Here, IDEA will encode the text in the editor window using the new encoding and overwrite the file. Or you would like to convert the text on the editor to the file using the other encoding.In this case IDEA will replace editor with text from the file decoded with the new encoding. Whether you want to reload the file from disk in the other encoding.However, if the encodings are sufficiently different, the IDE have to ask you: when changing English characters text from US_ASCII to UTF-8, IntelliJ IDEA just silently re-assigns encoding. If the file encodings are completely compatible for this text, e.g. What happens when I try to change the file encoding? See Settings → File Encoding → Project Encoding → IDE Encoding. For example, when Auto-detect UTF-8 is selected, the IDE will analyze the file looking for some byte combinations which are UTF-8-specific.įinally, use the project-level or, if the project is unavailable, the application-level encoding. Try to figure out the encoding using some hints or heuristics. IntelliJ IDEA will use the most specific encoding: You can specify the desired encoding for the file or for the containing directory or for the whole project or for the IDE.

For example, JSP files can specify the encoding right in the text:Ĭheck if you have specified the encoding explicitly and use that. Check if the file type declares the encoding itself and use that.

IntelliJ IDEA uses multi-stage educated guessing, from most obvious to far-stretched.įirst, if the BOM present, use the corresponding UTF-family encoding. How does the IDE determine encoding for the file? That’s why UTF-8 is so popular and that’s why it’s the most preferred encoding. In particular, for an English character subset, the UTF-8 encoded file looks exactly like old plain ASCII text.

The UTF-8 variable-bytes-per-character encoding which also can be auto-detected either by optional BOM or some specific byte combinations.

Several multi-byte encodings like UTF-16 or UTF-32, which are easily detectable by the BOM (Byte Order Mark) word in the beginning of the file.

However, things look better for UTF-family encodings. Especially when single-byte encodings are used, there are multiple mappings possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to tell the file encoding without additional information. To be able to display the text correctly, IntelliJ IDEA needs to know which file encoding to use. Today we would like to answer the most frequent questions about file encodings in the IDE and show you a few tricks, which may help you to avoid potential pitfalls.

What is the ultimate advice you have regarding file encodings?.

What happens when I try to change the file encoding?.

How does the IDE determine encoding for the file?.

What is the problem with file encodings?.

How to change text encoding to english