The following patch \unprotect \let\protectedfirsttype\string \bgroup \catcode`\[=\@@begingroup \catcode`\]=\@@endgroup \catcode`\{=\@@active \catcode`\}=\@@active \gdef\initializetypegrouping% [\catcode`\{=\@@active \catcode`\}=\@@active \let\normalactivebgroup{% \let\normalactiveegroup}% \def\activeleftargument% [\bgroup \let}\activerightargument \normalactivebgroup ]% \def\activerightargument% [\normalactiveegroup \egroup]% \let{=\activeleftargument \let}=\egroup ] \egroup \protect works ok for \setupcolors[state=start] \setuptype[option=color] \setuptyping[option=color] \setupwhitespace[big] \starttext \starttyping x\pdfoutput{xx} {nn} \pdfoutput{xx} {nn} \stoptyping \type{x\pdfoutput {xx} {nn}} \type{x\pdfoutput{xx} {nn}} \type{x\pdfoutput{xx} {nn}} \stoptext but no coloring here: \starttabulate[|l|] \NC \type{\pdfoutput {xx}{,,}} \NC\NR \NC \type{\pdfoutput{xx}{,,}} \NC\NR \NC \type{{xx}{,,}} \NC\NR \stoptabulate beware: since in tabulate args are passed, the { } in \type are seen as grouping tokens and disappear. i'll try to make up a solution (no way around space after \cs then, unless taco fixes tex -) Hans