The Extract Method refactoring lets you take a code fragment that can be grouped, move it into a separated method, and replace the old code with a call to the method.
When you extract the method you need to check for variables. If there is one output variable, it is used as a return value for the extracted method. In case there are multiple output variables, the Extract Method refactoring may not be applied, and the error message appears.
There are several workarounds to allow Extract Method work in this case. For example, you may introduce a special data-class that contains all output values.
To extract method:
Select a code fragment you want to extract to a method.
Press Ctrl+Alt+M or from the main menu, select Refactor | Extract | Method.
In the dialog that opens, configure a method options, such as visibility, parameters, and so on. You can also change a name of the method if you need.
Click OK.
If IntelliJ IDEA detects a duplicated code fragment that can be replaced with a call to extracted method, it will offer you to preview your code, compare it side by side and make changes if needed. You can also right-click the duplicate code fragment and select Exclude to remove such code from refactoring. When you are ready, click Do Refactor to complete your refactoring.
Note that if it is just one duplicate, IntelliJ IDEA will replace it silently.
Finally, if IntelliJ IDEA detects code that is only partially duplicated, it suggests extracting a parameter in order to proceed with the refactoring.
Example
Let's extract the a+b expression into a method (function for Kotlin), and replace duplicates .
Before
After
public void method() {
int a=1;
int b=2;
int c=a+b;
int d=a+c;
}
public void method() {
int a=1;
int b=2;
int c=add(a,b);
int d=add(a,c);
}
...
private int add(int a, int b) {
return a+b;
}
Before
After
fun method(){
val a = 1
val b = 2
val c = a + b
val d = a + b
}
fun method(){
val a = 1
val b = 2
val c = add(a, b)
val d = add(a, b)
}
private fun add(a: Int, b: Int) = a + b
