Sets !free! — Xshell Highlight
To quickly track when events happen by isolating time formats (HH:MM:SS): \b\d2:\d2:\d2\b Use code with caution. 4. Tracking Hexadecimal and Process IDs (PIDs) To match process IDs usually enclosed in brackets or paths: \bpid=\d+\b Use code with caution. Best Practices for Designing Highlight Sets
You can create your own Highlight Sets by preparing a .hls file:
Apply yellow or orange to terms that require attention but aren't immediately destructive, like WARN , WARNING , DEPRECATED , or RETRY . xshell highlight sets
During software builds, highlight:
: In the Highlight Sets dialog, click Add to enter a keyword. To quickly track when events happen by isolating
Limitation: Xshell highlights whole lines, but you can simulate word-only highlighting by using lookarounds that force the match to be the primary content:
A common challenge: you want to highlight the exact word “DOWN” but not longer words containing “DOWN” like “DOWNLOAD” or “DOWNSTREAM”. Best Practices for Designing Highlight Sets You can
Within each highlight set, you can define multiple rules. A rule typically consists of a string and a style. Keyword Matching
Click to save the rule. Repeat this process for all necessary keywords. Step 4: Applying the Highlight Set to a Session
When creating complex Highlight Sets, document what each pattern is intended to match. This pays dividends when returning to the configuration months later or when sharing with team members. Consider adding comments directly in .hls files using the Description field.
XShell, a powerful terminal emulator developed by NetSarang, offers a built-in solution to this problem: . This feature allows you to automatically color-code specific keywords, regular expressions, and patterns in real-time. By implementing custom highlight sets, you can transform your terminal from a wall of text into a highly visual, easily scannable dashboard.