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Tips & Tricks

Master Tidy Code with these helpful tips and shortcuts to boost your productivity. Learn keyboard shortcuts, JSON/XML/YAML/TOML formatting and conversion tricks, VIM mode commands, multi-cursor editing techniques, and how to efficiently work with large files. Get the most out of features like the Structure panel, Format Converter, Diff Viewer, and AI-powered code assistance.

Data Format Support

Auto-Format

Click the "Format" button to automatically format JSON, XML, YAML, or TOML. The formatter intelligently detects your content type and applies proper indentation. No need to select between formats - it's automatic!

Format Conversion

Use the "Convert" dropdown to convert between JSON, XML, YAML, and TOML. Converted content opens in a new tab, preserving your original file. Review the info panel for any adjustments made during conversion (like XML tag name fixes).

Real-time Validation

Syntax errors are highlighted in real-time as you type. Look for red underlines and error messages in the Structure panel. This helps you catch mistakes before they become problems. Works with JSON, XML, YAML, and TOML files.

Structure View

Toggle the Structure panel to see a tree view of your data document. Click on any node to jump directly to that location in your file. Perfect for navigating large configuration files, API responses, or TOML config files.

Editing Features

Auto-Pairing

Brackets {}, quotes "", and XML tags are automatically paired as you type. Press Tab to skip past the closing character. This saves time and prevents mismatched pairs.

Multi-Cursor Editing

Hold Cmd/Ctrl and click to place multiple cursors. Edit multiple locations simultaneously for faster bulk editing. Great for renaming variables or updating similar patterns.

Find & Replace

Click the "Find/Replace" button in the toolbar to open the search panel. Supports regex patterns and case-sensitive matching. The search results panel shows all matches with context for easy navigation.

Tab Management

Drag tabs to reorder them or organize your workspace. Right-click on tabs for quick actions like "Close Others" or "Close All to Right". The File Explorer shows all open tabs in a tree structure.

Code Completion

LSP Support

Language Server Protocol provides intelligent code completion, hover information, and diagnostics for supported languages. Get IntelliSense-style suggestions as you type.

AI Assistance

Enable AI integration (OpenAI, Claude, or Ollama) for advanced code suggestions, error fixes, and explanations. The AI can help refactor code, explain complex logic, or suggest improvements.

VIM Mode

Modal Editing

Enable VIM mode for keyboard-driven editing with normal, insert, and visual modes. The editor automatically receives focus when you enable VIM mode, so you can start typing commands immediately.

VIM Keybindings

Use standard VIM commands: h j k l for navigation, i for insert mode, v for visual mode, : for commands, and more. Great for experienced VIM users.

Large File Support

WASM-Powered Performance

Tidy Code can handle files up to 20MB+ using WebAssembly technology. Files larger than 5MB automatically use WASM for efficient line indexing and fast search operations. No configuration needed - it just works!

Optimized for Large Files

For optimal performance with large files (10MB+), syntax highlighting is automatically disabled. This keeps the editor responsive even with million-line log files or large data dumps. Virtual scrolling ensures smooth navigation.

Memory Efficiency

Large files are stored in WASM memory, not in React state. This significantly reduces memory usage and improves performance. The editor only loads visible lines, making it possible to work with very large files comfortably.

Markdown Preview

Live Preview

When you open a Markdown file, you'll see a rendered HTML preview by default. The preview updates as you type, making it easy to write documentation or README files with instant visual feedback.

Toggle Editor View

Click the "Show Editor" button to switch between preview-only mode and split view. In split view, you can edit the markdown source while seeing the rendered output. Perfect for writing and formatting simultaneously.

Distraction-Free Reading

By default, the editor panel is collapsed for Markdown files to provide a distraction-free reading experience. This is ideal for reviewing documentation or reading markdown content without the clutter of source code.

Diff Viewer

Compare Files

Use the Diff Viewer to compare two versions of a file. You can upload files, paste content, or load the current tab content automatically. Color-coded highlighting shows additions, deletions, and modifications.

Productivity Tips

  • Click the Explorer button to manage multiple open files in tree view
  • Drag tabs to reorder or organize your workspace efficiently
  • Toggle VIM mode with the modern switch control for instant modal editing
  • Use the Diff Viewer to compare versions of your files side-by-side
  • Open Markdown files for instant preview - toggle editor when needed
  • Large files (20MB+) are handled automatically with WASM for best performance
  • Save files with Cmd/Ctrl + S (works on both web and desktop)
  • Enable AI assistance for code suggestions and debugging help
  • Use the Structure panel to navigate JSON/XML/YAML/TOML documents easily
  • Convert between data formats with the Convert dropdown - results open in new tab
  • Right-click on tabs for quick access to close/compare options
  • Upload multiple files at once using the "Open File" button (web) or native dialogs (desktop)