Customize Lexer / Syntax Lexer Window Help

Shadeclan · Post by **Shadeclan** » 04.06.2013 12:52

Hello. New to SynWrite.

I work a lot with MS Batch scripting. I've been tweaking the Batch lexer parser tab regexp string to make the highlighting work with some of the more esoteric and lesser known capabilities and restrictions of Batch programming. I wanted to use and understand how the Syntax Lexer window works but there's nothing about it in the help files - except for writing regexp expressions, changing settings or strings in the various window tabs is all guesswork.

Is there a place where I can find out how to use the Syntax Lexer interface? If not, can instructions be added to the help files for this part of the application?

Post by **Alexey** » 04.06.2013 15:01

I have Readme\LexerConfig.chm. Other info is guess work

Shadeclan · Post by **Shadeclan** » 04.06.2013 16:18

Found it - thanks! If this doesn't answer my questions, I'll get back to you.

Post by **Alexey** » 04.06.2013 16:25

Ye, welcome

Shadeclan · Post by **Shadeclan** » 05.07.2013 15:24

Alexey wrote:Ye, welcome

Alexey,

I had a chance to look over the Lexer help file and it's not helping. The problem is 2 fold, I think. First: the help file is talking over my head. I might begin to understand it if I create a lexer from scratch, put some code in the sample window and played around with it for a few days. Second: English is not your first language and some of the language construction is difficult to understand.

You can't do anything about the English stuff but the Lexer stuff - I'll need to study it when I have time in order to wrap my mind around what the help file is talking about.

Any help you can give me towards tutorials or anything like that is appreciated. Currently, I'm reading about it in Wikipedia

Post by **Alexey** » 05.07.2013 15:37

No tutorials... I thought about writing one, but stopped .. it's big (not too big) effort and little profit.

Shadeclan · Post by **Shadeclan** » 05.07.2013 15:42

Alexey wrote:No tutorials... I thought about writing one, but stopped .. it's big (not too big) effort and little profit.

That's understandable. I'll figure it out, eventually. It'll just take more time than I wanted to spend but I think it may be worth the effort.

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » 05.07.2013 15:56

Shadeclan,
would you mind sharing your nuggets? Whatever you dig up - resources, guidelines, customized .lcf files ...

Just like you I've been really struggling with lexers. Every time I thought I'd figured something out, bam, I messed up something else in the process, though I wasn't immediately aware of it. This stuff is too intricate to fool with it on a trial and error basis.

Shadeclan · Post by **Shadeclan** » 05.07.2013 16:02

I will. Unfortunately, I have to do it between jobs so I may not be able to post the info as fast as you like.

I'll make sure to take notes from the novice point-of-view and post them in logical blobs.

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » 05.07.2013 16:30

No worries, no hurries. Take your time. Had to put lexers on the backburner anyway - the learning curve turned out steeper than I thought it would.

Shadeclan wrote:I'll make sure to take notes from the novice point-of-view and post them in logical blobs.

Highly appreciated. Whenever I come across something worthwhile I'll post it here, too. If others join in, this may even lead to a full-blown manual - in the long run.