Document Types

[Alan Stewart]

Hello! I don't think I've posted here in a long time but I've been using Zeus since the beginning of 2001 and it's still my favorite editor! I used Brief for 10 years and I can see me use Zeus even longer!

I am now doing some ACCPAC programming and I'm wondering if there is an easy way to copy a document type's configuration from one document type (say .TXT) over to another (say .RC). Something that doesn't require me to open one configuration (.TXT), copy everything down onto paper, then open the new configuration (.RC) and change everything over the way I like to view my files?

I guess what I'm asking for is some sort of default document type setup.

Also, are there any document types for messing with VB files? I don't think Zeus comes with any.

Thanks!
Alan Stewart
Everywhere Cell Phone Games

[jussij]

Hello! I don't think I've posted here in a long time but I've been using Zeus since the beginning of 2001 and it's still my favorite editor! I used Brief for 10 years and I can see me use Zeus even longer!

As a long time Brief user myself, it is a great compliment to have Zeus mentioned in the same sentence as the Brief editor. Thank you

I am now doing some ACCPAC programming and I'm wondering if there is an easy way to copy a document type's configuration from one document type (say .TXT) over to another (say .RC). Something that doesn't require me to open one configuration (.TXT), copy everything down onto paper, then open the new configuration (.RC) and change everything over the way I like to view my files?
I guess what I'm asking for is some sort of default document type setup.

Unfortunately there is not automatic way to do this, but I just tried a manual approach that seemed to work. This is what I did:

1. Options Document Types menu and create a new document
2. Only define the General section of the document type and more specifically the file extension, lets say test.
3. The zConfig/Zeustest-general.ext file for the General section will be created.
4. Next pick the the Document type you want to clone. In my case I will clone the C/C++ document type.
5. In the zConfig directory there are these C/C++ configuration file:

   Code: Select all

   Zeuscpp-compiler.ext
   Zeuscpp-general.ext
   Zeuscpp-keywords.ext
   Zeuscpp-macros.ext
   Zeuscpp-template.ext
   Zeuscpp-tools.ext

6. To clone this document type all I do is close Zeus, then make copies of the following files:

   Code: Select all

   copy Zeuscpp-compiler.ext Zeustest-compiler.ext
   copy Zeuscpp-general.ext  Zeustest-general.ext
   copy Zeuscpp-keywords.ext Zeustest-keywords.ext
   copy Zeuscpp-macros.ext   Zeustest-macros.ext
   copy Zeuscpp-template.ext Zeustest-template.ext
   copy Zeuscpp-tools.ext    Zeustest-tools.ext

7. Restart Zeus and you should have a test document type with identical setting to the C/C++ document type.
8. Notice how I overwrote the General file. This will work, but if you do so you may have to re-edit the General options after the copy.

Another alternative is to start a second copy of Zeus using the -s command line option. At least then you can copy and paste the document type settings, without having to resorting to pencil and paper

Also, are there any document types for messing with VB files? I don't think Zeus comes with any.

There is no document type for VB. The install does come with a basic.txt set of keywords for the BASIC language but I am not sure if this is complete.

Cheers Jussi

[Alan Stewart]

Okay, I just tried your manual approach. I kinda figured that it would work but wanted to ask first. You do *SUCH* a good job of making Zeus actually *usable* to programmers that it's amazing!

All I really wanted to do was change the colouring so all I copied over was the Zeuscpp-coloring.ext file into Zeusrc-coloring.ext and it worked just the way I wanted it to! Well, except for one thing. A *LOT* of my identifiers were coming up as red but when I checked the Resource Document Type Keywords for User Defined 1 I found that ID* was a matchable pattern and that was the problem. I just deleted it and it took care of things. Way cool!

Since I'm now doing ACCPAC programming instead of the Java cell phone games that I wanted to, I found that the ACCPAC SDK uses a ton of different document types and it's a pain finding them all so I just went in and disabled all the file types from showing up in the Files List and now everything is visible. Much easier now!

I had forgotten about the -s option. Thanks for the reminder!

When the time comes to do the VB stuff I'll probably mess about same as I just did and get things working just the way I want them too! Odds are I'll just be editing the files a little bit with Zeus and will be forced to use the VB editor for the rest. I hate not using Zeus.

Thanks again!

Alan Stewart
Everywhere Cell Phone Games

[jussij]

Okay, I just tried your manual approach. I kinda figured that it would work but wanted to ask first. You do *SUCH* a good job of making Zeus actually *usable* to programmers that it's amazing!

Thanks again

I just went in and disabled all the file types from showing up in the Files List and now everything is visible. Much easier now!

Disabling unwanted document types is good advice to all Zeus users. The default installation defines so many documents types it does clutter up the file open dialog.

I hate not using Zeus.

From first experience I know how frustrating this can be

Cheers Jussi