Tip #53: Better colors for syntax highlighting

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Rating 338/149, Viewed by 14158

created:		March 18, 2001 12:59		complexity:		basic
author:		Anonymous		as of Vim:		5.7

For syntax highlighting there are two sets of default color maps: One for a light and another one for a dark background. If you have a black background, use the following command to get a better color map for syntax highlighting: :set background=dark You have to switch off and on again syntax highlighting to activate the new color map: :syntax off :syntax on For a detailled description of syntax highlighting refer to :help syntax.txt See also the Vim syntax support file: $VIMRUNTIME/syntax/synload.vim

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Additional Notes

[email protected], November 10, 2001 23:52

I just checked this in 6.0 and you no longer have to turn syntax off and then back on.

Anonymous, August 10, 2002 5:00

Love is in the air...

[email protected], November 26, 2002 11:53

This function reverses background setting so you can quickly toggle between light and dark . I use it because I'm often changing my desktop background and use transparent terminals. :function! ReverseBackground() : let Mysyn=&syntax; : if &bg;=="light" : se bg=dark : else : se bg=light : endif : syn on : exe "set syntax=" . Mysyn ": echo "now syntax is "&syntax; :endfunction :command! Invbg call ReverseBackground() :noremap <F11> :Invbg<CR> "

Anonymous, July 10, 2003 20:47

You may also need to change the highlighting to match the new background. Here's the same macro as before, but toggling the bacground colour of the window as well: :function! ReverseBackground() : let Mysyn=&syntax; : if &bg;=="light" : se bg=dark : highlight Normal guibg=black guifg=white : else : se bg=light : highlight Normal guibg=white guifg=black : endif : syn on : exe "set syntax=" . Mysyn ": echo "now syntax is "&syntax; :endfunction :command! Invbg call ReverseBackground() :noremap <F11> :Invbg<CR>

Anonymous, August 21, 2003 15:31

Mmm... desert... I like that! :-) https://www.vim8.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=105

[email protected], March 28, 2004 2:26

How do you make :set background=dark permanent ?

[email protected], April 1, 2004 2:16

Just add the line "set background=dark" to your vimrc file (systemwide = /etc/vimrc) ! Regards, Heiko

[email protected], April 7, 2004 7:41

Just to say I use this line in my vimrc: map <F11> :let &background; = ( &background; == "dark"? "light" : "dark" )<CR> That let's me switch backgrounds pretty quickly jac

Anonymous, June 8, 2004 12:18

Great macro... I really have to start learning about these macro's in vim. E.




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