IntelliJ does not show 'Class' when we right click and select 'New'

Question

We're creating a new project in IntelliJ and must have something wrong because when we right click on a directory, select New and then get the context menu, Java based options are not shown. Currently get things like File, some HTML options, XML options.

We have assumed so far it's something we haven't configured correctly in the Project/Module configuration. The new module we are talking about is part of a multi module project. We created it using a Maven web archetype.

Any help configuring the project nature?

Edit: The answer is basic: 'That moment when you realise somethings not working because you haven't been clicking 'Apply'... :) We had a good laugh at ourselves when we discovered this'

In my case package name was invalid. `int.project.mypackage`. `int` is not allowed in package name. — Not a bug, Dec 08 '18 at 07:55

Arnaud Denoyelle · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-17T14:27:07.027

453

The directory or one of the parent directories must be marked as Source Root (In this case, it appears in blue).

If this is not the case, right click your root source directory -> Mark As -> Source Root.

edited Sep 17 '13 at 14:27

answered Sep 17 '13 at 14:21

Arnaud Denoyelle

29,980
16
92
148

15

If it is your test directory, mark it as the `Test Source Root` (it will appear in green) – Arnaud Denoyelle Sep 17 '13 at 14:25
1

'Mark Directory As' is not available in the menu of my version of Android, version 2.1. Any workarounds ? – CHarris Jun 26 '16 at 23:32
5

Also, intellj-idea automatically recognize folder as source root when we have structure in such way: **src/main/java** – zkvarz Nov 02 '16 at 14:26
11

IntelliJ makes some really questionable design decisions. – SpacePrez Sep 19 '17 at 19:15
Very useful – vijayraj34 Oct 08 '21 at 12:05

score 77 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 13 '16 at 19:07

77

This can also happen if your package name is invalid.

For example, if your "package" is com.my-company (which is not a valid Java package name due to the dash), IntelliJ will prevent you from creating a Java Class in that package.

answered Jul 13 '16 at 19:07

kuporific

10,053
3
42
46

3

This... this worked. Changed the dash to an underscore and it worked immediately. – Andrew Grinder Oct 24 '17 at 02:48
2

I had named a package Enum and that was my issue – Arun Gowda Sep 06 '20 at 07:12
Thank you! I tried deleting `*.iml` and `.idea`, invalidating caches to no avail... I was getting convinced that it spotted my python files first (I have two scripts for my `Dockerfile` which happen to be placed first in the project) and decided to mark my whole project as a Python project... – Babyburger Dec 08 '20 at 21:50
Just like Arun (lowercase though), I was creating the package name as "enum". Creating it as "enums" solved the problem. I wish it could show in the New submenu a warning that "enum" (or whatever) is an invalid package name – Guilherme Taffarel Bergamin Jul 01 '21 at 22:13
1

package name cannot contain a reserved keyword. Something like `com.example.package` is not valid nor `com.example.class`. – jebeaudet Oct 13 '21 at 16:24
1

This really helped me, I replaced dash with underscore and solved the problem. – Onkar Patil Feb 24 '22 at 12:07
1

Thanks a lot! My package was called "enum" and it works after I changed it to "type". – Chen Ni Apr 21 '22 at 11:36

score 19 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 23 '19 at 08:26

19

you need to mark your directory as source root (right click on the parent directory)

and then compile the plugin (it is important )

as result you will be able to add classes and more

edited Jul 23 '19 at 08:26

Michael Harley

831
1
9
20

answered Jan 12 '16 at 22:24

user3218923

197
1
2

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 17 '13 at 14:22

7

If you open your module settings (F4) you can nominate which paths contain 'source'. Intellij will then mark these directories in blue and allow you to add classes etc.

In a similar fashion you can highlight test directories for unit tests.

answered Sep 17 '13 at 14:22

Brian Agnew

268,207
37
334
440

score 7 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 15 '16 at 00:56

7

Project Structure->Modules->{Your Module}->Sources->{Click the folder named java in src/main}->click the blue button which img is a blue folder,then you should see the right box contains new item(Source Folders).All be done;

answered Aug 15 '16 at 00:56

Xian Shu

672
6
8

2

Thanks! this worked. For newbies searching for **Project Structure**, you can find it from **File** menu or press **Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S** in windows. – jacobcs Jan 14 '18 at 00:40

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered May 05 '21 at 07:38

4

I will share another interesting point. If you try to create a package with the reserved keyword then it will be treated as a normal directory and not a package. I was having this issue where I was creating a package named import and it was converting that to a directory.

answered May 05 '21 at 07:38

Manish Kumar

595
2
15

Same here with "enum" – Guilherme Taffarel Bergamin Jul 01 '21 at 22:14
Same `switch` here – zinking Feb 21 '23 at 06:48

score 3 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 09 '16 at 03:13

Another possible solution is that the project name is not acceptable. For example, creating a project with spaces in the name does not block the project creation but the proper sources are not marked and when those are marked manually, I still was unable to create classes. Recreating the project with hyphens (-) instead of spaces corrected the problem for me.

score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Jun 07 '21 at 06:14

Make sure you are not creating a package name which is same as predefined keywords in java like enum, int, long etc.

In my case I was trying to create a class under "enum" package. As soon as I changed package name to "enums" I was able to create class in it.

Taimur · Answer 9 · 2023-06-20T09:01:45.753

2

You need to mark your java directory as Source Root ,

Right Click on Java directory
Select Mark Directory as option and click on the sub menu option Source Root

edited Jun 20 '23 at 09:01

answered Nov 05 '22 at 15:23

Taimur

559
11
24

Coder Roadie · Answer 10 · 2018-11-28T00:38:08.553

1

Had this issue too. Invalidating Caches/Restart did the trick for me. Please upvote so the the IntelliJ folks take this more seriously. This gives the IDE a terrible UI/UX experience.

https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-203100

edited Nov 28 '18 at 00:38

answered Nov 28 '18 at 00:03

Coder Roadie

838
1
8
11

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Nov 27 '20 at 03:01

1

There is another case where 'Java Class' don't show, maybe some reserved words exist in the package name, for example:

com.liuyong.package.case

com.liuyong.import.package

It's the same reason as @kuporific 's answer: the package name is invalid.

answered Nov 27 '20 at 03:01

liuyong

987
10
19

Hi Liu Yong. As you say, this is the same reason mentioned in another answer. If you believe that answer could be improved perhaps you can either edit it, or add your reply as a comment on that answer. – Crowie Jan 30 '23 at 14:33
As a result, could I please ask you to delete this answer as IMO it is a duplicate answer – Crowie Jan 30 '23 at 14:34

score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Feb 26 '22 at 16:10

1

If you just created your project, let IntelliJ finish indexing your project.

answered Feb 26 '22 at 16:10

vvauban

165
4
8

Manoj Reddy Mettu · Answer 13 · 2021-02-22T17:50:37.323

-1

Most of the people already gave the answer but this one is just for making someone's life easier.

TL;DR

You must add the test folder as source.

Right click on java directory under test
Mark it as Tests
Add src/test/java in Test Source Folders

Thats it, IntelliJ will consider them as test source.

edited Feb 22 '21 at 17:50

answered Jan 21 '21 at 08:24

Manoj Reddy Mettu

121
7

Does this answer respond to the question or answer something else? – Crowie Jan 21 '21 at 09:27
Manoj I'm sure your answer has some substance, but could you add some words to describe what you are trying to communicate in the picture. I cannot immediately see what you are trying to say with the picture. – Crowie Jan 28 '21 at 10:37
Hi Manoj, the edits look good but, & I could be mistaken, this is an expansion of an existing answer. You are free to edit the previously existing answer. I do like how yours has turned out but as a principle the moderators of this site try to avoid duplication of work (a key computer science goal except I guess in the cloud ) – Crowie Jan 30 '23 at 14:36
As the answer looks like a duplicate I'll need to flag it for closing but I do recommend adding your formatting and image edits to the leading answer as I do think they look good and are an addition. That is, even if the content is a duplicate, the effort could help and be redeemed in other locations – Crowie Jan 30 '23 at 14:43
Hi Manoj, Ive had a think overnight and I think your answer could be instead an edit to the original answer. I like the visual approach. If I get time I'l try to come back and do the edit myself to preserve your work. Thank you for your contributions. – Crowie Jan 31 '23 at 14:40

IntelliJ does not show 'Class' when we right click and select 'New'

13 Answers13

Linked