CNET Editors' review
Notepad Plus Plus is a Notepad replacement with an eye toward programmers, although it should also appeal to the casual user who wants a cross between Notepad and WordPad. Notepad Plus Plus has some noticeable differences from WordPad. Support for tabs is key, letting users manage different documents simultaneously. Line-numbering is important, too, a feature that nobody mucking about in C should be without.
The interface is much simpler compared with some of its competitors. A familiar row of icons with their mouse-over labels sits at the top, and one row of tabs is just below that. The rest of the screen is made of nothing but pure white space. All the coding tools live in the menu bar, with some represented on the toolbar. Users can compile and run macros, convert text to Hex, submit directly to W3C for validation, launch in Firefox and IE, and more. There's also a built-in spell-checker.
Choosing between Notepad Plus Plus and NoteTab Light probably will depend as much on layout as anything else. Although, forgive the pun, notably Notepad Plus Plus can not autoreplace Notepad, it's still an excellent Notepad replacement.
Publisher's Description
From Don HO:
Notepad++ is a source code editor which supports several programming languages under Windows environment. It's also a lightweight replacement of Notepad. The supported languages by Notepad++ are C, C++, Java, C#, XML, HTML, PHP, Javascript, RC file, makefile, nfo, doxygen, ini file, batch file, ASP, VB/VBS, SQL, Objective-C, CSS, Pascal, Perl, Python, Lua, Unix Shell Script, Fortran, NSIS and Flash action script. Notepad++ main features are: Syntax Highlighting and Syntax Folding, User Language Define System, Regular Expression Search, WYSIWYG (If you have a color printer, print your source code in color), Unicode support, Full drag-and-drop supported, Brace and Indent guideline Highlighting, two edits and synchronized view of the same document, User Language Define System.
What's new in this version: Version 5.9.8 has enhanced a security issue for loading plugins and improved project panel, and some GUI issues.
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All versions:
4.5 starsout of 384 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"Who Needs TextPad?"
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.7
Pros
Syntax highlighting, source comparison (w plug-in), find-in-files, and most of all FREE!
Cons
Once source comparison is open, the open windows are a little quirky, but this doesn't stop it from getting 5 stars from me.
Summary
Why buy a TextPad license if NotePad++ meets developer-level requirements for text file editing? Thanks to plug-ins, the possibilities are endless for NotePad++.
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"Very well written program"
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.7
Pros
If you do any programming this is a great editor for several different languages
Cons
None At this time.
Summary
I have been using Notepad ++ for some time and several versions now and it is my default HTML editor. It's a great learning tool as well.
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"Great Tool! Easy for anyone to use."
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
It does alot of things that text editors that you pay for do... and does them well.
Cons
I haven't found any real cons...
Summary
I can't believe that a tool this powerful is available for free!
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"Great application!"
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
fast
many options/functions
freeCons
basically none
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"Beats Notepad hands down!"
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
Feature rich, anyone needing a powerful txt editor NEEDS this software. Ditch Notpad, keep this. I use it for all my hand coding for web-related material. I especially like the numbered lines and (practically) limitless tabs for working on multiple documents.
Cons
none, really.
Summary
This should be the default txt editor for any PC.
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"A very complete product"
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
-It's free and it supports many languages (Syntax Highlighting): C,HTML,php,javascript,java.
-Before I used to go to Linux to practice my html and php because it has so many free tools but now I can choose windows for the same purpose :)Cons
I don't know yet
Summary
-Notepad++ can be a good choice for people who are used to use kate (Linux).
-WAMP + Notepadd++ = very good -
""What can you do?" More like, "What can't you do?""
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
Notepad++ has so many Pros that I will list all of them that I can think of in just one long list.
-Syntax Highlighting(I know it's rather standard for a code editor but it is still a pro)
-Myriad of languages supported
-User-Created languages supported
-Plug-ins
-Macro support
-Complete style configuration options
-Customizable Shortcut Keys
-Customizable Right-Click Menu
-A massive array of available character encoding choices, Including foreign languages
-Always On Top Mode
-Post-It Mode
-Full Screen mode
-Collapsible code by levels
-Project workspace built-in
-Bookmarking
-Regular Expression Search and Replace features
-Search and Persistent Highlight
-Massive Customization of Almost Everything
Even with that list of stuff, I'm probably forgetting to list some.Cons
The first of the only two cons I found was that user defined languages that you download sometimes use way different color schemes than you would ever use, but that is fixable by changing the colors in the *.xml file to what you want them to be.
The other con is that not all the plug-ins that are on their site are still supported, but you can find which ones are supported simply by using the Plugin-Manager plugin that comes with notepad++.Summary
I forgot to add as a massive pro, It's free.
Updated on Dec 8, 2011 -
"I use it for programming"
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
With the correct configuration, can be used for practically everything.
Cons
None yet. :)
Summary
I use it to program in java and c++ from my USB. Although it took a good 20 minutes configuring everything, it was well worth it in the end. Works very well without too many distractions in the GUI.
EDIT: Code Completion is a bit sketchy.
Updated on Dec 6, 2011
Updated on Dec 6, 2011EDIT: Code Completion is a bit sketchy. -
"Reliably useful without bloat."
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
Straight ahead interface. Direct results. Easy to understand and use. Solves a lot of problems. Writes clean code.
Cons
Requires skill to use effectively with maximum efficiency. Not for everybody.
Summary
Good enough to simply replace Notepad as your default text editor.
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"Powerful easy replacement for Windows Notepad."
Version: Notepad++ 5.9.6.2
Pros
Versatile. Recognizes, highlights and formats code. Find and replace can use RegExp. Records and plays back macros. Pre-scripted macros to change case, etc. Plugins available. Handles different encoding and character sets.
Cons
Some plug-ins crash NPP+ in some circumstances.
Summary
Can't do without it.
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