Notepad++ – Tips and Tricks

Notepad++ arguably one of the best free text editor. Now you can install it in Ubuntu too

( Read – Install Notepad++ in Ubuntu ).

There are many features available in Notepad++.  Few of them are explained here.

( Version — V6.1.5 )

1. Style configuration – Font, Background Color, Syntax highlighting, Font color etc

In the menu click Settings –> Style Configurator

There are many options for Setting style as your favourite language, default style,font etc.

Global style is applicable for all files. You can set each language different style.

See below example for an SQL and C program file Syntax highlighting

abc.sql

abc.c

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Column editing ( Vertical editing )

Column editing feature is very useful. I think many of the modern text editors lack this feature.

Keyboard Shortcuts –  press Alt+Mouse or Alt+Shift+Down Arrow Key

Menu – Edit –> Column mode

This is very useful when you have many line items with similar text items.

3. Clipboard History

Clipboard History shows all text copied recently.

Menu — Edit –> Clipboard History

4. ASCII Chart

Many developers like ASCII Chart handy. Notepad++ has it.

Menu — Edit –> Character Panel

5. Multiple Tabs

Can open files in different tabs

Menu —  View –>

6. Google search integration

Suppose I need some help on a keyword  “stdio.h”. No need to open a browser separately and Notepad++ will do it for you. Just highlight the word you want to google and click Run –> Google Search or press Alt+F2.

Also you have many other features in Run menu. Wikipedia Search, Open in many browsers etc.

7. Bookmarks

You can set bookmarks and go through bookmarks.

Menu – Search –> Bookmark –>

8. Find in files

This is an operating system command tool. You can find files in a directory for a word or something

Menu — Search –> Search in Files

Keyboard — Ctrl+Shift+F

9. Upper-case and Lower-case

Menu — Edit –> Convert Case to

Upper-Case – Ctrl+Shift+U

Lower-Case – Shift+U

10. Zoom (Increase/Decrease the Font size dynamically )

Zoom up and down using

Mouse — Ctrl+Mouse+Wheel Up and Don

Keyboard — Ctrl+Num+/-

Menu — View –> Zoom –>

Note :-If you are running Notepad++ in Ubuntu, some of the features may not work as in Windows.