How to Modify Color Syntax in Notepad++
Learn how to easily change the syntax highlighting colors for any language in Notepad++
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Released in 2003, Notepad++ has become one of the most popular Windows-based editors. With over 20 million downloads, fans of the editor love its simplicity and speed. Notepad++ comes complete with syntax highlighting for 78 different languages, a handy feature for coders. This article will show you how to modify the color syntax highlighting for any language.
How to Modify Color Syntax in Notepad++
To change the color syntax (syntax highlighting) for your code in Notepad++, you must first check that you have the appropriate language selected. Click on “Language,” then locate and select your coding language. In our example, we are working with a Javascript file, so we ensured Notepad++ was set to “Language->J->Javascript.”
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Once you select the correct language, follow these steps to change the color syntax.
- Click Settings.
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Click Style Configurator.
- Under the Language column, select the language you are working with.
- Under the Style column, select the part of the syntax you would like to modify.
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Change your color under Colour Style.
For example, if you don’t like the color of the strings in a Javascript file, you would go to Language: Javascript, Style: STRING, and change the Foreground colour to whatever you like.
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The Style Configurator saves styles to the selected theme. You can change your theme at the top of the Style Configurator by clicking the “Select theme” dropdown and choosing a different theme. However, any style changes you made to the other theme will not be carried over.
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How to Create Your Own Language Syntax Highlighting
Notepad++ allows you to define your own language if it doesn’t already support it. Follow these steps to create your own language:
- Click Language.
- Click User Defined Language.
- Click Define your language.
- Click on the Keywords Lists tab.
- Enter your keywords and styles.
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This screen has many color customization options, but the Keywords Lists are a great place to start.
How to Disable Syntax Highlighting
To disable syntax highlighting, click on “Language” and then “None (Normal Text).” You can always change back to a specific language later if you like.
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You now have everything you need to modify color syntax in notepad++, also known as syntax highlighting. If you like highly customizable editors, we recommend you check out Vim.
To get more coding walkthroughs, head over to our Coding Section.