Review: Notepad++

Post 86 of 262

The second post in my “reviews” category answers the most common question I get regarding software: “What program do you use to create website templates and themes?”.

Editing code in a manageable way

I create all my templates and themes by writing the code manually using a code editor. My first choice for doing this is Notepad++ for Windows. Here is why…

What is Notepad++?

Notepad++ is basically a plain text editor with added features that makes it easier to edit code. The program, which is free and open source, features customizable color coding for a large number of scripting and programming languages, as well as for regular HTML and CSS. Using the built-in style manager, the user can adjust colors, font sizes, formatting and other relevant settings for each code format independently.

The editor has several display modes, including a dual-pane window that allows two documents to be displayed side by side. It is my default mode, most often showing a .html file on one half of the window and a stylesheet on the other. Notepad++ has a plugin system that allows more features to be added, for example an internal FTP client and a DIFF viewer to compare and display differencies between two documents. Using a tab interface, multiple documents can be opened and edited which I find useful for editing WordPress themes (which often consist of more than 15 different files). By default, there is no web browser intergration so I use my regular browsers to view the pages I design.

Requirements for use?

Microsoft Windows and knowledge about the scripting or programming language that you intend to edit.

Who can Notepad++ be useful for?

Notepad++ is useful for programmers, developers and designers who use computers running Windows as the operating system and who edit code manually. It is especially good for people who need to work with multiple text/code documents open at once. The dual-pane viewing mode is a simple but really useful feature that many developers and writers find essential. Notepad++ can also be useful for anyone who is interested in learning more about HTML and CSS, as all editing is done directly in the code rather than in any visual editor that hides the code.

Can I recommend Notepad++?

As it is my own favorite editor, I can definitely recommend Notepad++ for code editing. But for a web design beginner, there is a learning curve that could be easier to handle by starting with a combined code editor and visual editor that allows the user to view the effects of changes to the code directly with a visual preview. I will be writing about such editors in future posts for sure, I am currently testing a couple of software solutions that can be better starting points for beginners. But for anyone who shares my passion for manual coding: Try Notepad++ if you haven’t done it already. Chances are big that you’ll like it.

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This article was written by Andreas Viklund

Web designer, writer and the creative engine behind this website. Author of most of the free website templates, along with some of the WordPress themes.

10 comments:

TemplatesMechanicSeptember 27, 2011 at 16:17Reply

This editor is very good
I am always pleased with the results of his work

ajmalJanuary 29, 2012 at 16:40Reply

Great review, My friends always recommending notepad++ rather than the old ones

Kel MohrorJune 15, 2012 at 06:40Reply

How do I toggle between single- and double-pane editing?

AndreasJune 18, 2012 at 12:11Reply

Open two (or more) documents, right-click on the tab you want to move to a second pane and select “Move to other view”. After that, documents can be moved freely between the two panes.

SamuelJuly 15, 2012 at 10:22Reply

Honestly, I am browsing internet for a while and I have never stumbled upon Notepad++. I have been using he old version of classic notepad but I will give this one a try!

Best regards,

Samuel

yinkaAugust 12, 2012 at 11:13Reply

I just downloaded and installed google chrome so as to test my webpages in as many web browser has possible, but I can’t seem to be able to open the file directly from notepad++ except I first open it with mozilla or internet explorer (which were already on my system before I installed notepad++) then coping the link to google chrome before it works. Any help on how to open it directly from notepad++ to google chrome would be greatly appreciated

Wakidur RahmanDecember 10, 2012 at 13:35Reply

It is very excellent editor

AliFebruary 22, 2013 at 14:39Reply

Excelent editor I am using it from more then 5 years… thanks to “Don Ho” for providing notepad++.

ScottMarch 6, 2014 at 23:58Reply

Andreas,

Thanks for the ability to ask a question. I’m just getting to know Notepad++ and am loving every part of it. But there is one thing…

I have downloaded the plugin “Text FX.” In “Text FX Settings” I have selected the “Autoclose XHTML/XML ”

This works really well, making it so you don’t have to type out every closing tag. However, I find it really cumbersome when I have several closed tags in a row and I have to either use the mouse and click between them, or use the arrow keys to place the cursor between them and then hit “enter.”

Any way I could create a shortcut to do this?

If you have the time to answer, I’d really appreciate it.

Scott

po popoMarch 15, 2014 at 16:36Reply

very good

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