# Scala Unicode Arrows in IntelliJ IDEA

DevFeed: [Scala Unicode Arrows in IntelliJ IDEA](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/scala-unicode-arrows-in-intellij-idea-20848.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<http://themodernlife.net/scala/intellij/2014/01/08/scala-unicode-arrows-in-intellij-idea/>)

Published: 2014-01-08T11:50:13Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Ian Hummel](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ian-hummel.md>)

Topics: [IntelliJ IDEA](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/intellij-idea.md>), [Scala](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/scala.md>), [code-completion](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code-completion.md>), [Sublime Text](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/sublime-text.md>)

Tags: [code-completion](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code-completion.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/coding.md>), [github](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/github.md>), [idea](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/idea.md>), [intellij](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/intellij.md>), [intellij-idea](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/intellij-idea.md>), [scala](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/scala.md>)

## AI overview

A tutorial explains how to use IntelliJ IDEA Live Templates to convert typed Scala operators such as =>, ->, and <- into Unicode arrows. It also contrasts this workflow with a Sublime Text project that provides Scala tab completion.

## Source excerpt

Several of my colleagues love IntelliJ for coding in Scala. I was pretty happy with Sublime Text 2 (and still use it for Ruby/Python/Shell/whatever) but the lack of code completion was really starting to affect my productivity. I spent way too much time looping through the edit/compile/fix typo cycle. Before I could switch though, I really wanted my fancy arrows in Scala! I have a GitHub project which adds tab completion in Sublime Text for Scala to turn "=>" into "⇒", "->" into "->" and "<-" into "<-". Turns out this is really easy to accomplish in IntelliJ as well! You just need to create a few Live Templates The Abbreviation field should be set to "=>" and the Template text field should be "⇒ " (I left a trailing space so my cursor position gets updated). Repeat for any other operators. Also ensure that you change the applicable context to Scala. Now when you type "=>" and hit you should get a unicode arrow, "⇒"!