Notepad++ Softimage SPDL Syntax Highlighter

Version 1 Released September 15, 2014

by Andrew Hazelden

Sample Softimage SPDL file

Overview

I would like to present a new Notepad++ syntax highlighting module that works with code from Softimage SPDL files. The new modules make it easier for a VFX artist or technical director to edit an SPDL document with an external text editor and this can speed up your development process on porting shaders, etc.

Note: The free program Notepad++ is required to use the syntax highlighter.

Download

The Softimage SPDL Highlighter module is a free download.

You can download the latest version on GitHub here:

https://github.com/AndrewHazelden/Softimage-SPDL-Syntax-Highlighter/

Installation

Step 1. Download Notepad++ and install it on your system. After you start Notepad++ you will see a blank text editing window.

Starting up Notepad++

Step 2. The syntax highlighting module has been customized to work with the dark background based Obsidian theme. To load the Obsidian theme in Notepad++, go to the Settings menu and select "Style Configurator..."

Open the Style Configurator

In the Style Configurator window select the Obsidian theme and click the Save and Close button.

Choose the Obsidian Theme

Step 3. Let's load the custom "Softimage SPDL" syntax highlighting module. Open the Language menu in Notepad++ and select the "Define your language..." menu item. The User Defined Language window will load.

Load the Define Your Language Window

Step 4. In the User Defined Language window, click on the Import button to load the XML based language file.

Click the "Import" button

In the open dialog select the "userDefined_SoftimageSPDL.xml" file and click open.

Select the userDefined_SoftimageSPDL.xml file

If the file was loaded correctly an "Import Successful" notice will appear. Click the OK button to continue. At this point you should close the "User Defined Language" window by clicking on the window's X shaped close button.

You will see a "Import Successful" notice

Step 5. We need to restart Notepad++ for the new language module to be listed in the Notepad++ language menu.

This is an unformatted script

If you open a Softimage .spdl file at this point you will see formatted text. If you are working on an include file without the .spdl extension you can select the language manually.

Open the Language menu and select Softimage SPDL. This will turn on syntax highlighting and make it easier to develop complex Softimage SPDL files.

Select the Softimage SPDL Language

Here is an example Softimage .spdl file with Notepad++ based syntax highlighting enabled:

This is a sample show script that has syntax highlighting

Bonus Step If you use the Notepad++ Compare module you can load the new Obsidian theme compatible color palette file "Compare.ini" from the Softimage SPDL Syntax Highlighter install folder by copying "Compare.ini" to your Notepad++ preferences folder:

C:\Users\<Your User Account>\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++

Compare.ini theme update

This is a side by side comparison of two Softimage SPDL documents. You can open the compare mode by selecting the "Plugins > Compare > Compare" menu item.
Comparing two SPDL files in Notepad++


I hope this tool improves your coding workflow as you develop new Softimage GUIs using SPDL files with the Notepad++ text editor. I've also created an Softimage SPDL syntax highlighter BBEdit and TextWrangler.

Cheers,

Andrew Hazelden

Email: andrew@andrewhazelden.com

Blog: http://www.andrewhazelden.com

Twitter: @andrewhazelden

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+AndrewHazelden