An alternative to Notepad for SIOC

If you are a user of SIOC and using Notepad as an editor then you may find the following of interest.

I decided a while back that there must be an alternative to using Notepad which is just not suited for use as a programming editor. The problem was that there are hundreds of editors out there but after spending a few hours I found one that could easily be adapted for use with SIOC. In fact this editor can be adapted for use with any programming language and its freeware.
The program is called ConTEXT and can be downloaded from the following link.

http://www.contexteditor.org/

I have created a Highlighter and Code Template for SIOC and will be happy to share these files if someone can tell me where to download them to. I can’t attach these files as they have an extension of .chl and .ctpl and are not in the list of valid extensions for uploading to this site.

When you have copied the two files above launch ConTEXT and load your old
Sioc text file. From the tool bar set the Highlighter to “SIOC Text File” your code should now be colour coded (much easier to read). To enter a new line of code just press Ctrl J and you will get a drop down box select the command to use and the syntax will be inserted (no need to remember the command syntax anymore) Just double click on the highlighted boxes and enter your variables, that’s it now your programmes will be much easier to read and write.
Please note that you can change the Highlighter and code template to suit your own needs for instance if you don’t like the font or font size I have used you can change it.

Hope this helps.

"" I have created a Highlighter and Code Template for SIOC and will be happy to share these files if someone can tell me where to download them to. I can’t attach these files as they have an extension of .chl and .ctpl and are not in the list of valid extensions for uploading to this site.""

Gary thanks !

Is it possible to upload them here *on this site* into the download section and to report here when "done" ?

Hessel Oosten

Ok I have attached the two files to be used with program ConTEXT. I had to upload them as Text Files so you will need to do the following in order for them to work.

Copy Sioc.txt to folder \Program Files\ConTEXT\Highlighters
Copy Sioc Text File.txt to folder \Program Files\ConTEXT\Template

Launch ConTEXT and select View on the menu bar make sure File Panel is checked.
Under File Panel (left of the screen) navigate to folder \Program Files\ConTEXT\Highlighters
And double click on file Sioc.txt then go to File - Save As and save this file with extension .chl then select File - Close

Under File Panel (left of the screen) navigate to folder \Program Files\ConTEXT\Template
And double click on file Sioc Text File.txt then go to File - Save As and save this file with extension .ctpl then select File - Close

That’s it.

Now load your sioc program you created with Notepad and make sure you have
Select Active Highlighter (far right of the Toolbar) set to Sioc Text File

You should see you program colour coded. To enter a new command press CTRL J and you should have a drop down box showing you all the Sioc Commands just select a command and press enter and the command will be inserted for you double click on the highlighted boxes to enter your variables.
The rest should be easy to understand.

Gary,

In the active highlighters box with a lot of different file formats there is a "Normal text file" option but NOT a "SIOC Text File" option.
Did I miss something ?

Hessel

Edit. I presume it has nothing to do with the (typo ?!) extra dot I removed from the above SIOC Text File..txt ?

I just renamed the two files and copied them to :
\Program Files\X-ConTEXT_0.98.6_rev1\Bin\ConTEXT\Highlighters
and
\Program Files\X-ConTEXT_0.98.6_rev1\Bin\ConTEXT\Template

All seem to work fine.

Andrew,

Thanks ! that's it. I confused: X-ConTEXT with ConTEXT.
Now it works.

Hessel

You're welcome!! Now, I must make a plan to come and visit you and your sim some time.

Glad you got it working. It is better to do a File-Save-As in the program as this will insure that the file type is CHL File. If you just rename the files the file type will still show Text Document, well this is the case in Windows Vista.

If you are using a laptop you might want to change the font to Lucida also at the same time you can check that Sioc Text File is your default Highlighter. To do this go to Options-Environment Options select Editor Tab change the font settings at the top to Lucida Size 12.

At the bottom of this window make sure you change the default Highlighter to Sioc Text File.

Gary many thanks to share this editor!!...very useful and working fine!:D:D
cheers, Valerio