keyword highlighting in text file

venky

Hello,
I have text files and I want to highlight certain keywords in those text files. I created UDL in notepad++ and defined styles for the keywords but, when I open the text file, nothing happens i.e., keywords are not highlighted.
Can someone send me a UDL XML file to highlight keywords in text (.txt) file?
Thanks.

PeterJones

@venky ,

You need to set the UDL’s Ext.: box to txt to get it to syntax highlight .txt files automatically; without that, you have to choose Language > nameofUDL every time you open a text file.

usermanual section on UDL extension setting

venky

@PeterJones Thank you. I did do that to begin with but it still does not work. When I open a text file, the UDL file is selected automatically under Language menu but the keyword highlighting is not happening. to note I am using DarkMode and DarkModeDefault theme.

Alan Kilborn

@venky

Probably going to need more information about exactly what you’re attempting to do. Dark mode wouldn’t have anything to do with it.

venky

@Alan-Kilborn See below for the UDL XML file I have. Maybe there is something wrong in this file?

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” ?>
<NotepadPlus>
<UserLang name=“Text” ext=“txt” udlVersion=“2.1”>
<Settings>
<Global caseIgnored=“yes” allowFoldOfComments=“no” foldCompact=“no” forcePureLC=“0” decimalSeparator=“0” />
<Prefix Keywords1=“no” Keywords2=“no” Keywords3=“no” Keywords4=“no” Keywords5=“no” Keywords6=“no” Keywords7=“no” Keywords8=“no” />
</Settings>
<KeywordLists>
<Keywords name=“Comments”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, prefix1”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, prefix2”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, extras1”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, extras2”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, suffix1”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, suffix2”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Numbers, range”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Operators1”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Operators2”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in code1, open”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in code1, middle”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in code1, close”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in code2, open”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in code2, middle”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in code2, close”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in comment, open”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in comment, middle”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Folders in comment, close”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords1”>Warning Error Failure</Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords2”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords3”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords4”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords5”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords6”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords7”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Keywords8”></Keywords>
<Keywords name=“Delimiters”></Keywords>
</KeywordLists>
<Styles>
<WordsStyle name=“DEFAULT” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“COMMENTS” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“LINE COMMENTS” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“NUMBERS” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS1” fgColor=“FFFFFF” bgColor=“008040” fontStyle=“5” fontSize=“18” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS2” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS3” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS4” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS5” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS6” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS7” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“KEYWORDS8” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“OPERATORS” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“FOLDER IN CODE1” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“FOLDER IN CODE2” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“FOLDER IN COMMENT” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS1” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS2” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS3” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS4” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS5” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS6” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS7” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
<WordsStyle name=“DELIMITERS8” fgColor=“000000” bgColor=“FFFFFF” fontStyle=“0” nesting=“0” />
</Styles>
</UserLang>
</NotepadPlus>

Ekopalypse

@venky

There is a limit if they are larger than 200 MB they will not be styled. Could this be your problem too?
Issue has been opened here.

PeterJones

@venky ,

There is nothing wrong with your UDL. When I apply that UDL to a file, I see:

or, in Dark Mode:

venky

@PeterJones Can you tell me how (steps) you applied the UDL? Thanks.

PeterJones

@venky ,

You claim that “the UDL file is selected automatically under Language menu”, so according to your claim, it should be applied properly.

My steps were:

Copy your UDL text
Paste into a new file
Save As > %AppData%\Notepad++\userDefineLangs\TextUDL.xml
File > Exit
Run Notepad++
Open text file (must have .txt extension)
or
File > New then File > Save As > c:\path\to\blah.txt
Type file as
```
Warning
blah
Error
blah
Failure
blah
```
It’s highlighted

If it’s not working for you, please go to the ? menu, run Debug Info, click on the underlined text, and paste into your reply. In your reply, also show a screenshot with enough of the Status Bar to show us the selected language on the lower-left of the status bar (like my screenshot above).

venky

@PeterJones Please see below. I put replaced user profile name with … in the path below.

I also tried this with portable version and it did not work.

Notepad++ v8.4.4 (64-bit)
Build time : Jul 15 2022 - 17:54:42
Path : C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line :
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : OFF
Cloud Config : C:\Users…\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++
OS Name : Windows 10 Enterprise (64-bit)
OS Version : 21H2
OS Build : 19044.1889
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins : none

npp issue.jpg

PeterJones

@venky said in keyword highlighting in text file:

I also tried this with portable version and it did not work.

I do not know what you are doing differently than I am.

I just started again from scratch:

Unzip Notepad++ portable to C:\usr\local\apps\npp\udl
Copy C:\usr\local\apps\npp\udl\userDefineLangs\markdown._preinstalled.udl.xml to C:\usr\local\apps\npp\udl\userDefineLangs\TextUDL.xml
Use MS notepad.exe to paste the exact UDL definition that you have above into TextUDL.xml and save/exit
Create an emtpy file C:\usr\local\apps\npp\udl\blah.txt
Drag blah.txt on top of notepad++.exe in that directory to run the portable instance with that blah.txt.
Type (or paste) the six lines of the file.

Notepad++ v8.4.4   (64-bit)
Build time : Jul 15 2022 - 17:54:42
Path : C:\usr\local\apps\npp\udl\notepad++.exe
Command Line : 
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : ON
Cloud Config : OFF
OS Name : Windows 10 Enterprise (64-bit) 
OS Version : 20H2
OS Build : 19042.1889
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins : 
    mimeTools (2.8)
    NppConverter (4.4)
    NppExport (0.4)

Alan Kilborn

@PeterJones

I don’t want to muddy the waters, but when I follow the instructions, I just see Normal text file on the status bar after pulling in blah.txt. And, you didn’t show yours, but when I go to the UDL section of the Languages menu I don’t see anything that resembles “TextUDL” (and although I’m no expert on UDL, I expected to).

And I didn’t get any coloring on Warning, Error, etc.

PeterJones

@Alan-Kilborn ,

Yours is just behaving like you didn’t restart Notepad++ after putting the UDL definition in the userDefineLangs directory. (Or you used the wrong userDefineLangs directory)

Oh, actually, no, there was an implied step 3.5 which I forgot to mention: in notepad.exe, replace the “smart quotes” with real ASCII " quotes.

(I am working on a video screenshot , showing the full sequence… but having upload problems – new laptop, so my quick animation->forum process needs to be rebuilt.)

Alan Kilborn

@PeterJones said in keyword highlighting in text file:

implied step 3.5 which I forgot to mention: in notepad.exe, replace the “smart quotes” with real ASCII " quotes

If it turns out the entire problem is the OP not pasting the data into a code block, I’m going to feel like my time was wasted. :-(

PeterJones

@Alan-Kilborn said in keyword highlighting in text file:

@PeterJones said in keyword highlighting in text file:

implied step 3.5 which I forgot to mention: in notepad.exe, replace the “smart quotes” with real ASCII " quotes

If it turns out the entire problem is the OP not pasting the data into a code block, I’m going to feel like my time was wasted. :-(

I hope that’s not all, too… I would have assumed that the OP would have just copied his UDL file over to the portable he tried, not just do a copy/paste from the forum. And since the OP status bar shows the TextUDL file type, obviously that part is working.

For @venky , here is a recording of the procedure I took, from unzipping through seeing the highlighting.

Alan Kilborn

@PeterJones

OK, with the changeover from smart-quotes, all working for me as well:

PeterJones

The other option, of course, is for @venky to start from scratch with a new UDL. Then build it up slowly, so that every piece is known working.

Here, I start with blah.txt, with the UDL editor docked. I switch to the default User Defined Language (so it really starts from scratch), Create New, give it a name (Second), and switch the active language for just this file to Second.

Then I go into keywords, use lowercase warning and give it a color, to show that it’s case sensitive. (I forgot while recording this second video that the screenshot above already showed the Warning case matched what was in the pasted UDL definition)

I go into the second keywords box with capitalized Warning, assign it a color, and watch the color change in the editor.

If a user is having trouble getting a UDL to work, I recommend starting from scratch, and building it up slowly, because then you can see each individual step work.