Adding Custom Syntax Definitions, Themes, and Templates

Textastic supports custom syntax definitions and themes, including Sublime Text 3 packages, TextMate 1-compatible .tmbundle bundles, and .tmTheme theme files.

Custom templates appear in the file creation dialog.

Create the “#Textastic” Folder

  • Go to the Local Files root folder

  • Tap the + button in the bottom toolbar

  • Choose Folder and enter #Textastic as the Folder Name

  • Tap Create

Add folder #Textastic

Important

The folder must display the icon shown below. The name “#Textastic” is case-sensitive.

#Textastic folder icon

Add Custom Syntax Definitions and Themes

Move your Sublime Text 3 packages, TextMate bundles, and theme files into the newly created folder (see Moving, Copying, and Renaming Files and Folders).

Custom syntax definitions, theme and template

  • Sublime Text 3 packages are folders without an extension.

  • TextMate bundles are folders with a .tmbundle extension.

  • Theme files use the .tmTheme extension.

  • Template files use the .json extension.

Example: Download a Syntax Definition from GitHub

Many third-party syntax definitions are available on GitHub as Sublime Text 3 packages or TextMate 1 bundles. You can find them by searching for <language> Sublime Text using a web search engine.

To install one:

  • Open the GitHub repository in Safari on your iPad or iPhone.

  • Tap the green Code button and choose Download ZIP.

  • Unzip the downloaded file in the Files app. This creates a folder containing the syntax files.

  • Optionally rename the folder to match the language name.

  • Move or copy this folder into On My iPhone/Textastic/#Textastic/ or On My iPad/Textastic/#Textastic/. This is the same as Local Files/#Textastic inside Textastic.

  • Reload customizations (see Reload Customizations).

Note

Syntax definitions from GitHub are third-party contributions and are not maintained by Textastic.

Reload Customizations

After adding syntax definitions, themes, or code completions, reload customizations to make them available:

Settings button

  • Tap the Settings button (gear icon) in the bottom toolbar.

  • Tap Other.

Reload Customizations

  • Tap Reload Customizations to reload all syntax definitions, themes, and code completions.

All open files in Local Files/#Textastic are automatically saved before reloading.

Hint

You can also invoke “Reload Customizations” using the customizable keyboard shortcut Cmd-Shift-R.

For example, edit a theme or code completion file and press Cmd-Shift-R on an external keyboard to instantly save and reload it.

After reloading, you can select the new syntax in File Properties. Added themes appear in code editor settings.

Adding Custom Templates

You can also add custom templates that appear in the file creation dialog:

Template

See the Textastic-Customization GitHub page for details and example files.