Notepad++ is a great source code editor, but it also performs great as a Windows Notepad replacement. The application supports several programming languages and file-types, including C, C#, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, SQL, and others. Even though Notepad++ detects the code language automatically, you might sometimes need to specify it manually. This can be done by using the "Language" main menu. The code highlighting is done depending on the language you choose.
After installing the program, I recommend you take some time to configure it. You can set it to remember the last opened files, to create automatic backups of all the files you save, or you can specify text printing preferences. It's also possible to set the colors which are used for code highlighting and the program's shortcut keys.
With just a few clicks, you can convert the encoding (ANSI, UTF8, UCS2) and format (MAC, Linux, Windows) of text documents. The "View" menu allows you to configure Notepad++ to show line ending characters, to show white-spaces, and even to show all the characters that normally wouldn't be shown in Windows Notepad. Notepad++ has a built-in HEX-editor, which you can use for editing binary files.
Among other things, the application supports block comments, function completion, TAB removal, and bookmarks. One of the most useful features is the macro recorder. It allows you to record key-presses and then play them back later. I used this feature for removing each second row from a text file and it worked flawlessly.
Pluses: Notepad++ has lots of great features and built-in tools. It also supports external plugins which can perform several text editing tasks. The ones I use the most are the XHTML, XML, and brace auto close, the text to HEX converter, the C++ code re-indent, the trailing space trimmer, FTP support and the case converter. If you have a little coding experience, you can write your own plugins because a SDK is available from the publisher.
Drawbacks / flaws:
In conclusion: As you can see, Notepad++ is much more than a simple text editor. Its features make it my favorite editor. Considering that the program is absolutely free, I invite you to try it yourself.
version reviewed: 5.1
by Soft32 Editors on 11/03/2008: "Notepad++ is a free source code editor (and Notepad replacem"
Notepad++ Publisher's Description
Here are v4.7 fixed bugs and added features (from v4.6) :
1.Make the "recovery system" for 3 mandatory xml files (config.xml, langs.xml and stylers.xml) to prevent the fail loading due to the corrupted files. 2.Extend plugin capacity - add the Scintilla external lexer capacity. 3.Add the ability to hide the tab bar with "-notabbar" flag in command line (ie. Notepad style). 4.Column selection is remembered now while switching among the files. As well this settings will be stored in the next session. 5.Add 2 Commends (beside Toggle Comment) Comment (Ctrl+K) and Uncomment (Ctrl+Shift+K). 6.Change "UTF8 without BOM" menu item behaviour. 7.Fix the hiding bug while launch time because of change of environment from duel monitors to mono monitor. 8.Remove vista UAC warning for GUP. Add "Update Notepad++" menu item. 9.Add NPPM_HIDETABBAR and NPPM_ISTABBARHIDE plugins messages. 10.Add NPPM_GETNPPVERSION message for plugin system. 11.Enhance the horizontal scroll feature. 12.Change Find in files behaviour : all the hidden directory won't be searched (for example : .svn). 13.Add build date-time in about box. 14.Fix a bug where a file with 2 or more consecutive spaces gives problems with sessions and history. 15.Fix the problem where opening a file when in save as dialog saves the wrong file.
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Notepad++: Good, but needs a little work. Generally a good text editor and can do most of the required technical functions. The number of options is almost too much and is a software tweakers dream. The transparency option for dialogs like the search is a very nice feature. My major concern was the lack of a full column mode where columns could be selected, deleted and added into a partial line selection. Notepad++ only offered full insertion in every line and no deletions at all. This is something I use a lot in my work doing data migration. One other small complaint is that the Language menu extends vertically over the menu bar and will not allow a menu active transfer from the Format to the Settings menu. There is no complaint to be made about the general looks and basic functionality and the price is right. A professional should stick to UltraEdit32 with its more sophisticated (and more difficult) interface but Notepad++ is a good choice for anyone not needing some very specific technical editing functions.
My exe files are being opened in notepad shinryuu > somehow they are now set to open in notepad and i can t find out how > to change the exe files to open as executables help would be greatly > appreciated Create a new blank text document Copy and paste...
What opens jse files? sounds to me that your file associations are messed up try right clicking the file and choosing open with to choose the program Choogster WWW 64BITDRIVERS COM The Ultimate Web2 0 64bit...
How launch item by first letter from Start menu? BillD > > Rick > >> Hi thanks much but this doesn t seem to work for me It s the menu >> item for Notepad that I manually put on my Start menu that I want to >> launch I thought your technique...
WordPad versus Notepad Ross Try removing the Notepad key from the Windows Registry and see if that corrects the issue 1 Make sure that Notepad exe is closed 2 Click on Start 3 In the Start Search field type REGEDIT EXE and then press Enter 4 ...
Problem with Notepad Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote in message edvReI5CIHA 1056@TK2MSFTNGP03 phx gbl > Do you get this problem when you launch it from \windows\notepad exe ? > > Andre > adacosta spaces live com > My Vista Quickstart ...
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This download (Notepad++) is freeware. "Freeware is copyrighted computer software which is made available for use free of charge, for an unlimited time, as opposed to shareware where the user is required to pay (e.g. after some trial period or for additional functionality)." More info at 
