Optional first element (PL/SQL DECLARE)

[KDASthenerd]

When working with PL/SQL, There is a BEGIN - END block, and it can have an EXCEPTION section in the middle (optional). So far, this is possible with \<begin\>:\<exception\>:\<end\>.

The problem arises when I try to implement the DECLARE section (declaration section for a begin-end block). It's optional, so the complete scenario goes like "[DECLARE] - BEGIN - [EXCEPTION] - END".

I imagine it would look like this: \<declare\>:\<begin\>:^\s*\<exception\>:\<end\> (^\s* to avoid matching the declaration of an exception).

This works perfectly for the complete scenario, but as soon as the cursor leaves declare, it is ignored (% cycles through begin, exception and end only).

I've tried both settings at once, one before the other, and the other way around, but none worked for me.

I'd like to know if there's a way to set up an optional first element for matching (as of current version), or if it's possible to implement it somehow.

I saw a similar issue regarding an optional last element, and I understand that there are possible limitations for this.

Here's how I've tried

Scenario 1: begin before declare

\<begin\>:^\s*\<exception\>:\<end\>,
\<declare\>:\<begin\>:^\s*\<exception\>:\<end\>,

Cursor at DECLARE, all matches are highlighted

Type % to go to next match. DECLARE is no longer highlighted, and % no longer cycles through it.

Scenario 2: declare before begin

\<declare\>:\<begin\>:^\s*\<exception\>:\<end\>,
\<begin\>:^\s*\<exception\>:\<end\>,

The complete text works fine

With the DECLARE section commented/omited, the match no longer works