Select text / areas from elisp script

Question

I am currently working on a special macro that helps me edit LaTeX code. In it, the macro identifies up to four areas, then requests user input and acts on these regions.

While I am asking for user input, I would like the macro to highlight four areas, preferably using two different colors (regions come in two different categories) so that the user knows that he has identified the macro (better than sorry)

Any pointers to good tutorials on how to do this?

Answer 1

See Elisp Guide 38.9 Overlays . For instance,

(let ((x (make-overlay start end)))
  (overlay-put x 'face '(:background "grey20")))

start end , .

- ; , , .