On 2011-03-25, Ben Fritz wrote: > On Mar 25, 1:21 pm, Gary Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > > I'm trying to configure Vim so that I can > > > > 1. choose which filetypes have syntax coloring enabled and > > > > 2. set syntax off when diffing files. > > > > Without the latter, some syntax foreground colors and diff > > background colors are such that the text is impossible to read. > > > > I'm curious why you don't just go with the (to me) obvious solution of > tweaking your color scheme to make diff view readable.
Because syntax highlighting conveys information about the elements and structure of a file. The way I read a file changes depending on whether syntax is on or off. When it is off, I _read_ the file. When it is on, I use the colors and the patterns of colors to infer meaning. For example, when programming C I prefer to have syntax off because I have always _read_ C and looked at indentation patterns and I find the colors distracting. I am less familiar with XML, so when I am editing an XML file, I prefer to have syntax on because it makes the structure of the file easier for me to see. I can switch back and forth between reading modes well enough from file to file, or between diff and non-diff modes, but I think using both modes side by side would be annoying. That is, if I can't use syntax highlighting within a Diff* region, I would rather not use it at all within that file. I've also gotten used to most of Vim's default foreground colors and its garish Diff* background colors. I think it would be difficult to choose a set of foreground colors and Diff* background colors that are distinct from one another and have good contrast between foreground, Diff* background and normal background. Regards, Gary -- You received this message from the "vim_use" maillist. Do not top-post! Type your reply below the text you are replying to. For more information, visit http://www.vim.org/maillist.php
