# How to use auto complete?
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169
**Category:** Processing
**Created:** [July 11, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169 "2021-07-11T15:06:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hapiel](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hapiel)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/1 "2021-07-11T15:06:05Z")
Hi,
I’ve never been able to use auto complete in processing. I had this issue with 3.5.4 and just now I tried 4.0a6 and still can’t get it working.
I have autocomplete enabled in preferences, but whatever I type, it never shows completion suggestions when I hit Ctrl + space
Do you have any suggestions on what I might be missing?
---
### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/2 "2021-07-11T15:15:49Z")
I use it all the time with Processing 3.5.4
Example:
After I type
`s.`
I hit CTRL+ SPACE and voila!
I then select an item from the list and enter it.
`:)`
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### Author:  [@Hapiel](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hapiel)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/3 "2021-07-11T15:33:53Z")
That’s great, but when I recreate the exact same sketch and press CTRL + SPACE, nothing happens. Would you have any idea what I could do to fix this?
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### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/4 "2021-07-11T15:57:22Z")
> [@Hapiel](#):
>
> Would you have any idea what I could do to fix this?
No.
I have deleted Processing in the past and reinstalled it when I had issues (not this one).
There is some stuff in the `%AppData% ` folder in `> Roaming > Processing` folder; I have backed this up and deleted it in the past before a reinstall.
Auto complete also works on my W10 Pro (latest updates) with the latest Processing:
`:)`
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### Author:  [@Hapiel](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hapiel)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/5 "2021-07-11T23:09:35Z")
Thanks for the tip. I’ve deleted the roaming/processing folder to reset all of the settings, but to no success.
I could report it as a bug, but I’m afraid it’s going to be hard for someone to look at if nobody can reproduce it and I’m the only person experiencing it?
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### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/6 "2021-07-12T00:05:41Z")
Hello,
I found this related issue on GitHub:
>
>
> \## Expected Behavior
> Type the following code:
>
> \
>
> And hit Ctrl+Space, then auto complete suggestions should pop up like this:
>
> \
>
> \## Current Behavior
> Currently, nothing happens when I press Ctrl+Space. (Code completion with Ctrl-space is enabled in File -\> Preferences).
>
> When I set \`pdex.completion.trigger=true\` in preferences.txt, I am able to get the suggestions without pressing Ctrl+Space (That's how I was able to the get the second screenshot), which works as expected.
>
> \## Your Environment
> \* Processing version: 3.4
> \* Operating System and OS version: Windows 10 Home Single Language, Version: 1803, OS build: 17134.345
>
> \* Other information:
> I have tried it in a fresh installation of Windows 10. Still, it doesn't work.
There may be other related issues in there.
`:)`
---
### Author:  [@Hapiel](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hapiel)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2021, 10:27am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-use-auto-complete/31169/7 "2021-07-12T10:27:25Z")
Thank you for finding this! I had looked around before but only found issues that were supposedly already fixed. They use a solution that works for me too, changing the setting `pdex.completion.trigger=true` gives me auto completion without pressing the hotkey.
I hope it doesn’t become too annoying for me, but it is probably better than no auto completion!