Syntax Highlighting w/ Swing Text Package

Question

I have a question for you that I hope ever so much that you could answer just in the most abstract sense, I will figure out the code from what you have said hopefully. Any relavent parts that you think I should know, please point out.
My question is, I'm trying to implement Syntax Highlighting for a code editor in Java (yes I know, like everyone else. It would REALLY be helpful if you did an updated Demo of a SyntaxEditor for JDK 1.4 BTW) anyway, I have already implemented Syntax Highlighting by overriding the PlainView and changing its drawLine method to parse the line, find the key words then draw them accordingly. However I cannot get over the sinking feeling that there is a better way to do this in JDK 1.4, I'm not worried about backward compatability. I'm only interested in the "sexiest" way to do this with Java. I started looking into the GlyphView, and that seems more of what I want, it has more control over the text elements and strong drawing abilities, I also noticed the GlyphPainter1 and GlyphPainter2, I tried to extend GlyphPainter2 and use it with my extended GlyphView and just change its paint method to parse the lines, but the class complains about not being public, even though in the source its class definition is "public class GlyphPainer2 extends GlyphView.GlyphPainter" which confused me.
But at any rate, my basic question is how would YOU, implement Syntax Highlighting (code coloring) if you could do it from scratch with all the facilities of the 1.4 JDK. ALso, should I look into the Java2D API or is this over kill for what I'm doing? I just need a basic code color'er, nothing fancy. But I need the fonts and styles to be able to change, that's all. And international support would be nice.
The type of answer I'm hoping for is something like "Create a new editor kit and then extend the GlyphView class and override its XYZ method to do your line parsing and then override the ABC method to do the actual painting of the line, this is the best way to do this in java"
Best wishes,
-rsk123

Answer 1

I am searching for text highlighting code in java during 7 days.
And I also agree with Mr. rsk123 's thought.
I want to make editor to highlight code using java's general text package.
But I can't find good source or class to satisfy me.
Some code run well but it's not use the original java text package.
Some code was made by using java text package but have a bug and not run pefectly.
Now, I must choice a code for text highlighting.
But until now I can't find a free code or comecial code for it.
Anyway, I summarize my suffing result until now.
** I have stuied,
. About java's text package in Swing Connection site.
It's useful a little to understand the text package structure.
(http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/tsc/articles/index.html)
. How to make own EditorKit in 'Java Swing' book chapter 24.
I think it's good. But difficult to read.
(published by O'REILLY. Robert Eckstein)
** I have found program and have tested.
1) JEdit (http://www.jedit.org)
2) Jext(http://www.jext.org)
3) Sun's sample using the JavaEditorKit
(http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/tsc/articles/text/editor_kit/index.html)
4) Ostermiller's Syntax editor (http://ostermiller.org/syntax/editor.html)
5) j (http://armedbear-j.sourceforge.net/)
6) je 1.66 (http://mathsrv.ku-eichstaett.de/MGF/homes/grothmann/je/)
*** Detail descriptions of the test
1. May be run well but not use java text package.
==> JEdit (http://www.jedit.org), Jext(http://www.jext.org)
- I executed JEdit and Jext program. it works very well.
I think It's greate programs.
- The editor class for these programs are
org.gjt.sp.jedit.textarea.JEditTextArea class.
The JEditTextArea class extends JComponent, not java text component.
- JEditTextArea class started from 'jedit syntax package project'.
You can download the syntax package if you only use syntax highlighting
from http://syntax.jedit.org/ .
- JEdit and Jext use for editor 'jedit syntax package' but have upgrade that
package their own effort(may be)
- For me, It's an only product run well without error.
But unfortunately it's not use java text component.
So I hesitane to use it.
Because I should make almost code to support general editor function which
supported in JTextComponent.
2. Provided by Sun's developer site.
==> JavaEditorKit (http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/tsc/articles/text/editor_kit/index.html)
- It's made using JEditorPane. Great!!
And have a good architecture. (I think)
- But It use Scanner class which located in tools.jar package and
have a bug which not supporting well comment syntax /* */.
(Refer to http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/bugParade/bugs/4323090.html)
Futhermore it display terrible exception message when typed "/*" string
in the end position of java file. (I tested it)
- I heard in the forum, someone made the own scanner class.
(http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jsp?thread=120564&forum=57&message=316083)
He said,(he = rofshi)
I wrote for my purposes a scanner based on the StreamTokenizer
cl*** and set a corresponding object in the JavaView cl*** of
the JavaKitTest.
Then I placed the method of my Scanner cl*** that parses the
given string and paints tokens in the method drawUnselected
Text (instead of previous code).
Of course, I erased all of the previous code related to the
java Scanner.
- For me, I like this style code and want to use it.
But Scanner class have some bug and I can't cure that bug. Terrible...
3. using JTextPane
==> http://ostermiller.org/syntax/editor.html
- At first it's too slow.
My computer is PentiumIII 350MHz Ram:256M Windows2000Por
But when I press pgDown key quickly the display couldn't follow it.
- And may be not support unicode.
When I typed international code, exceptions displayed.
(too much exceptios. may be caused repeating by thread.)
(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException in JavaLexer.java 1022 ?)
- For me, supporting international code is essential.
So I can't use it.
4. Do work well. But it use not understandable code for me.
(not use general java text package)
1)http://armedbear-j.sourceforge.net/
2)http://www.rene-grothmann.de
*** Finally, I have plan to make my own code using Mr rsk123's idea.
(using GlyphView in jdk1.3 or jdk1.4)
*** If you have a good information for text highliting of free code or
comecial code pleas notify me.
My address is [email protected]