How do I change the color of the JSON `Key` in Sublime Text2

Question

So I've added:

    <dict>
        <key>name</key>
        <string>JSON Key</string>
        <key>scope</key>
        <string>meta.structure.dictionary.json string2.quoted.double.json</string>
        <key>settings</key>
        <dict>
            <key>foreground</key>
            <string>#00FF00</string>
        </dict>
    </dict>

to my color scheme called custom.tmTheme and I've added:

    <key>string2</key>
    <dict>
        <key>begin</key>
        <string>"</string>
        <key>beginCaptures</key>
        <dict>
            <key>0</key>
            <dict>
                <key>name</key>
                <string>punctuation.definition.string2.begin.json</string>
            </dict>
        </dict>
        <key>end</key>
        <string>"\s.:</string>
        <key>endCaptures</key>
        <dict>
            <key>0</key>
            <dict>
                <key>name</key>
                <string>punctuation.definition.string2.end.json</string>
            </dict>
        </dict>
        <key>name</key>
        <string>string2.quoted.double.json</string>
        <key>patterns</key>
        <array>
            <dict>
                <key>match</key>
                <string>(?x:                # turn on extended mode
                 \\                # a literal backslash
                 (?:               # ...followed by...
                   ["\\/bfnrt]     # one of these characters
                   |               # ...or...
                   u               # a u
                   [0-9a-fA-F]{4}  # and four hex digits
                 )
               )</string>
                <key>name</key>
                <string>constant.character.escape.json</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>match</key>
                <string>\\.</string>
                <key>name</key>
                <string>invalid.illegal.unrecognized-string-escape.json</string>
            </dict>
        </array>
    </dict>

to a JSON-test.tmLanguage file in my packages folder, but yet I still don't see green keys.

Does anyone have any idea where I went wrong?

For anyone, who is looking for a nice way to add color to their theme for JSON or just wants the Monokai+JSON support, check out MonokaiJSON+ project: https://goo.gl/39ZBnA — electronix384128, Dec 21 '14 at 21:04

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered May 01 '14 at 21:28

5

You don't need to create or modify a .tmLanguage file, you should be able to do this simply using the JavaScript -> JSON syntax. Modify your .tmTheme like so:

<dict>
    <key>name</key>
    <string>JSON Key</string>
    <key>scope</key>
    <string>meta.structure.dictionary.json string.quoted.double.json -meta.structure.dictionary.value.json</string>
    <key>settings</key>
    <dict>
        <key>foreground</key>
        <string>#00FF00</string>
    </dict>
</dict>

and you should be all set. It will highlight all strings contained within JSON dictionaries, but not if the scope contains meta.structure.dictionary.value.json, so it will only highlight the keys.

answered May 01 '14 at 21:28

MattDMo

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First off, upvotes, for a nifty solution. Thanks! Second though, this doesn't change the keys of sub entries i.e. `{'key1' : {'key2' : 'value2'}}` key2 doesn't change because it's part of the value of key1. I really want clarity on the syntax creation and grammar as well, just out of personal interest. – Jason Nichols May 02 '14 at 15:32
1

@JasonNichols check out my answer [here](http://stackoverflow.com/a/21213086/1426065) for a possible solution. Each level (up to 18 deep) is highlighted in a different color, and the keys and values are different colors so they can be easily distinguished. The relevant lines of the `.tmTheme` file are on Github [here](https://github.com/MattDMo/Neon-color-scheme/blob/master/Neon.tmTheme#L1150-L1363) if you don't want to use the entire theme. – MattDMo May 02 '14 at 15:47

How do I change the color of the JSON `Key` in Sublime Text2

1 Answers1