Features

Language support is registered for the baanc language id. Everything below applies to .bc, .cl, .bcl, and .script files (and any file set to language mode Baan C).

Syntax highlighting

TextMate grammar: syntaxes/baanc.tmLanguage.json (source.baanc).

Colored elements include:

Category	Examples
Comments	`\\| line comment`, `/* block */`
Preprocessor	`#include`, `#define`, `#pragma`, `#ifdef`, …
Strings & numbers	`"…"`, numeric literals
Booleans	`true` / `false` style tokens where applicable
Keywords	`if` / `then` / `endif`, `while`, `for`, `function`, SQL verbs, …
Types	`long`, `double`, `string`, `boolean`, `table`, `domain`
Storage	`extern`, `static`, `common`
4GL sections	`declaration:`, `before.program:`, `field.…`, `choice.…`, …
Function definitions & calls	`function name(…)` and `name(…)`
Table fields	`table.field` patterns
Operators	arithmetic, comparison, assignment

Primitive type keywords do not incorrectly paint the trailing segment of domain-like names (e.g. txamg.type.long). Markers such as TODO / FIXME in comments stay comment-colored.

Baan C string literals have no backslash escapes: a \ inside "…" is a plain character, and embedded quotes are written doubled (""). Highlighting (and every string-aware parser — diagnostics, formatting, signature help, library-memory import detection) follows that rule, so "C:\temp\file.txt", "He said ""Hi"" to me", and a | comment that follows a string all tokenize correctly.

Language configuration

language-configuration.json provides editor ergonomics:

Line comment: |
Block comment: /* … */
Auto-closing brackets, quotes, and block comments
Indent increase/decrease rules for control blocks and select branches
On-Enter indent for if/while/for/selectdo/… and stable indent for SQL clause lines
Word pattern that includes dots and $ (Baan identifiers often use both)
Folding markers for control blocks and 4GL sections

Code formatting

Document formatting provider + command Baan C: Format Document.

What it does:

Indents control structures (if/else/elif/endif, loops, on case, functions)
Indents embedded SQL branches (selectdo, selectempty, selecteos, selecterror)
Aligns multi-line argument lists
Aligns embedded SQL clause keywords so operands share a column:

``baanc select table.* from table where table.field and table.other = value order by table.key ``

Indent width is controlled by baanc.indentSize (default 4). Optional format-on-save: baanc.formatOnSave.

Diagnostics

Diagnostics run on open/edit (when enabled) and via Baan C: Run Diagnostics.

Structural / block matching

baanc.diagnostics.enabled (default true).

Catches unmatched or mis-nested block keywords, for example:

if / endif
while / endwhile
for / endfor
on case / endcase
select / endselect
related branch keywords

With baanc.diagnostics.strictComments (default true), | and /* */ comments are ignored when analyzing structure.

Two common idiom slips get a dedicated warning with Quick Fix:

for … by … → warning “Use step instead of by in Baan C FOR loops”, Quick Fix Replace 'by' with 'step'.
while … do → warning “Baan C WHILE has no do keyword”, Quick Fix Remove 'do' (the loop must end with endwhile).

Naming conventions (Hint severity only)

baanc.diagnostics.namingConventions (default true).

Soft suggestions aligned with Infor LN style:

Rule	Intent
Prefer lowercase	Avoid mixed/upper identifiers where convention expects lower
Prefer dots as separators	e.g. `my.beautiful.function`
Avoid single-letter / `temp`-style names	Prefer expressive names

Quick Fix can rename across the current file. These never report as Errors/Warnings by design.

Optional argument-prefix hints (i. / o. / io. on function parameters): baanc.diagnostics.namingArgPrefixes (default false — can be noisy).

Import hints (Information)

When Library memory (or conservative builtin DLL mappings) knows a function but the file lacks the matching import:

Information diagnostic + Quick Fix to insert #include "…" or #pragma used dll "…"

Toggles: baanc.libraryMemory.showImportHints, baanc.autoImport.builtinImportHints.

Completions

Completion items can include:

Source	Setting	Notes
Built-in APIs (~1,120+)	`baanc.completion.includeBuiltins`	`db.`, `dal.`, strings, dates, HTTP, cURL, SOAP, XML/JSON, dialogs, RDI, parallel, eMessage (`cmf.`), Chart Manager (`chm.`), …
Error constants	`baanc.completion.includeErrors`	`ELOCKED`, `EDUPL`, `ENOREC`, …
SQL keywords	`baanc.completion.includeSql`	Embedded select / join / where, …
Preprocessor	`baanc.completion.includePreprocessor`	`#include`, `#define`, … (avoids `##define` duplication)
4GL section names	`baanc.completion.include4gl`	Dotted names stay one unit (`before.` still matches)
Local functions / tables	always	Parsed from the current document
Memorized library exports	`baanc.libraryMemory.enabled`	Survives temp-file deletion

Accepting a memorized (or mapped builtin) completion can auto-insert the correct import when enabled — see Library memory.

Signature help

Parameter hints while typing a call (Ctrl+Shift+Space / Cmd+Shift+Space):

Built-in functions (from insert/signature metadata)
Local functions in the current file
Memorized library function headers when available

Hover documentation

Hover shows context for:

Keywords and language constructs
Built-in API functions (signature + short doc)
Error constants (code + meaning)
Local function definitions
Memorized library exports (with import kind label)

Feature	Shortcut (typical)	Scope
Go to Definition	`F12`	Functions, tables, domains, typed variables in the current file
Find All References	`Shift+F12`	Identifier uses in the current file
Rename Symbol	`F2`	Rename in the current file; guards against renaming builtins/keywords
Document Highlights	automatic	Occurrences of the symbol under the cursor
Document Symbols (Outline)	`Ctrl+Shift+O`	Functions, domains, tables, 4GL sections in the current file
Workspace Symbols	`Ctrl+T`	Functions, domains, tables, 4GL sections across all open Baan files
Code Folding	editor folding	Control blocks, functions, preprocessor regions, 4GL sections

Note: References, rename, and document symbols are single-file. Workspace Symbols (Ctrl+T) searches across all open Baan files, but there is no persistent workspace index. Cross-file discovery for libraries is handled via Library memory completions/imports, not via a global rename index.

Snippets and templates

Snippets

User snippets in snippets/baanc.json — type a prefix and accept. Catalog: Snippets.

Highlights:

Control flow: if, ife, while, for, oncase, …
SQL: select, selectf, txselect (aligned table.* style)
Declarations: domain, table, long, string, …
Preprocessor: #include, #define, #ifdef, …
4GL: declaration, before.program, field., choice., …
Patterns: httpget, curlget, dalgs, sqlpf, elocked, …

Insert templates (commands)

Command	Inserts
Baan C: Insert Select Template	Full `select` / `selectdo` / `selectempty` / `selecterror` / `endselect` with linked table placeholders
Baan C: Insert Transaction + Select Template	`db.retry.point` + `for update` + update + commit/abort pattern

Also available from the editor context menu on Baan files.

Library memory & auto-import

Summarized here; full guide: Library memory.

Opening a library/include .bc extracts exported functions into persistent memory (globalState).
Those symbols appear in completions elsewhere (even after BECS deletes the temp file).
On completion accept (optional), the extension inserts:

Include scripts → #include "scriptname"
DLLs → #pragma used dll "o…"

Soft hints + Quick Fix cover calls that already exist without an import.
Manage via Baan C: Manage Memorized Libraries… (inspect, switch kind, remove, clear).

Builtin auto-import only applies when an API has an explicit optional DLL mapping — never guesses package DLLs across LN installations.

Output channel

Channel name: Baan C.

Used when running Baan C: Run Diagnostics (logs that diagnostics were refreshed for the active file). Open via the Output panel dropdown.

Feature checklist (at a glance)

Area	Supported
Highlighting	Yes
Snippets	Yes
Format document / format on save	Yes
Block diagnostics	Yes
Naming hints + Quick Fix rename	Yes
Completions (builtins, SQL, PP, 4GL, local, memory)	Yes
Signature help	Yes
Hover	Yes
Go to Definition	Yes (file)
Find References	Yes (file)
Rename	Yes (file)
Document highlights	Yes
Folding	Yes
Outline / symbols	Yes
Library memory + auto-import	Yes
Workspace-wide rename / project index	No
Language Server Protocol (external process)	No (extension-hosted providers)