Replacing Notepad in late-edition XP - help please!

[Rolfe]

I have a freeware (OK, postcardware) text editor I'm particularly fond of. I've been running it since 1998, always replacing the Windows Notepad with it. I last installed it on an XP machine in 2003 or thereabouts, using instructions written by the programmer. At that time, it was only necessary to overwrite Notepad.exe in C:/Windows/System32/Dllcache and then in C:/Windows itself. That worked.

This time, it doesn't. Dammit, I wish MS would supply a better text editor with the package if they're going to go to such lengths to stop users replacing it! Anyway.

I figured out two things, one that the file is no longer called Notepad.exe, but simply Notepad, with no extension,and that is the renaming that has to be done. Second, that replacement has to be done in more than two places, and pretty quick too, before Windows uses one copy to "repair" any of the others.

I figured how to alter the routine to copy to three or four directories quickly enough. And I found one of the other two places that have to be attended to, C:/Windows/System32. But still no joy. I get the copying done, then watch in impotent fury as the EditPad logo turns back into the Notepad logo within about 10 seconds, one folder at a time.

Two pages I've looked at say that the file also has to be coped to C:/Windows/ServicePackFiles/i386. However, my Windows directory doesn't have a subdirectory called ServicePackFiles. I reckon this must be somewhere else and this is where the blasted reversion is coming from. I've found one page (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial126.html) which seems to have instructions to get round this, but I don't honestly understand them.

The above approach may not always work if you have the installation files for Windows XP/2000 available to System File Protection as SFP may use those files to replace notepad as well. If you are running into problems because of this you can check the following registry paths to determine where the OS Source and Service Pack sources files are located. Once you determine that, you can rename those folder temporarily and then do the above procedure again. The registry locations for getting this information are:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Setup\\Installation Sources
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Setup\\ServicePackSourcePath
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Setup\\SourcePath



Even so, I'm not 100% sure it's that simple, because the writer of this tutorial was already assuming that you'd been able to replace the Notepad copy in an identifiable C:/Windows/ServicePackFiles/i386 in the first place.

I'm fairly sure it's doable, because I found quite a few pages with instructions for carrying this out in Vista, and nobody at all saying it was impossible. However, it's getting a little too techie for my comfort zone.

Can anyone help me sort this out?

Rolfe.

ETA: I realise now that the .exe thing was just because I hadn't unchecked "hide extensions for known file types", so that's irrelevant.

[CORed]

It might be easier to change the file association for Text Document (and any other extensions or file types you want to) to point to your editor rather than replace Notepad.

Are you trying to do this on an XP machine or a Vista machine? I it's XP, I can tell you how to do that. If it's Vista, I have no experience.

[Rolfe]

It might be easier to change the file association for Text Document (and any other extensions or file types you want to) to point to your editor rather than replace Notepad.


I've seen that suggested - OK, I just did it, to check. It helps with some things, obviously, but doesn't accomplish the main aim, which is to get the replacement programme called up when "view source" is selected in IE. That's what all this serial file over-writing is all about.

Are you trying to do this on an XP machine or a Vista machine? I it's XP, I can tell you how to do that. If it's Vista, I have no experience.


Good question. I'm working in XP. My machine is a brand new Dell Vostro which was supplied with the XP downgrade for reactionary Luddites like me. Vista is also supplied, and presumably resides somewhere on the hard drive, but I'm working with XP here. I imagine the mere presence of Vista isn't going to do anything - I assume nobody would set this up so that the two operating systems could interfere with each other?

Rolfe.

PS. I'm off to bed, and I'm going to an all-day singing course tomorrow, but keep the suggestions coming please.

[Rolfe]

I've just looked where that tutorial says, and got the following information...

Installation Sources REG_MULTI_SZ C:
ServicePackSourcePath REG_SZ c:\
SourcePath REG_SZ c:\

There's also
ServicePackCachePath REG_SZ c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\ServicePackCache

Which I suspect may also be important.

There it is again, c:/windows/ServicePackFiles - why can't I find that directory?

Would it be safe to rename these files temporarily while I did the substitution, or would I be risking a train wreck?

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

OK, first off it is notepad.exe; what's happened is that Windows, by default, hides extensions. (Some malware writers have taken advantage of that, as when this is on you can't tell the difference between an image and a program at a glance.) I find this default very annoying.

I always turn this off. Control Panel, Folder Options, View tab, Advanced Options; scroll down to Hide extensions for known file types and uncheck it.

Now, you have indeed started down the right path to replace the default notepad.exe. However, what that extra bit about the registry is telling is that there is a fifth place to look, which will have the full set of Windows installation files. This may have notepad.ex_ (note trailing underscore) instead of notepad.exe; delete it.

Then, if you go through the steps for c:\windows\system32\dllcache, c:\windows\system32, and c:\windows it should work.

A quick way of finding all instances of notepad.exe or notepad.ex_ from the command line is this:cd c:\
for /r %f in (notepad.ex*) do @echo %f(Press Start, select Run, type cmd, and then type the above line. That will find all notepad.ex* on your system.)
ETA: You can do this, if you have your replacement notepad.exe in, say, c:\rolfe\notepad.exe:
cd \windows
if exist c:\i386\notepad.ex_ del /f c:\i386\notepad.ex_
for /r %f in (notepad.ex_) do @if exist %f del /f %f
for /r %f in (notepad.exe) do @if exist %f copy /y "c:\rolfe\notepad.exe" %f
These commands will:
Delete all notepad.ex_ it can find (sometimes in c:\i386)
Replace all notepad.exe in the Windows directory with yours
Essentially automating the process for you.

ETA 2: There are reasons for replacing notepad instead of changing the file association; one is that there are applications that launch Notepad directly instead of using the file associations.

[grmcdorman]

I've just looked where that tutorial says, and got the following information...

Installation Sources REG_MULTI_SZ C:
ServicePackSourcePath REG_SZ c:\
SourcePath REG_SZ c:\

There's also
ServicePackCachePath REG_SZ c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\ServicePackCache

Which I suspect may also be important.

There it is again, c:/windows/ServicePackFiles - why can't I find that directory?

Would it be safe to rename these files temporarily while I did the substitution, or would I be risking a train wreck?

Rolfe.

C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles is where files downloaded from fixes (i.e. Windows Update) go. If your installation of XP is recent enough - which it appears to be - then that directory may not even exist.

Don't bother renaming things; it won't be useful.

More significant is the other registry settings. They indicate that your Windows installation files are in C:\ - specifically C:\I386. Look for notepad.exe or notepad.ex_ in that directory and delete it. (Basically what my previous post said to do.)

ETA: That directory should be backed up to CD or DVD - did your machine come with a (proper) Windows installation CD? If not, you should back it up, as it'll be difficult to replace. If you do have a proper Windows installation CD, on the other hand, you can actually safely delete the entire directory and subdirectories.

ETA 2: If you don't have a Windows XP installation CD, there are quite a few sites with instructions on how to create one from that C:\I386 directory, e.g http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

[Aerik]

Ew, instead of all that crap, why don't you just try Notepad++ (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/about.php) ? You can even add an extension to it for hex editing. It's got all sorts of useful features.

[grmcdorman]

Notepad++ doesn't replace the system Notepad, though, even with the installer (as I recall). [Yes, I use it - it's Open Source, too, which is a Good Thing.]

[Rolfe]

Thanks. I really need to go to bed. Might be Sunday before I get the chance to work though that. I'm bushed and it's the middle of the night.

I did figure out the bit about the hidden file extensions, eventually.

I understand now about the ServicePackFiles thing, the computer is very new indeed. So that's OK.

Does deleting the original Notepad file work? All the instructions I've seen have been fairly adamant about over-writing it. Hmm, I really need to go to bed.

Dell supplied the computer with both XP and Vista discs. Do you mean anything in particular by (proper)? But I need to get some serious backup system organised, I really don't want a repetition of my fried hard drive costing me an arm and a leg for data recovery. Once I've got the system setup to my liking and the software I want installed, I'm in the market for advice as to the best way to accomplish and maintain adequate backups.

Nighty-night!

Rolfe.

[Rolfe]

Ew, instead of all that crap, why don't you just try Notepad++ (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/about.php) ? You can even add an extension to it for hex editing. It's got all sorts of useful features.


I've seen the info on Notebook++, and Notepad2 and some others. But I've been using EditPad for over 10 years and I'm extremely pleased with it. Why do you think it's crap? My current thinking is that if the Notepad++ installer can accomplish this, I should be able to do it manually for EditPad.

The problem is that EditPad (classic) is no longer supported. As a result the installation instructions are out of date, and the programmer isn't answering emails about it. Newer versions are available (EditPad Lite and EditPad Pro) and I suspect they come with support to get them in there. However, the classic freeware version does all I want (I wouldn't know a hex if it came up and waved a wand at me), and getting over this hump is Plan A.

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

The notepad.ex_ file doesn't have anything to replace it (it's the compressed "primary" source).

The trick with replacing instead of deleting is to avoid Windows from copying one of the other ones back to where you just deleted one. However, since the C:\I386 directory isn't protected, it really doesn't matter, as long as you delete (or rename or overwrite) that one first. In other words, this order:

C:\I386\notepad.ex_ (delete)
C:\I386\notepad.exe (if it exists)
C:\Windows\System32\Dllcache
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows
The commands I gave above - the second set - takes care of all of these (and should do it so quickly that the order doesn't matter, actually). Doing it manually, though, is slow enough that Windows might catch one of the changes and restore the original notepad on you.

----

What I mean by "proper" Windows installation disc is one that you can boot from and do a full system install (e.g. if Windows got corrupted or your hard drive had to be replaced). Sounds like you have one, though; Dell usually gives standard XP install discs. (By contrast, I have a Toshiba laptop which came with a "recovery" DVD - it puts back the factory install, extra junkware and all, and doesn't let you partition the disc at all when restoring.)

Quick bit of advice for backing up: as much as possible, keep everything under one directory. Makes doing backups (and restores!) that much easier and quicker.

[CORed]

The "view source editor" for internet explorer can be changed in the registry

The relevant key ks \HkeyLocalMachine\SOFTWARE\Internet Explorer\View Source Editor\Editor Name.

You will probably have to create the "View Source Editor" key and the "Editor Name" key under it. Then you set the Default value of the "Editor Name" key to the full path to your editor

[grmcdorman]

I've seen the info on Notebook++, and Notepad2 and some others. But I've been using EditPad for over 10 years and I'm extremely pleased with it. Why do you think it's crap? My current thinking is that if the Notepad++ installer can accomplish this, I should be able to do it manually for EditPad.I think Aerik is referring to the pain you're going through to replace notepad, not the quality of EditPad. However, I fully understand wanting to keep what works for you (especially seeing your comments about WordPerfect in the other thread).

And in any event, as I said I don't think Notepad++ automates replacing the system Notepad anyway. Certainly the Notepad++ page still contains instructions for manually replacing the system Notepad.

[CORed]

I think everybody that does programming or other serious text editing has their favorite editor. My personal favorite if vim, which is a greatly enhanced version of the ancient UNIX vi editor (with both GUI and console versions, and available for just about every operating system there is), but were it not for the fact that I used vi for a long time and am very comfortable with that interface (one of the least intuitive, and most efficient interfaces ever devised), I probably wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. I've never bothered to try to replace notepad. Changing file associations and doing the registry hack for the IE "view source" editor have always been sufficient. Also, vim, in Windows, installs an explorer right click "edit with Vim" entry, so even if I don't have the file association set for a particular extension, I can easily open it with Vim.

[GreNME]

Absolutely, positively, do not, under any circumstances, ever delete your system files. If you're replacing them, then begin by renaming the original file to be replaced. At the very least, copy the file from either it's System32 or ServicePackFiles or any of the other locations it may be saved (like dllcache) to a safe location-- I usually crate a folder in the C: root called TMP or TEMP and save things there.

The info grmcdorman gave is good information, but it's a very manual process. I'd suggest following the instructions to unhide hidden files and folders, as well as hidden operating system files. You can always re-hide them after you complete this process. Simply open an Explorer window (like My Computer), go to tools -> folder options -> View, and make sure that 'hide invisible files/folders' and 'hide operating system files' are both unchecked. A prompt should come up asking you to verify you want to show operating system files, so click ok on that. Once you do this, you'll be able to view and search for any and all iterations of notepad.exe on your computer.

At this point, you have the choice of continuing this while normally logged in or you can boot into safe mode. I don't recall if this works the same while in safe mode, but I can give you separate directions for that (it not working) if you want. Go download Replacer (http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/)-- there's nothing to install, so don't worry about running any install process. Replacer is basically a script that runs, and I think it comes with basic directions. What replacer can do for you is exactly what its name implies, replacing system files.

To replace the files you'll still have to find all of the files, though. Unchecking those options in the Explorer properties menu will allow you do perform a search for the file (notepad.ex*, by the way). You'll run the Replacer script, which opens a command window, drag the files into the command window accordingly-- it will let you know which at which time-- and the script will perform the replacement work for you. You'll have to replace the file in several places, but after you replace them all you restart and everything should be set.

And like I said, if that easy way doesn't work, then write down all the locations that the search turned up, and I'll give you another way.

Oh, and as a side note, I can attest to Notepad ++ being a very good program. I definitely think it makes an excellent replacement. Go with what you prefer, though.

[LTC8K6]

I just installed editpad lite, and it now comes up instead of notepad when I view source...

[LTC8K6]

I just got it to work, Rolfe.

I installed Editpadlite, then I went to the JGsoft folder and renamed editpadlite to editpadlite1. Then I put editpad in there and renamed it editpadlite.

Now the classic version comes up when I view source.

[Aerik]

Actually if you just look at the site, Notepad++ does come with simple instructions to replace the system notepad. Even if you don't do it, the only time at all notepad++ won't be automatically used is in crappy programs where you open the readme file and they program it to directly choose the original notepad instead of just linking to the readme file.

[jsiv]

but doesn't accomplish the main aim, which is to get the replacement programme called up when "view source" is selected in IE. That's what all this serial file over-writing is all about.
The easiest way to accomplish that on XP is to download TweakUI from Microsoft here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx) and look for this option:

http://i44.tinypic.com/29g1uv6.png

[Rolfe]

The notepad.ex_ file doesn't have anything to replace it (it's the compressed "primary" source).


The trick with replacing instead of deleting is to avoid Windows from copying one of the other ones back to where you just deleted one. However, since the C:\I386 directory isn't protected, it really doesn't matter, as long as you delete (or rename or overwrite) that one first. In other words, this order:
C:\I386\notepad.ex_ (delete)
C:\I386\notepad.exe (if it exists)
C:\Windows\System32\Dllcache
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows
The commands I gave above - the second set - takes care of all of these (and should do it so quickly that the order doesn't matter, actually). Doing it manually, though, is slow enough that Windows might catch one of the changes and restore the original notepad on you.


Yes! Yes!! YES!!! YEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!

Worked perfectly first time, like an absolute charm. Quick and easy. First time out of the box.

The original instructions I was working from didn't stress speed, as at that time one only had to replace the copy in the dllcache first, then the one in Windows. However, once I realised there were at least three to replace, I changed the technique so that I had all the Explorer windows I needed open and visible at once, sized so that whichever one was active I could still see all the others. I knew I was going fast enough because I had all three replaced several seconds before the first icon reverted.

I just did it all again, but with the C:\i386 window open as well, and preceded what I had done before by deleting notepad.ex_ from there as you instructed. Sure enough, this time I got what I'd been waiting for - the series of plaintive protests from Windows that somebody has been eating its porridge, where one "tells the Windows file protection system to get lost - he he!"

Bingo.

This was much easier for me than typing commands in to automate the process. I could see what I was doing, and if it hadn't worked, I'd have been able to get a good idea why.

I actually looked at all the instructions regarding how to replace Notepad with other text editors, Notepad++ and Notepad2 especially, once I'd realised the Editpad instructions were no longer working. None of them included the bit about the Notepad.ex_ file in the i386 directory. I suspect they're all out of date too, just a bit less so.

Well, thanks muchly. I should buy you a virtual drink or something.

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

Glad to hear it worked for you.

The omission of the i386 directory in other instructions is for two reasons:
It isn't a standard location; sometimes it's under C:\WINDOWS, and it could easily be elsewhere
It's only done by some vendors; it is not something done by a standard Microsoft install.
Having said that, some instructions - notably an automatic script for Notepad++ I ran across - do include the i386 directory.

As an aside, as I said, that directory will be an exact copy of the i386 directory on the Windows XP installation CD, so you don't even need it. However, if you have room, leave it there; it makes things easier when you need to make changes to Windows system software.

ETA: Speed isn't necessary if you do it in the specific order. However, since you were always missing the c:\i386 directory before, Windows was always using that to restore things. Windows looks in the directories in the reverse order of that listed (and only copies one way - i.e. from c:\i386 to dllcache, dllcache to system32, system32 to c:\windows), so if you start with the last place it looks and proceed forward, by the time it sees something wrong it will essentially have no option but to complain about it.

[Rolfe]

The "view source editor" for internet explorer can be changed in the registry

The relevant key ks \HkeyLocalMachine\SOFTWARE\Internet Explorer\View Source Editor\Editor Name.

You will probably have to create the "View Source Editor" key and the "Editor Name" key under it. Then you set the Default value of the "Editor Name" key to the full path to your editor


The easiest way to accomplish that on XP is to download TweakUI from Microsoft here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx) and look for this option:

http://i44.tinypic.com/29g1uv6.png


I didn't know about that, and it certainly seems as if that, plus changing the file association for text files (which I already did) would probably achieve the same aim for all practical purposes. However, I actually took perverse pleasure in vapourising Notepad at source. It was getting a bit personal!

It was actually spectacularly easy once I knew where the files that had to be jemmied were sitting. All I needed was to know that I had to delete i386\Notepad.ex_ first. So thanks again, grmcdorman, and GreNME too of course, who was saying almost exactly the same thing.

Rolfe.

[Rolfe]

What I mean by "proper" Windows installation disc is one that you can boot from and do a full system install (e.g. if Windows got corrupted or your hard drive had to be replaced). Sounds like you have one, though; Dell usually gives standard XP install discs. (By contrast, I have a Toshiba laptop which came with a "recovery" DVD - it puts back the factory install, extra junkware and all, and doesn't let you partition the disc at all when restoring.)

Quick bit of advice for backing up: as much as possible, keep everything under one directory. Makes doing backups (and restores!) that much easier and quicker.


The XP (and Vista) discs Dell supplied with the computer are stated to be "renstallation DVDs", so that sounds kosher enough. I fervently hope I won't need them, mind you.

Thanks to all for the clear instructions. I think often people who deal with programmes and the nuts and bolts of the system don't realise how little of what they say is fully understood by those who mainly just use the things. The original JGsoft instructions for replacing Notepad were extremely simple, Janet-and-John level. (Just no longer useful.) Most of the others I found seemed to assume a level of technical understanding I just didn't have.

I've always found computer people to be like that. But it can work both ways. Once at a party I got into conversation with a biochemist friend, and we were discussing a particular problem with a particular blood test and how to get round it, in some detail. At one point I looked up and realised we were surrounded by half a dozen computer nerds saying things like "they're only making it up to impress us". :D

I need to get a memory stick anyway, as for some bizarre reason iTunes won't let you copy CDs you've copied using one computer back onto another from the iPod. And I need it for work. PowerPoint has just eaten one of my essential teaching presentations, and that's the second time that's happened. I'll get something reasonably capacious, and then figure out what filed and folders need to be backed up and how often.

Thanks again everyone.

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

I just updated my installation of Notepad++, and noticed the installer includes an option to set it as the source viewer for IE.

Of course, if you don't use NP++, you have to do what Rolfe did or one of the other options. Personally, I prefer the global search & destroy we helped Rolfe do; then not only can you just say notepad to get your preferred editor, but anything that tries to run notepad will get your editor instead.

By the way, Rolfe, if you do much work in HTML, NP++ is very nice; take a look at the screenshots here (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/screenshots.php) (large HTML screenshot here (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/commun/screenshots/scrsh_lexerHTML.gif)).

[grmcdorman]

I just updated my installation of Notepad++, and noticed the installer includes an option to set it as the source viewer for IE.

Of course, if you don't use NP++, you have to do what Rolfe did or one of the other options. Personally, I prefer the global search & destroy we helped Rolfe do; then not only can you just say notepad to get your preferred editor, but anything that tries to run notepad will get your editor instead.

By the way, Rolfe, if you do much work in HTML, NP++ is very nice; take a look at the screenshots here (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/screenshots.php) (large HTML screenshot here (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/commun/screenshots/scrsh_lexerHTML.gif)).

[Rolfe]

I did look at these on the way past, when I was hunting for search-and-destroy instructions. Looks entirely amazing, and no mistake. But maybe just a tad over-specified for the hand-knitting I do. Sometimes, when you operate at a basic level, the bells and whistles get in the way more than they help.

I see it has multipe open files with tabs, which is such an essential feature. Being able to search-and-replace over an infinite number of open files has saved me literally hours. I like the colour-coding too. I might download it and play around. But for the simple stuff I do, EditPad is an excellent fit.

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

The search-and-destroyreplace function in Notepad++ is great. Not only can you search-and-replace in all open files, you can search (but not replace) files on disk, and use regular expressions with replacements.

The latter can be hard to get familiar with, but once you understand them they're extremely powerful. They allow things like 'replace a string of 4 letters, a digit, and the text ABC with the first two letters, DEF and the digit'.

Notepad++ plugins also include one that will re-indent your HTML for you (which helps catch errors, too).

[Rolfe]

Last night I went to the Notepad++ site to download it, as you've really got me quite intrigued. (I don't know if I fancy having that as the Windows default Notepad, or at least not right now, but I'd like to see what it can do.) Unfortunately the second or third screen I came to contained the following instruction.

You have selected notepad++ releases binary
Please choose the file that best matches your architecture or operating system from the list of releases and files contained in this package.


There followed an extremely long list of options. Frankly, I don't even understand the question, never mind the answer. Seems to be intended only for the computer-savvy to download. Pity. I did like the look of it.

Rolfe.

[Earthborn]

Seems to be intended only for the computer-savvy to download.If you use a PC with Windows, just use the npp.5.1.4.Installer.exe which is for PC (architecture i386, or anything 386 and up) and Windows (your operating system).

[grmcdorman]

Yep, what he said.

Some applications - although not Notepad++ - are available for a bewildering variety of systems (e.g. I have one at http://vncsnapshot.sourceforge.net for Windows, Solaris, Linux and others).

If you like Notepad++, I would encourage you to consider switching. Notepad++ is actively maintained (that means you won't have to worry about it ceasing to work when you upgrade your operating system). What's more, since it's open source, if the current maintainer drops it (or gets hit by the proverbial bus [heaven forfend]), someone else can take over with little to no difficulty.

[Rolfe]

OK, I managed it despite Windows trying its little best to stop me!

Looks more complex than I really need, and the toolbar is a nightmare (yes, I've said this before, but the option to have words I can read instead of cryptic icons I can't understand would be so useful!), but I'll certainly give it a try.

Rolfe.

[Rolfe]

The increasing complexity of the replacement of Notepad is fascinating.

I did it to Windows 95, all I had to do was over-write the Notepad file in the Windows directory and it was done. I did it again to Windows 98, same simple procedure, RIP Notepad.

I got XP. Tried the same trick, no dice. I emailed Editpad's author, and was given the link to the page he'd written with the Janet-and John instructions about over-writing the dllcache first. Bingo.

That was just over five years ago. Then I got this new computer, but still on XP. Naively, I thought that as I was still on XP, the same trick would work. No dice.

I found the instructions on the internet detailing other places the file had also to be over-written, so obviously things had got more complex. However, none of the sources I saw mentioned that Notepad.ex_ file which now seems to be the ur-file that has to be killed before anything else will work.

And all this within one version of Windows.

Not looking forward to tackling the job in Vista much.

Rolfe.

[jsiv]

Different times.

Back in the day you could do whatever you wanted to any system file. Today Windows is designed to protect the core OS from corruption.

Maybe the real answer is to reevaluate your strategy and let Windows win next time!

[grmcdorman]

The Notepad++ toolbar can be hidden entirely. No options for text, unfortunately; however you can submit a feature request. Everything on the toolbar is in menus, of course, but that doesn't help if you want quick access with text.

As for Windows "protecting" itself from corruption, mostly what it does is annoy people like Rolfe who want to change things. There's enough critical stuff that isn't protected that randomly deleting files can still render it unusable, and malware writers know how to work around it.

ETA: Notepad replacements come in two flavours: simple and fancy. Notepad++ is in the latter group (as are most of the others, as the standard XP notepad is adequate for most tasks.)

I will take a quick look to see if the icons for the toolbar can be customized, though; if they can that will be enough to make "icons" that do what you want (within the space constraints of the toolbar).

ETA 2: Yes, it can be customized: http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/changeTheme-HOWTO.php
Basically, you'd need a minimum of 20 icons. Simple text ones can be autogenerated.

[grmcdorman]

Ah: that URL I gave has all I would need to generate 20 text-only icons (or overlay those icons with text). PM me, Rolfe, if you want this done so I can e-mail you the resulting icons.

[Rolfe]

Oh, thanks! I only tried the obvious, which was right-clicking the toolbar (no effect) and trying to drag the toolbar to the left of the screen (again no effect). I'll have a look at that this evening.

In EditPad the dragging to the left actually works, but since as far as I know there's no text option there's not much point in doing that. I don't mind hugely because there aren't many icons and they're quite big, so I've mostly learned what the cryptic pictograms mean. However, once we get into large numbers of small pictograms, all I can do is hover the mouse over them one at a time till I find what I want. This is massively time-consuming compared to just running my eye over the actual words.

The point about dragging the toolbar to the left is so that the text buttons are stacked vertically. That way you can get a respectable number of them stacked one on top of the other, compared to the space they'd take up on a horizontal toolbar. I find this arrangement so massively useful it's surprising how few programmes seem to provide the option.

I know WordPerfect allows this - text-only, and put the toolbar anywhere you like - and it also allows the user to edit the text on the buttons. This is really essential since some of them come with very long text strings (like "new blank document") which take up too much space. It's so easy if you can choose your own buttons then customise the text to a short form that means something to you.

I'm told you can also do most of this in Word, although I have to say the versions they force me to use at work seem to have the text-only option disabled. (And I'm not sure if the text itself is user-editable.) So if you look hard enough, there is provision for people who can't get on with icons in the more sophisticated pieces of software. And Notepad++ seems to be quite sophisticated.

I never quite understand this obsession with icons. For me, it's a bit like washing instructions. You're sitting in front of a washing machine, looking at these cryptic symbols, and no easy way to figure out what the hell a triangle with a cross through it actually means. I can understand this is probably to assist people who can't read English. But frankly, I'd just kill for the information to be there in actual words as well (which seems to be more common on US labels than those made for the British market).

But then you have computer software, which is generally used by the literate, and indeed which very often comes in multiple-language versions with everyone able to choose their own language to display instructions. But we still have to put up with these bloody icons!

It's not so bad with simple things where there are only a few icons and some of these are reasonably self-explanatory anyway (I don't have a problem with B I and U, but then again these have letters in them). I can see that icons make a page look pretty and interesting. But once a programme is getting complex and there are a lot of commands on a toolbar, it gets very difficult to distinguish one icon from another. I know there are programmes in which I spend time searching for the command I want from drop-down menus because I simply don't realise that one of these cryptic doodles on the toolbar will do it in one click.

So I'm massively well-disposed to any programme where the developers have taken the trouble to allow the main toolbar to appear as a vertical stack of text-only buttons. I agree that it's less visually interesting. But it saves me literally hours!

I look forward to experimenting with this facility in Notepad++.

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

Um, I just looked at the toolbar; NP++ doesn't seem to have any option to move the toolbar, just hide it (and customize the icons, in two sizes). I didn't think I mentioned anything about moving the toolbar.

[Rolfe]

No, I couldn't find that either. It's a terribly useful feature if you want to use text buttons, because they stack so much better. It's funny, even relatively simple EditPad does allow that one. So far as I know, though, it doesn't allow text-only buttons!

Never mind, I'll have a play around with Notepad++. I opened one of my html pages in it and I did like the colours - that was always something I quite wished EditPad did.

Rolfe.

[grmcdorman]

I do like it personally - I do all my code editing at work in it (typically C++ code).

As I said, I can generate you simple icons with text if you want; it's not too hard to do (and NP++ allows you to have any icon you want on the toolbar).

[Rolfe]

Let me have a shot at it myself first. See what I can do. Probably not going to be tonight at this rate though....

On second thoughts, having just looked at that link - maybe you better do it! I knew this was one for the techie-minded!

(As a comparison, to do the same in WordPerfect - a much fancier programme I agree - you just right-click anywhere on the toolbar, then select Settings, then Options for whichever toolbar you're interested in, and you can choose text alone, icons alone or both together. You can also select large or small icons, and small, medium or large text. Earlier editions also gave free choice of font, though the new one doesn't. You can also select the position of the toolbar, or simply drag it to where you want it. Then, after OKing that, right-click again on the toolbar and select Edit. This dialogue allows you to remove any icons by dragging them off the toolbar, add any you want,and space-bars to group them as you want by selecting them from the menus, then drag and drop your chosen icons and space-bars to wherever you want. Finally, right-click on an actual icon while in that mode, and you can edit the text freely, and also click on another option that opens a drawing tool so that you can edit the actual icon if you like. Not a single character of actual code in there, it's all essentially intuitive. I'm not expecting a text editor to give me that sort of functionality, but you see what I mean by Notepad++ being more for the techie-minded?)

Rolfe.