MPS
 
2024.1
Shortcuts: Windows
Get MPS
  1. Getting started
  2. User interface
  3. Colors and fonts

Colors and fonts

Last modified: 31 May 2024

As a developer, you work with a lot of text resources: the source code in the editor, search results, debugger information, console input and output, and so on. Color and font styles are used to format this text and help you better understand it at a glance.

MPS lets you choose between configurable color schemes that define colors and fonts used in IDE text.

note

A color scheme is not the same as the interface theme, which defines the appearance of windows, dialogs, and controls.

You can use a predefined color scheme or customize it to your liking. It is also possible to share schemes.

Select a color scheme

  1. Press CtrlAlt0S to open settings and then select Editor | Color Scheme.

    Alternatively, you can select a scheme on the Appearance & Behavior | Appearance page.

  2. Use the Scheme list to select a color scheme.

    The default color scheme for the current interface theme is indicated in the list.

    Select the color scheme

    Click Change IDE Theme to navigate to the Appearance & Behavior | Appearance page in settings on which you can configure an interface theme.

note

If you install a plugin with a color scheme, that scheme will be added to the list of predefined schemes. For more information, refer to Share color schemes.

By default, there are the following predefined color schemes:

  • High contrast: designed for the High contrast interface theme (recommended for users with sight deficiency)

  • Classic Light: designed for the macOS Light and Windows 10 Light interface themes

  • IntelliJ Light: designed for the IntelliJ Light interface theme in Classic UI

  • Darcula: designed for the Darcula interface theme

Customize a color scheme

You can customize a predefined color scheme, but it is recommended that you create a duplicate for your custom color and font settings:

Duplicate a color scheme

  1. Press CtrlAlt0S to open settings and then select Editor | Color Scheme.

  2. Select a color scheme, click the Settings icon, and then click Duplicate.

    Duplicate a color scheme

  3. (Optional) To rename your custom scheme, click the Settings icon and select Rename.

note

Predefined color schemes are listed in bold font. If you customize a predefined color scheme, it will be displayed in blue. To restore a predefined color scheme to default settings, click The Settings icon and select Restore Defaults. You cannot remove predefined color schemes.

To define color and font settings, open the Editor | Color Scheme page of settings  CtrlAlt0S.

Language Defaults section under Color Scheme settings

The settings under Editor | Color Scheme are separated into sections. For example, the General section defines basic editor colors, such as the gutter, line numbers, errors, warnings, popups, hints, and so on. The Language Defaults section contains common syntax highlighting settings, which are applied to all supported programming languages by default.

In most cases, it is sufficient to configure Language Defaults and make adjustments for specific languages if necessary. To change inherited color settings for an element, clear the Inherit values from checkbox.

Semantic highlighting

By default, the color scheme defines syntax highlighting for reserved words and other symbols in your source code: operators, keywords, suggestions, string literals, and so on. If you have a function or method with many parameters and local variables, it may be hard to distinguish them from one another at a glance. You can use semantic highlighting to assign a different color to each parameter and local variable.

Enable semantic highlighting

  1. Press CtrlAlt0S to open settings and then select Editor | Color Scheme | Language Defaults | Semantic highlighting.

  2. Select the Semantic highlighting checkbox and customize the color ranges if necessary.

Semantic highlighting

Share color schemes

If you are used to a specific color scheme, you can export it from one installation and import it to another one. You can also share color schemes with other developers.

Fonts

Customize the default editor font

This font will be used and inherited in all color schemes by default.

  1. Press CtrlAlt0S to open settings and then select Editor | Font.

  2. Select the font from the Font list.

  3. Click Apply to save the settings.

For more information, refer to Font.

Customize the color scheme font

Set a different font for your current scheme if necessary.

note

This is not recommended if you are planning to share your scheme or use it on other platforms that may not support the selected font. In such cases, use the default global font settings.

  1. Press CtrlAlt0S to open settings and then select Editor | Color Scheme | Color Scheme Font.

  2. Select the Use color scheme font instead of the default checkbox.

For more information, refer to Color Scheme.

tip

To configure the font used in the MPS interface (tool windows, toolbars, menus), open the IDE settings CtrlAlt0S, and go to Appearance & Behavior | Appearance. From the Use custom font list, select a font and specify the font size in the Size field.

For more information, refer to Appearance.

Customize the console font

By default, the text in the console uses the same font as the color scheme. To use a different font in the console:

  1. Press CtrlAlt0S to open settings and then select Editor | Color Scheme | Console Font.

  2. Select the Use console font instead of the default checkbox.

Install a new custom font

MPS can use any font that is available in your operating system or in the Java runtime that is used to run MPS. If you want to add another font, you need to install it in your OS, and MPS will discover it after a restart.

  1. Download the desired TTF font package and unzip it to extract font files (.ttf ). For the font to work correctly, it should have at least 4 files: Normal, Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic.

  2. Depending on your operating system, do one of the following:

    Select all font files, right-click the selection and choose Install.

  3. Restart MPS and then select the installed font on the Editor | Font page of settings  CtrlAlt0S.

Productivity tips

See the color scheme settings for the current symbol

  • Place the caret at the desired symbol, press CtrlShift0A, find the Jump to Colors and Fonts action, and execute it.

This will open the relevant color scheme settings for the symbol under the caret.

See which fonts are currently used in the editor

  • Press CtrlShift0A, find the Show Fonts Used by Editor action, and execute it.

    This opens the Fonts Used in Editor dialog with a list of fonts.

Use the quick switcher

  1. Press Ctrl0` or select View | Quick Switch Scheme from the main menu.

  2. In the Switch popup, select Editor Color Scheme, and then select the desired color scheme.

note

Neither the Jump to Colors and Fonts nor the Show Fonts Used by Editor actions have a default shortcut. To assign a shortcut for an action, select it in the Find Action popup and press AltEnter.