# Markdown syntax highlighting **URL:** \ **Category:** ℹ️ Support\ **Tags:** feature, files-markdown-app\ **Created:** [April 19, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161 "2021-04-19T07:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/alexhell/32/37276_2.png) [@alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/alexhell)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/1 "2021-04-19T07:13:45Z")
Hello, I am working a lot with markup languages. Markdown is most used here. I like the distraction free work, just keeping my hands on the keyboard. No mouse, no buttons etc. Files are just text and easy to save, share etc. What I do not like on the current markdown editor of NC is, that he waste most of this power. I do not need to split the screen to see the result or jump there and back. I would prefer to have a syntax highlighting already in the text. When I write **bold** , I would like to see the ‘bold’ in more fat letters, for _kursiv_ the same etc. The markdown editor of _notes_ has this function. The markdown pad [https://hedgedoc.org/](https://hedgedoc.org/) make it even more readable. Some ideas to get this features into my whole NC platform? ---
**Author:** ![stefan-niedermann](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/stefan-niedermann/32/26974_2.png) [@stefan-niedermann](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/stefan-niedermann)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 7:34am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/2 "2021-04-19T07:34:11Z")
> [@alexhell](#): > > the current markdown editor of NC No idea what you are talking about. NC is shipped with [Nextcloud Text](https://github.com/nextcloud/text) as default markdown editor. Also there is the thrid party [Notes](https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/notes) app. Both are wysiwyg - no split view. Once upon a time there used to be a [split-view editor](https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/files_markdown) around, but that is years ago… So: Without any version information and which app you actually are using, it’s hard to help you. ---
**Author:** ![alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/alexhell/32/37276_2.png) [@alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/alexhell)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 8:03am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/3 "2021-04-19T08:03:31Z")
Hello Stefan, thanks for your feedback. I am talking about [GitHub - icewind1991/files\_markdown: Nextcloud markdown editor](https://github.com/icewind1991/files_markdown) My mistake was, that I immediately installed this app and didn’t realize, that NC Text has already a (better) Markdown support. So, this is already a pleasant step forward. ---
**Author:** ![devnull](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/devnull/32/27793_2.png) [@devnull](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/devnull)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 11:08am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/4 "2021-04-19T11:08:50Z")
> [@alexhell](#): > > NC Text has already a (better) Markdown support. Not really. You can only use Markdown (e.g. with mouse) and not edit the text file directly with markdown commands. But there are issues. Nextcloud Text is a mardown editor and not a text editor. Two years and only a markdown and not text editor in Nextcloud. I also want edit text files and edit direct markdown language. But i can use it as markdown etherpad 😉 Nice. For accessing markdown code i must download it. Bad. > > > It would be quite useful to have a plain text view that only shows the markdown. > > > \*\*Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.\*\* > Sometimes th…ere is an error in my markdown structure and i must change the plain text file (e.g. \`\`\`). > Sometimes i want to copy parts of other markdown files in a new markdown file. > > \*\*Describe the solution you'd like\*\* > At the top a button to change to plain text file edit like app https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/files\_texteditor > > \*\*Describe alternatives you've considered\*\* > Exit Markdown editor and open Plain text editor (i must install both editors in Nextcloud) > > \*\*Additional context\*\* > No additional context. ---
**Author:** ![stefan-niedermann](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/stefan-niedermann/32/26974_2.png) [@stefan-niedermann](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/stefan-niedermann)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/5 "2021-04-19T11:28:41Z")
> [@devnull](#): > > Not really. You can only use Markdown (e.g. with mouse) and not edit the text file directly with markdown commands. This is **not true**. Typing `# Headline` will remove the visible `#` character but marks the `Headline` as an actual headline → You can use Markdown with markdown commands. > [@devnull](#): > > Nextcloud Text is a mardown editor and not a text editor. This **is true**. Nextcloud Text works on a pretty high level and a side effect from parsing the markdown while reading it and writing the file back can cause side effects like `* List item` being replaced with `- List item`. The correct issue for this is [Markdown files from external editors lose formatting on save · Issue #593 · nextcloud/text · GitHub](https://github.com/nextcloud/text/issues/593) > [@devnull](#): > > I also want edit text files and edit direct markdown language. Please don’t speak for everyone - especially non-advanced users will prefer to not see the actual punctuation when editing a file. I have the same opinion as you in this regards, but the Notes app as an alternative has the desired behavior and the maintainer made clear that > [this is a show-stopper](https://github.com/nextcloud/notes/issues/331#issuecomment-751512413) for switching to Text in the future. Therefore i think it is safe to assume that the Notes app will keep the punctuation visible also in the future. So in the end it depends on the use case and expectations of the user which tool is sufficient to achieve the goal - There are available alternatives for high level ([Text](https://github.com/nextcloud/text/)), with punctuation ([Notes](https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/notes)), with split view (the [already mentioned Markdown editor](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/3)). > [@devnull](#): > > Two years and only a markdown and not text editor in Nextcloud. In the end you know how it works on FOSS software @devnull - you already mentioned the issues, if there is not solution which is sufficient for you, you can contribute and bring things on the road 🚀 , pay someone to do that if the pain is high enough 💲 or use alternatives 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/alexhell/32/37276_2.png) [@alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/alexhell)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 1:23pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/7 "2021-04-19T13:23:10Z")
Thanks for your feedback, while I was testing the _Text_-App, the App was switching back from the formatted Text to the original Markdown-Version via backspace. When I reopen the file, this option is not possible anymore. For working with such an documtent it is really a show stopper as you can use markdown just for the first formatting. > [@stefan-niedermann](#): > > if there is not solution which is sufficient for you, you can contribute and bring things on The question is how and not to break up the whole ecosystem. It is really smooth, just to double click on the \*.md document and the editor is opening. So it would be cool, just to tweak this one instead of having a second one. ---
**Author:** ![alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/alexhell/32/37276_2.png) [@alexhell](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/alexhell)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/8 "2021-04-21T13:54:21Z")
I must admit, I was wrong. After using NC markdown editor, I see, that it has an syntax highlighting feature too. It is just not that obvious as the NC Text app. As I understand the md-editor relay on the plain text editor. So styling must be done there. So I will continue trying the stuff out… Thanks to all for helping me with my progress in NC! ---
**Author:** ![wwe](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/wwe/32/72963_2.png) [@wwe](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/wwe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 9:20am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/9 "2024-12-13T09:20:12Z")
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**Author:** ![wwe](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/wwe/32/72963_2.png) [@wwe](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/wwe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 9:20am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/markdown-syntax-highlighting/114161/10 "2024-12-13T09:20:13Z")