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Editors’ Review
TextPad is a general-purpose text editor for plain text, source code, and configuration files. It supports multi-document editing with up to two synchronized views per file, bookmarks, and block (column) selection. Regex search/replace and Find in Files that scans directories and jumps to matches. A keystroke macro recorder automates repeatable edits. Document classes set per-extension defaults for tabs, colors, and character encoding.
TextPad’s Tools menu runs external programs with argument macros, with hypertext links back to source lines. A spell checker, hex viewer, file compare, session workspaces, and external-change detection are included. An incremental search toolbar supports literal searches.
Editing and automation
The TextPad editor organizes documents in a tabbed workspace and can open two views of the same file. Bookmarks mark lines for quick navigation or bulk actions. Block selection edits rectangular regions. Commands change case, transpose characters, words, or lines, indent blocks, and insert entire files. Word wrap works at the margin or a set column, with split/join functions to control breaks. Tabs and spaces can be shown.
Search and replace accepts Perl-style regular expressions and applies across one file or many. Find in Files scans directory trees and records matches with hypertext jumps back to source lines. Incremental search locates text as characters are entered. Bookmarks can be placed on all occurrences of a pattern, then used to cut, copy, or delete those lines. Unlimited undo and redo allow reversal of edits during changes.
Automation uses a keystroke macro recorder with up to 16 macros. Tools menu launches external programs with outputs containing links back to source lines. Scripts in languages such as Python or awk can filter selected text. Document classes set defaults by file extension, and workspaces restore sessions. Utilities include file compare, hex viewer, file manager, sorting, and external change detection. However, there are no integrated debuggers, terminals, or VCS tools.
Pros
- Column (block) selection mode
- Regex search with Find in Files and jump-to-line results
- Keystroke macro recorder
- Document classes and workspaces
- Tools menu with argument macros
Cons
- No integrated debugger, terminal, or VCS tools
Bottom Line
Macro master
TextPad provides a plain-text editing environment with multi-document views, bookmarks, block selection, regex search, directory-wide Find in Files, macros, and tool integration. It adds document classes, workspaces, file compare, a hex viewer, and a file manager within the editor. Extensibility centers on external programs and recorded macros rather than a plug-in framework. The scope targets editing and automation of text and source files without integrated debuggers, terminals, or built-in profilers.
What’s new in version 7.5.1
- Resolves issues where find in files could produce no output
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