Version 1 Released September 15, 2014
by Andrew Hazelden
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.
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/
Step 1. Download Notepad++ and install it on your system. After you start Notepad++ you will see a blank text editing window.
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..."
In the Style Configurator window select the Obsidian theme and click the Save and Close button.
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.
Step 4. In the User Defined Language window, click on the Import button to load the XML based language file.
In the open dialog select the "userDefined_SoftimageSPDL.xml" file and click open.
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.
Step 5. We need to restart Notepad++ for the new language module to be listed in the Notepad++ language menu.
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.
Here is an example Softimage .spdl file with Notepad++ based syntax highlighting enabled:
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++
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.
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