Notepad++ is an open-source text editor for Windows. I have to work on different technologies, It’s not possible to install all editors (like Dreamweaver, Visual studio 2010, …etc) on my old machine. So I use Notepad++ as my default text-editor. It’s simple and fast. Here are some tips for web developer and designer to use it effectively.

1. Box Selection:

Similar to VS 2010, Box Selection (aka column selection, block selection, or rectangular selection) exists in Notepad++. You need to hold down the Alt key while doing a selection; you can select a block horizontally.

2. Extended Search Mode:

Generally, It is needed to convert new line/tab character. Suppose you have to remove new line character:

Press Ctrl+H , Select the ‘Extended Search Mode’. Use \n in find what and nothing in replace with textbox. Click Replace All to remove new line character.

3. Vertical Tab View:

Suppose you have to see two files and compare manually. You can open tab in vertical tab view. For this, Right click on tab > “Move to Other View”. Use F8 to toggle the views.

4. Minify JS:

You can remove unnecessary space in your js file and can minify before deploying.

Edit > Blank Operations > Trim Header and Trailing Space

Edit > Blank Operations > Remove Unnecessary Blank and EOL

5. Delete Line Numbers or First word:

Generally when we copy code from website and paste it we get line numbers or special char, we need to remove this. You can do this in Notepad++ easily.

TextFX > TextFX Tools > Delete Line Numbers or First word

6. Add Line Numbers:

You can add line numbers by Edit > Column Editor > Number to Insert > Set Initial Number and Increase By >OK

You can add any text also.

7. AutoClose HTML/XML tags:

If you're working with HTML or XML files, it closes every HTML tag as you type.

TextFX > TextFX Settings>Autoclose XML/HTML tags

8. HTML Encode:

As a blogger, I have to post html source code. I need html encode before posting. It’s very easy in Notepad++

TextFX > TextFX Convert > Encode HTML

9. Generate Dynamic Controls Quickly:

Suppose you have to create html controls dynamically.For this, First create static Html layout. Select Proper Language and

TextFX > TextFX Convert > Convert Text to Code Command

It will take care of Quotes and line breaks.

10. Setup HTML Tidy:

Suppose you have html body content only and you have to create proper html file then it is very handy to use html tidy.

TextFX > TextFX HTML Tidy > Tidy(Most Recent HTMLTIDY.CFG)

11. Launch in Browser:

You can test html file in browser by clicking RUN and select Launch in Browser.

12. Align Lines:

It’s my favorite feature. You can line up multiple lines by ,(comma), = (equal sign) or clipboard character. It is very useful and helpful in Box selection.

TextFX > TextFX Edit > line up multiple lines by …

13. Others:

Remove Blank Lines:

TextFX > TextFX Edit > Delete Blank Lines

TextFX > TextFX Edit > Delete Surplus Blank Lines

Change Case:

TextFX > TextFX Characters > select the case in which you want to convert.

The major inbuilt options can be performed using extended search mode. If you have other tips, leave a comment.

Enjoy Notepad++!!!