Re: [Help-nano] Color Syntax Highlighting on Solaris 8 shows up as white and grey

[David Ramsey]

Garth Dahlstrom wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Some months back I managed to build nano 1.999 using "./configure 
> --enable-all", I copied some of the .nanorc syntax highlighting from 
> my linux box and I fired up nano using numerous different files that 
> match the syntax highlight rules.
>
> What happens on my servers is where colours should be applied I get 
> white instead (when syntax highlighting is off everything is 
> silver/grey).  I've tried different TERM settings like vt100, ansi, 
> xterm, linux, but the result is the same...
>
> I know putty with these term settings can display colour as I have a 
> colour PS2 prompt and Midnight Commander works in colour.
>
> Is something else I can try or some way to troubleshoot this?

Sorry for the delay; I've been extremely busy until recently.

I'm not certain what to try, since I have no access to a Solaris 
machine, but I have a few questions that may help narrow this down.

1. Your other post, which I'll get to below, mentions build problems on 
Solaris 8 linking against ncurses.  Is this also on Solaris 8, and is 
nano also linked against ncurses?

2. If it is on Solaris 8, I found this link about colorization after 
some googling.  Is it any help?

http://www.vim.org/tips/tip.php?tip_id=635

3. When you mention your color prompt and Midnight Commander, are you 
using them on these servers?

4. Are you accessing these servers locally or remotely when the problem 
occurs?

5. What terminal are you using on these servers?  (The actual program, 
not the $TERM value it uses.)

6. Is your Midnight Commander linked against slang or ncurses?  (For 
comparison.)

7. Which versions of slang and/or ncurses do you have installed?

----------

> I have a small problem with my build which I've read may be related to 
> a lack of ncurses.h...

If this link is anything to go by

http://lists.beasts.org/pipermail/iftop-users/2004-March/000127.html

, that sounds right.  Since nano does build, and the error log shows a 
linking problem against ncurses, it could be that nano's being built 
against Solaris curses, and then linked against ncurses, which fails 
because the two curses (curseses?) are different internally.  This is 
because nano first tries to build using ncurses.h, and falls back to 
curses.h if ncurses.h isn't available.

> If anyone with experince building nano could offer suggestions as to 
> how to fix this, I'd be greatful.

Does Solaris have a development package for ncurses (which should have 
ncurses.h)?  If so, try installing it, and then see if nano builds 
properly.