The best code formatter/syntax highlighter for WLW

There are more than a handful codeformatter/syntax highlighter plugin for the fantastic Windows Live Writer (if you’re blogging without this, then you better stop reading this post and download it first). However, I only find one that is exceptionally good which is the creatively named Code Formatter for Windows Live Writer.

It has 3 different modes: as image, as formatted html, or using Alex Gorbatchev’s Syntax Highlighter Javascript. I like the latter the most.

Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1: Set up your blog

include Alex Gorbatchev’s Syntax Highlighter Javascript on your blog template. For me, I’m using WordPress, so I can simply add the reference by using this plugin: Syntax Highlighter and Code Prettifier Plugin for WordPress.

Step 2: Set up the WLW

With our blog out of the way, we now focus on WLW. Download Code Formatter for Windows Live Writer, extract and copy the files to the WLW plugin folder.

Step 3: Get rid of the options you won’t use

Disable the ‘source code as image’ and ‘source code formatter.

Step 4: Start using it

And here’s the result! Voila!

public class HelloController
{
	public void Greetings()
	{
		Ronald.Say(Greetings.Hi).To(User);
	}
}