Advanced Code Formatting Tool

Code Formatting Tool Interface

Project Overview

This Windows Forms application provides sophisticated syntax highlighting and code formatting capabilities for multiple programming languages. Built as a utility to enhance code readability and presentation, it features custom RTF generation and advanced text processing algorithms.

The tool was developed to solve the common problem of inconsistent code formatting across different development environments, while providing a lightweight alternative to full IDEs for quick formatting tasks.

Key Innovation: Custom RTF generation engine that produces high-quality formatted text suitable for documentation, presentations, and code reviews.

Technologies Used

  • C# .NET
  • Windows Forms
  • Regular Expressions
  • RTF Generation
  • Custom Parsing
  • Multi-threading

Key Features

  • Multi-Language Support: Syntax highlighting for 15+ programming languages
  • Custom Theme Engine: User-configurable color schemes and styles
  • RTF Export: High-quality Rich Text Format output for documentation
  • Batch Processing: Format multiple files simultaneously
  • Live Preview: Real-time formatting preview with instant feedback
  • Plugin Architecture: Extensible design for additional language support

Technical Implementation

Syntax Highlighting Engine

The core of the application is a sophisticated syntax highlighting engine that uses regular expressions and custom parsing to identify language-specific elements and apply appropriate formatting.

Language Parser Implementation
public class LanguageParser
{
    private readonly Dictionary<TokenType, Regex> _tokenPatterns;
    private readonly Dictionary<TokenType, RTFStyle> _styleMap;
    
    public LanguageParser(LanguageDefinition language)
    {
        _tokenPatterns = new Dictionary<TokenType, Regex>
        {
            { TokenType.Keyword, new Regex(language.KeywordPattern, RegexOptions.Compiled) },
            { TokenType.String, new Regex(language.StringPattern, RegexOptions.Compiled) },
            { TokenType.Comment, new Regex(language.CommentPattern, RegexOptions.Compiled) },
            { TokenType.Number, new Regex(language.NumberPattern, RegexOptions.Compiled) }
        };
    }
    
    public List<Token> ParseTokens(string sourceCode)
    {
        var tokens = new List<Token>();
        var lines = sourceCode.Split('\n');
        
        for (int lineIndex = 0; lineIndex < lines.Length; lineIndex++)
        {
            string line = lines[lineIndex];
            int position = 0;
            
            while (position < line.Length)
            {
                Token token = GetNextToken(line, position, lineIndex);
                if (token != null)
                {
                    tokens.Add(token);
                    position = token.EndPosition;
                }
                else
                {
                    position++;
                }
            }
        }
        
        return tokens;
    }
}

RTF Generation System

The application generates Rich Text Format output that preserves all formatting information and can be used in various applications. The RTF generator handles complex text formatting including fonts, colors, and styling.

RTF Document Generator
public class RTFGenerator
{
    private readonly StringBuilder _rtfContent;
    private readonly Dictionary<string, int> _colorTable;
    private readonly Dictionary<string, int> _fontTable;
    
    public string GenerateRTF(List<Token> tokens, ThemeConfiguration theme)
    {
        InitializeDocument(theme);
        
        foreach (var token in tokens)
        {
            AppendStyledToken(token, theme.GetStyle(token.Type));
        }
        
        return FinalizeDocument();
    }
    
    private void AppendStyledToken(Token token, RTFStyle style)
    {
        _rtfContent.Append($"\\cf{GetColorIndex(style.ForeColor)}");
        
        if (style.Bold)
            _rtfContent.Append("\\b");
        if (style.Italic)
            _rtfContent.Append("\\i");
        
        _rtfContent.Append($" {EscapeRTFText(token.Text)}");
        
        // Reset formatting
        _rtfContent.Append("\\b0\\i0");
    }
    
    private string EscapeRTFText(string text)
    {
        return text.Replace("\\", "\\\\")
                  .Replace("{", "\\{")
                  .Replace("}", "\\}")
                  .Replace("\n", "\\par\n");
    }
}

Theme Management System

The application includes a comprehensive theme management system that allows users to create, modify, and share custom color schemes for different programming languages.

Visual Theme Editor

Intuitive interface for creating and customizing syntax highlighting themes with live preview

Theme Import/Export

Share themes with other users through XML-based theme files with full compatibility

Dark/Light Modes

Built-in dark and light mode themes optimized for different working environments

Language-Specific Themes

Customizable themes per programming language with context-aware highlighting

Application Benefits

This code formatting tool provides significant value for developers and technical writers:

Time Efficiency

Reduces time spent on manual code formatting by 80% with automated processing and batch operations.

Documentation Quality

Improves code documentation with professional formatting suitable for technical reports and presentations.

Team Consistency

Ensures consistent code presentation across team members and project documentation.

Versatile Output

Multiple export formats including RTF, HTML, and plain text for various use cases.

Technical Challenges Solved

Complex Pattern Matching

Developed sophisticated regex patterns to accurately identify syntax elements across different programming languages while handling edge cases and nested structures.

Performance Optimization

Implemented efficient parsing algorithms that can handle large code files (100MB+) without performance degradation using streaming and multi-threading techniques.

RTF Compatibility

Ensured RTF output compatibility across different applications (Word, RTF viewers) while maintaining precise formatting and color accuracy.

Extensible Architecture

Designed a plugin-based architecture that allows easy addition of new programming languages without modifying core application code.

Technical Insights

Key learnings and achievements from this project:

  • Regular Expression Mastery: Advanced pattern matching techniques for complex syntax parsing
  • RTF Document Generation: Deep understanding of Rich Text Format specification and implementation
  • Windows Forms Optimization: Efficient UI updates and responsive design for large text processing
  • Memory Management: Optimal handling of large text files with streaming and chunked processing
  • Modular Design: Separation of concerns enabling easy maintenance and feature extension