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The only thing I want to do in this first phase is to be able to make syntax/sanity checks.

I use something like this for writing and testing external methods, having TextPad run the same python zope uses:

Thanks for you tips. Here's another one I just published on the Zope.org. Textpad tool for parsing Stupid Log files to make traceback print outs clickable Additional details: TextPad from Helios Software Solutions (http://textpad.com) is an excellent tool for working with Python and Zope-files. Besides support for text coloring of common Python and Zope syntaxes it is possible to setup "Tools" that run a program or a script. The output from such a execution can be conneced to a RegExp that makes lines hyperlinks to Files and Lines according to the output. http://www.zope.org/Memebers http://www.zope.org/Members/johanc/Tips_and_HowTos/textpad_tooltips_howto Regards, Johan Carlsson -- Torped Strategi och Kommunikation AB Johan Carlsson johanc@torped.se Mail: Birkagatan 9 SE-113 36 Stockholm Sweden Visit: Västmannagatan 67, Stockholm, Sweden Phone +46-(0)8-32 31 23 Fax +46-(0)8-32 31 83 Mobil +46-(0)70-558 25 24 http://www.torped.se http://www.easypublisher.com