USFOS Syntax highlighting and Clip library for Textpad
The last time, I wrote a couple of syntax files for Textpad1 was in 2003.
Necessity, as they say, drives us to create things that don’t exist yet. These recent times have been such. I’ve been using USFOS2 a lot more recently, and I realized that my old syntax file was awfully out of date. Compounding the matter, I had but forgotten all control parameters. This was forcing me to refer to the manual every now and then.
Thought it’s time to get rid of the annoyance of looking-up. So, I wrote these two files:
- Syntax highlighting file—I love highlighted code, highlighted input files. They make understanding much easier by simply highlighting in color. (A command for example, is in Blue, whereas a comment is either in Green or in Grey.) With the syntax file, any available command—within USFOS command library—is now highlighted (or color coded in Textpad).
- Clip library—This second file takes care of my short memory of USFOS control parameters. Open Textpad and double-click on any USFOS control parameter listed in the USFOS clip library, and it pastes a set of USFOS command lines (together with related parameters) at cursor position in the editor.
Installation instructions are in the download file.3 Enjoy.
Update [14 Sep]: The files are now officially available from Textpad site—thanks to Stephen MacDonald, Helios Software Solutions for hosting them.
- I am great fan of Textpad—for more reasons than one. I have been guilty of using it in its fully functional evaluation mode for years, and with an exception of a rare pop-up, it has never bugged me. A software like this deserves to be bought, and it’s worth every penny. If you’re a regular user, please consider buying it—this is an honest fan’s plug. [←]
- USFOS is an excellent computer program for nonlinear static and dynamic analysis of space frame structures. [←]
- I’ve put these files under a Creative Commons License. Free to use academically, professionally, and commercially. If you think this license is restrictive or feel uncomfortable using within your domain, let me know, I am willing to change it. [←]