How to make IntelliJ recognize multiple application properties as being Spring configurations?

Question

I have been moving around my 'application.properties' file provided by Spring Boot and creating copies in other folders to compare precedence by location.

I noticed that the file lost the icon meaning it was recognized by IntelliJ as a Spring configuration file. The file still works fine, but all the spring property references now say: "unused property".

I know some other Questions similar to this solve the "unused property"-message by ignoring them entirely, but then you lose the Spring configuration hinting too.

Isn't there some way to have IntelliJ recognize the file as being Spring configurations again?

I have tried to:

• Invalidate cache and restart
• Inject languages and references
• Look in project structure to add the files again somehow
• Delete all generated files and rebuild project from POM

But I haven't found the light yet... Anyone knows how I would go about doing this? It would be nice to be able to mark multiple files, so all the application.proprties files I use will hint at the options for spring configuration.

Answer 1

Try: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/spring-boot.html#custom-configuration-files (Custom configuration files)

Answer 2

I had the same issue after creating a new module in my project and adding an application.properties to the resource folder. It was shown with the wrong icon and when I started the app, the config was also not used.

It seemed that the spring context was not properly loaded. I noticed that Intellij showed a warning in the SpringBoot application class (the class name was marked yellow). Clicking ALT + Enter on it and choosing the first option Create SpringBoot facet solved the issue. You will see the project structure dialog and only need to click OK.