Is there a way to recognize certain text as a keyword Only if it is the first text in the row?
I don't see such an option within the 'User Defined Language' -> 'Keywords Lists' options
Notepad++ User Defined Language regex
languagenotepadregex
Related Solutions
If you are talking about using the colors based on those set in the Settings > Style Configurator... for the default keyword color...
You can do this by right-clicking on the color in the Colour style section. It will place hatch lines over the color to indicate "use default color".
Now when you change the color theme the theme's color will be used instead of the UDL defined color.
You can define your language as you wish (and make a new programming language!), but the most convenient way is to import an XML document that defines the whole configuration. An XML file for this purpose can be downloaded from here: http://www.mediafire.com/download/qv84x0wjwn816d6/userDefineLang.xml
Then you have to define this file using your own syntax as follows:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252" ?>
<NotepadPlus>
<UserLang name="(name your language here e.g.P++) " ext="java">
<Settings>
<Global caseIgnored="no" />
<TreatAsSymbol comment="no" commentLine="no"/>
<Prefix words1="no" words2="no" words3="yes" words4="yes"/>
</Settings>
<KeywordLists>
<Keywords name="Folder+">{</Keywords>
<Keywords name="Folder-">}</Keywords>
<Keywords name="Operators">- ( ) * , . / : ? @ [ ] + =</Keywords>
<Keywords name="Comment">//</Keywords>
<Keywords name="Words1"></Keywords>
<Keywords name="Words2"></Keywords>
<Keywords name="Words3">instanceof assert if else switch case default break goto return for while do continue new throw throws try catch finally this super extends implements import true false null</Keywords>
<Keywords name="Words4">capsule design package transient strictfp void char short int long double float const static volatile byte boolean class interface native private protected public final abstract synchronized enum</Keywords>
</KeywordLists>
<Styles>
<WordsStyle name="DEFAULT" styleID="11" fgColor="000000" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="9" />
<WordsStyle name="FOLDEROPEN" styleID="12" fgColor="808040" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="14" keywordClass="Folder+"/>
<WordsStyle name="FOLDERCLOSE" styleID="13" fgColor="808040" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="14" keywordClass="Folder-" />
<WordsStyle name="KEYWORD3" styleID="7" fgColor="0000FF" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="" keywordClass="Words3"/>
<WordsStyle name="KEYWORD4" styleID="8" fgColor="8000FF" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="" keywordClass="Words4"/>/>
<WordsStyle name="COMMENT" styleID="1" fgColor="008000" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="" keywordClass="Comment"/>
<WordsStyle name="COMMENT LINE" styleID="2" fgColor="008000" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="Comic Sans MS" fontStyle="0" fontSize="" keywordClass="Comment"/>
<WordsStyle name="NUMBER" styleID="4" fgColor="FF0000" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="0" fontSize="" />
<WordsStyle name="OPERATOR" styleID="10" fgColor="804000" bgColor="FFFFFF" fontName="" fontStyle="1" fontSize="" />
</Styles>
</UserLang>
</NotepadPlus>
Then you would see your language in the language tab.
Best Answer
I am afraid this is not possible. You can consult UDL2 documentation to learn about User Defined Language capabilities. It is intentionally restricted in order to be easy enough giving a compromise between usability for ordinary users and efficiency.
Solution: The only thing I can advise to you beyond UDL2 is to create your own build of Notepad++. If you get the source, you can see that all built-in language highlighters are implemented procedurally using
.lexfiles. You can create yours and there you have unlimited highlighting possibilities. Then you need to add color definitions to existing XML files, menu item and necessary bindings and you should be done. Hint: built-in Batch language is already highlighting first word on the line so maybe it is a good point to start from.Workaround: if highlighting of first word on line is sufficient to you, just switch langugage to Batch. :)
Another solution: In these cases, user RProgram always suggests people to switch from Notepad++ to SynWrite editor. Its user-defined languages have much wider capabilities. Maybe this will be the fastest way how you can get to desired result without going too deep.