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Hi,
I would like to create a new add-on tool. It would act exactly like the JAVA compiler mentioned in the help file Textpad
help file 'How to Customize Tool Properties'.

Features would include:

1, Check syntax
2, Give line number of error, (possibly an error description also)
3, Automatically jump to line when you double click on error

My problem is I do not know how to approach creating this program. I do not know what is the best way of achieving
my aims. I noticed that other programmers had created new Add-ons, and I would like there wisdom and advise and
possibly code examples.

I am a industrial computing graduate if your wondering.

Thanks
Cathal

All you need to do is set up the tool as described in the Help menu, and place the following in the Regular Expression box:

^\(\(\(\[^\]+\[^\]+\)\|\([A-Za-z]:\)\)[^:]+\):\([0-9]+\):

The compiler automatically checks the syntax when you compile, and any errors will appear on the Command Results tab, automatically hyperlinked to the file and line number. I believe that you can also acheive the same result by installing the Java Developers Kit (JDK) from Sun, then re-install TextPad... TextPad will detect the JDK during installation and place the tool there automatically.

Alan Bellows
JSP/Servlet/CGI Programmer, Ovid

Thanks Alan,
Sorry if my posting was misleading, I want to create my own compiler for a language used on databases. The language is SQR. I can't find anywhere a compiler/syntax checker to use as an add -in for free. That is why I what to know how to go about creating my own.

Thanks again
Cathal

Ah, I'm sorry, I did misunderstand. In that case, I would not be the best person to answer your question, as compilers are still well outside of my abilities... they are quite sophisticated and require a thorough knowledge of a low-level programming language.

But, if I can make a recommendation, I'd suggest that purchasing a compiler is almost always wiser than writing your own... it will save you weeks, months, maybe years of programming time, and you'll get a much more stable, efficient compiler, because it has been around the block a few times, and had a lot of kinks worked out.

Alan Bellows
CGI/JSP/Servlet Programmer, Ovid
http://www.enol.com/~bellows