Notepad++ Edit syntax highlighting for PHP?

Question

I'd like to edit the syntax highlighting for PHP in Notepad++:

1. To have variables starting with $_ in a different color than variables starting with only $
2. To have operators like {} () [] in different colors than operators like & =

Is it possible to change the highlighting to be this in-depth? How?

Solution 1

This is Possible

In Notepad++, define a new language by clicking View > User-Defined Dialogue...

Give the language a name (e.g. myPHP). Set the ext (file extension abbreviation) to php. Define the color coding for the global variables and for the brackets, braces and parentheses, etc. Close the Dialoague.

That is all. The formatting for myPHP which conflicts with the formatting for PHP will override the formatting for PHP, i.e. if the file has a .php extension.

More information: Notepad++ Wiki

Solution 2

To edit the syntax highlighting in Notepad++, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings, then Style. The configurator dialog opens.
• Select language php
• Select the style based on your criteria
• Save

Comments

[BoltClock]

The last step kind of makes this less useful than it potentially could be. But wow, I didn't know this feature existed.

[Geoffrey]

@BoltClock, I also just learned about this now. I have edited my answer. It seems one can give the userdefined language the same file extension. Then it will also work.

[Wolfpack'08]

I disagree. Creating a custom language takes much longer than editing an existing language; therefore, this isn't the answer users coming to this page are seeking out. It's a waste of time for users seeking this question. This answer should not have been posted and is flagged for removal. Either the question title should be changed such that people not seeking this issue aren't drawn here, or we should try to find a real answer.

[andreszs]

Any ideas how to define a new group in order to separate constants from functions? It's annoying to use the same color for them when they are totally different things...