How to register a new lexer with TextAdept?

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

The lexer is not automatically selected when I opened the file. I have to tell TextAdept to use it each time I opened the file with this extension.

[orbitalquark]

It depends which version of Textadept you are using. If you're using 11.4 or lower you would add to the `textadept.file_types.extensions` table. If you're using 11.5 alpha or the nightly version, you would add to `lexer.detect_extensions`: https://orbitalquark.github.io/textadept/api.html#lexer.detect_extensions

…

-- Textadept 11.4 or lower. textadept.file_types.extensions.my_ext = 'my_lexer' -- Textadept 11.5 alpha or higher. lexer.detect_extensions.my_ext = 'my_lexer' Technically there is a compatibility layer in 11.5 alpha and the nightlies that allow you to use 11.4's API. This will not be there forever though.

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

Where to put lexer.detect_extensions?

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

In the lexer file or init.lua?

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

@orbitalquark Isn't it better to tell me how to use it rather than throwing the api index into my face and gone my friend? I'm not a Lua guy I have to Google Lua syntax all the time. lexer.detect_extensions is said to be a map. Lua only has table but no such thing as a map. Either way both lexer.detect_extensions alone or lexer.detect_extensions = true or lexer.detect_extensions = {foo = 'bar'} do not work. It's only when I found your very own .textadept directory did I knew to put it on init.lua and inspired me to try this: lexer.detect_extensions.foo = 'bar' but it still not work my friend.

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

I'm using your latest nightly. Please give me a working answer. Thank you.

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

Your manual doesn't provide more information than your answer:

https://orbitalquark.github.io/textadept/manual.html#working-with-files-and-projects

I will wait for your reply.

[orbitalquark]

I agree that reading the API documentation as a newcomer to Lua would be quite intimidating. I recommend reading the Textadept manual first: https://orbitalquark.github.io/textadept/manual.html. You'll find help regarding lexer detection here: https://orbitalquark.github.io/textadept/manual.html#language. Your use of `lexer.detect_extensions.foo = 'bar'` should work, provided you put a working *bar.lua* lexer in either *~/.textadept/lexers/* or Textadept's *lexers/* directory.

[nsgnkhibdk2cls0f]

Yeah, I know why it didn't work now. foo is the lexer name and bar is the extension, after I swapped them it worked:

lexer.detect_extensions.bar = 'foo'

The luadoc example is confusing, as newcomers think the extension is lua and the lexer is luadoc when in fact it's the other way around.