Notepad++ : Custom Syntax Highlighting for .txt files

I keep code samples that I find useful as text files on my computer. I store them as txt files as opposed to the language in which they are written, so that they will open in Notepad++ instead of the editor (i.e. I don't want my c++ examples to open in an IDE, just Notepad).

Is there a way I can have Notepad++ apply appropriate syntax highlighting to the text file by reading a special code in the text file itself?

For example if I had some sql, the first line of the text file could read like this:

##Language=SQL 

... my sql code properly highlighted as sql ...

Thanks in adv开发者_StackOverflow社区ance. I realize I could just choose the language after opening the file (i.e. Language > SQL), but it would be much more convenient if it could do it automatically.

No, it can't. You can choose it manually or use special file type extensions which you then associate with Notepad++ and tell it to highlight the files as the appropriate language.

For example, use .txtsql files for SQL, .txtcpp files for C++ and so on.

I ended up writing it myself:

1. You need the Python plugin

2. Add the code below to your startup.py file

3. Switch your Python Initialization setting from "LAZY" to "ATSTARTUP"

#if found determine the menu command and switch language in NPP
def switch_language_view(args):
    notepad.activateBufferID(args["bufferID"])
    lineone = editor.getLine(0)
    if '##' in lineone:
        lineone = lineone[lineone.rfind('##'):].replace('##', '')
        lineone = "MENUCOMMAND." + lineone.upper()
        try:
            notepad.menuCommand( eval(lineone) )
        except:
            pass

#command to link notification
notepad.callback(switch_language_view, [NOTIFICATION.FILEOPENED])

I'd suggest giving them the proper file extensions, then import something like this into your registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\NotepadPlusPlus]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\NotepadPlusPlus\command]
@="C:\\path\\to\\notepad++.exe \"%1\""

Then you can open your files in NP++ with a quick right-click, and NP++ will be able to auto-detect the right language based on the file extension.

Manual selection is a much simpler way. Store all the files in .txt format (irrespective of java or C or C++). Open the file in Notepad++ and select the corresponding language in the Menu. e.g. Language --> Java.

You could try some npp scripting,

python

lua

and/or hacking macros. you could make the script start conditionally, check your special string and select the language for you.