control the aspectpath at the module level by configuring the corresponding AspectJ facet settings.

  1. Add an AspectJ facet to the module of interest. For corresponding instructions, see Adding and Removing Facets.
  2. On the Facet 'AspectJ' page that opens in the right-hand part of the Project Structure dialog, select the Override project aspect path check box. Use the available controls to form the aspectpath for the module:
    • Use add (Alt+Insert) to add project and global libraries, and/or the modules that the current module depends on. Select Library or Module, and then select the necessary libraries or modules in the Choose Libraries or the Choose Modules dialog.
    • Use delete (Alt+Delete) to remove the selected items from the list.
    • Use arrowUp (Alt+Up) to move the selected item one line up in the list.
    • Use arrowDown (Alt+Down) to move the selected item one line down in the list.
  3. Click OK in the Project Structure dialog.

See Also

Procedures:

Reference:

Web Resources: