Re: [PATCH] Highlight ANSI sequences in the whole buffer (was [PATCH] ANSI color on example blocks and fixed width elements)

[Ihor Radchenko]

Nathaniel Nicandro <nathanielnicandro@gmail.com> writes:

> Attached is the updated version of the patch.  I've also attached an
> updated file that I've been using for testing the feature.

Sorry for the late reply, and thanks for the patch!
It runs fine on my side, although I am not sure if things are working as
expected for all the cases. For example, headlines never got fontified
on my side when I tried your patch on top of the latest main branch.

Also, it looks like you simply made the ASCII sequences invisible, which
causes funky behaviour when trying to edit the text around. What we may
need instead is something similar to hidden parts of the links that get
revealed when we try to edit the invisible text. See
`org-catch-invisible-edits' variable and the functions that examine it.

> What I have is essentially a function, org-fontify-ansi-sequences, that
> scans the buffer for an ANSI sequence and depending on the
> element-context processes the region that should be affected according
> to the rules you stated (see above).  The org-fontify-ansi-sequences-1
> function scans the buffer element-wise and processes the appropriate
> regions of the elements, even if no sequences appear in those regions,
> according to an ansi-context.  This is to support the fourth rule you
> mentioned.
>
> Note that modifications to highlighted regions hasn't really been
> considered so if you have a scenario like
>
> #+RESULTS:
> - <ANSI>Paragraph one
> - Paragraph two
>   Line 3
>
> where the sequence affects everything down to "Line 3" and you make a
> modification to line three, the fontification due to the sequence
> disappears on that line.

You may use `org-fontify-extend-region' to handle such scenarios if you
mark the ANSI highlights with a special text property.

> Also note that lesser elements contained in greater elements that
> don't have a RESULTS keyword are handled at the lesser element level
> so if you have something like
>
> #+begin_center
> Paragraph <ANSI>one.
>
> Paragraph two.
> #+end_center
>
> It would be the same as if you just had the paragraphs without the
> greater element.

Sounds reasonable.

P.S. I am not yet commenting on the details in the code.

-- 
Ihor Radchenko // yantar92,
Org mode contributor,
Learn more about Org mode at <https://orgmode.org/>.
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