1. Patch 1196895 Jeff Shute:

New files are colorized by default, and colorizing is removed when
   saving as non-Python files. Patch 1196895 Jeff Shute
   Closes Python Bugs 775012 and 800432, partial fix IDLEfork 763524

2. Update help.txt for left/right word delete

M CREDITS.txt
M ColorDelegator.py
M EditorWindow.py
M NEWS.txt
M help.txt

Lib/idlelib/CREDITS.txt

@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ Neal Norwitz (code check and clean-up), and Chui Tey (RPC integration, debugger
 integration and persistent breakpoints).
 
 Scott David Daniels, Hernan Foffani, Christos Georgiou, Martin v. Löwis, 
-Jason Orendorff, Noam Raphael, Josh Robb, Nigel Rowe, and Bruce Sherwood have
-submitted useful patches.  Thanks, guys!
+Jason Orendorff, Noam Raphael, Josh Robb, Nigel Rowe, Bruce Sherwood, and
+Jeff Shute have submitted useful patches.  Thanks, guys!
 
 For additional details refer to NEWS.txt and Changelog.
 

Lib/idlelib/ColorDelegator.py

@@ -237,6 +237,9 @@ class ColorDelegator(Delegator):
                     if DEBUG: print "colorizing stopped"
                     return
 
+    def removecolors(self):
+        for tag in self.tagdefs.keys():
+            self.tag_remove(tag, "1.0", "end")
 
 def main():
     from Percolator import Percolator

Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py

@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ class EditorWindow(object):
             self.center()
 
     def ispythonsource(self, filename):
-        if not filename:
+        if not filename or os.path.isdir(filename):
             return True
         base, ext = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(filename))
         if os.path.normcase(ext) in (".py", ".pyw"):
@@ -532,6 +532,7 @@ class EditorWindow(object):
     def rmcolorizer(self):
         if not self.color:
             return
+        self.color.removecolors()
         self.per.removefilter(self.undo)
         self.per.removefilter(self.color)
         self.color = None

Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt

@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@ What's New in IDLE 1.2a0?
 
 *Release date: XX-XXX-2005*
 
+- New files are colorized by default, and colorizing is removed when
+  saving as non-Python files. Patch 1196895 Jeff Shute
+  Closes Python Bugs 775012 and 800432, partial fix IDLEfork 763524
+
 - Improve subprocess link error notification.
 
 - run.py: use Queue's blocking feature instead of sleeping in the main

Lib/idlelib/help.txt

@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ Additional Help Sources:
 
 Basic editing and navigation:
 
-	Backspace deletes to the left; DEL deletes to the right.
+	Backspace deletes char to the left; DEL deletes char to the right.
+	Control-backspace deletes word left, Control-DEL deletes word right.
 	Arrow keys and Page Up/Down move around.
 	Control-left/right Arrow moves by words in a strange but useful way.
 	Home/End go to begin/end of line.