The "perfect" freeware tabbed text editor?

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

Yep, agreed. It was a new one on me and one i was impressed
with. Well polished and a good set of features.

I included it in my matrix some days ago:
http://www.freewareguide.de/tmp/perfect-editor.html

And I'm not that impressed, especially on unicode, FTP
and line manipulation (but okay, I know, this list only
tells about features _I_ need).

I'm a bit at an end, I cannot find more useful editors
(I dumped some from listing on very first impression as
they cannot compete in any way), and by now still others
are better. Maybe I'll take some time to add more features
as suggest in other posts. Should take some more time...

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

http://www.freewareguide.de/tmp/perfect-editor.html

Just a few remarks on Notepad++ (please change editor name!). From a
first glance it seems to come close to your needs. And as it is in
active development, some of your missing requirements may appear
sooner or later...

- It supports UTF-8 with and without BOM. "With BOM" is the entry
<Encode in UTF-8> within the format menu. Both variants will be
auto-detected on file open.
- Box selection without mouse with Alt+Shift+Cursor-Keys.
- GUI file panel with external plugin. (Floating window, not dockable.)
- Scripting beyond Macros is possible by writing Plugins. But be sure
to look inside the macro possibilities, too. You'll find them within
shortcuts.xml inside the Notepad++ directory. Each <Action type>
entry corresponds to messages. Look into the *.h files of the source
package (esp. Scintilla.h) for message numbers and look here for
reference:
http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/plugins-HOWTO.php
http://scintilla.sourceforge.net/ScintillaDoc.html
- Find/Replace multi-line can also be executed by Ctrl+R (TextFX Quick
plugin). You simply enter line breaks by hitting Shift+Enter inside
the Find/Replace text boxes.
- I don't know, what you need with regard to Html tag support. An
auto-close feature is available via Insertion plugin, though.

If you use Notepad++ for programming, be sure to check the function
list plugin. It is very useful for browsing the code.

BeAr

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

http://www.freewareguide.de/tmp/perfect-editor.html

Just a few remarks on Notepad++ [...]

many thanks for your helpful remarks.

- It supports UTF-8 with and without BOM. "With BOM" is the
entry <Encode in UTF-8> within the format menu. Both variants
will be auto-detected on file open.

I already marked UTF-8 as supported. To be honest, it was my
reference editor to UTF-8 support, I like it a lot and used
it for verifying other editors output. Only on "new files"
my mark was not that right. It works great on new _empty_
files, only has "problems" when changing settings on files
already having content. Not really problems, correct but not
always my expected behavior.

- Box selection without mouse with Alt+Shift+Cursor-Keys.

Oh, thanks, same behavior with some other editors. Had not
tested that.

- GUI file panel with external plugin. (Floating window,
not dockable.)

Oh, great. More integration would be nice, at least change to
current file.

- Scripting beyond Macros is possible by writing Plugins.
http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/plugins-HOWTO.php

I don't think this is my way (I guess that's why it's called
scripting, not programming)...

But be sure to look inside the macro possibilities, too.
You'll find them within shortcuts.xml inside the Notepad++
directory. Each <Action type> entry corresponds to messages.
Look into the *.h files of the source package (esp.
Scintilla.h) for message numbers and look here for reference:
http://scintilla.sourceforge.net/ScintillaDoc.html

.... and this seems to me not as easy as it should be. For
this need my reference is still NoteTab Light. At least a
specialized documentation (without having to go into source
code and to synchronize with another documentation) may help.

I published the corrected matrix ;-)

Thanks,
Thorsten

 

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

many thanks for your helpful remarks.

You're welcome.

I don't think this is my way (I guess that's why it's called
scripting, not programming)...
;-)

I published the corrected matrix ;-)

But you still have the wrong name listet. It is called Note*P*ad++!
^
BeAr

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hy again,

But you still have the wrong name listed. It is called
Note*P*ad++!

talk loud, clear and slowly, I'm an old man )

Okay, not corrected...

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Okay, not corrected...

NOW NOW NOW. not "not". NOW. It is corrected.

Not only I cannot read, I also cannot type. Grrr...

Sorry,
Thorsten

 

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

NOW NOW NOW. not "not". NOW. It is corrected.

A wrongly placed "t" isn't easy to overcome. You adopted it directly
from my posting ("listet"). As you - of course - know. ;-)

BeAr

 

[Roger Johansson]

Nice table.

But I am surprised that the most important properties are not
mentioned.

1: User settable background color, bright white is not acceptable by
many.
A Windows program should be able to use system colors which the user
has set up.

2: User settable Font and font size. Times New Roman for people who
learned to read in books and are advanced readers.

In some text editors you can change to column block mode so you can
select and use blocks of text, then you can flip back to a readable
true type font for all other work.

Yes. I know there are people who think there is no need for readable
fonts in a programmer's editor. Well, I do.

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

But I am surprised that the most important properties are not
mentioned.

I mentioned in my first post, that I used my own needs as
starting point. I already see with this feature set, that
there is no editor to solve them all, but also there are only
very few that get even near.

That was my wish in the beginning, get some arguments to compare
apps beyond first impression. But not to get a complete list
of every relevant feature anyone can think of, because that
would make testing every single app horrible time eating.

There are so many editors around, so many with limited use
nowadays (f.e. UTF-8 was of no use years ago - with no support
in operating system - now I need it for programming in several
different webapps). I just began dumping some apps quickly
when I found basic features missing just because it bored me.
Unfortunately I forgot to at least list them with a minimal
reason for later reference.

There are other features some mentioned here, so I'll add yours
to that list and decide later, which to add to my matrix.

Yes. I know there are people who think there is no need for
readable fonts in a programmer's editor. Well, I do.

It is often said, that serif fonts (like Times) are worse
readable on screen, because there is a difference between
screen rendering (pixel on the screen) and print. I also
believe that there's a reason, why most prefer monospaced
fonts in source editing, just because source is mostly
structured with indents and such. Most people don't need
to read that much in source, they scan for specific parts.

Don't want to say you're preference is wrong, but I think it
does not stand for a majority. So I would limit your feature
request to individualization (ability to select font and
colors), which surely is an important aspect in usability.

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[Roger Johansson]

There are so many editors around, so many with limited use
nowadays (f.e. UTF-8 was of no use years ago - with no support

I think different file formats should have different file headers.
Text files have different formats but it is seldom shown in a file
header.
So I use an editor which can add a typical utf-8 file header to utf-8
files.

It is often said, that serif fonts (like Times) are worse
readable on screen, because there is a difference between
screen rendering (pixel on the screen) and print. I also

I don't believe that technical explanation. But anyway, if you have
read a lot of books you cannot stand the horrible non-serifed fixed
fonts.

Times New Roman is the same kind of font billions of books have been
printed with, because it is a nice and easily readable font.

When Times is used in pixel size 14-18, depending on program, it
becomes solid and very easy to read. A lot of young people have the
idea that they should use as small a font as possible on the screen, to
cram in as many programs as possible onscreen simultaneously. It is
much better to use editors in fullscreen, so you can use big font
sizes. Then you don't have to sit close to the screen either.

At lower font sizes than 14-18 Times looks like a cheap printed book,
still readable but not beautiful.

believe that there's a reason, why most prefer monospaced
fonts in source editing, just because source is mostly
structured with indents and such. Most people don't need
to read that much in source, they scan for specific parts.

Most computer users read a lot onscreen, so we should try to set the
system and the most used programs to a good ergonomic situation, a
comfortable user interface. There are workers union regulations and
rules for workplaces, one rule is that bright white backgrounds should
be avoided, so I am not alone in my view here.

Technical explanation:
Images, icons and videos should have freedom to be both brighter and
darker than the background. If other elements can only be darker than
the background they always look dark and dull.

You can have your screen intensity set higher if your background is
dark white, so the images and icons get more light possibilities.

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

I think different file formats should have different file
headers. Text files have different formats but it is seldom
shown in a file header.
So I use an editor which can add a typical utf-8 file header
to utf-8 files.

In a perfect world maybe you would be right, but that's not
my experience. That's exactly the reason why I tested both,
with header (BOM) and without. Best is, an editor is able
to handle both and leave the choice to you...

I don't believe that technical explanation. But anyway, if
you have read a lot of books you cannot stand the horrible
non-serifed fixed fonts.

Sorry, I don't wanna discuss this here, I don't think it fits
in this context. The editor should give you the choice, then
you can do what you like.

I'm not looking for a novice user text reader, I'm searching
an advanced text editor. (BTW I don't think, unformatted text
files are suitable for long text to read. I would use rich
text for this where I can markup headings, important to bold
etc. But I guess you don't agree, so again I think it's off
topic for my intentions on this thread.)

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[FirstName LastName]

Nice table.

But I am surprised that the most important properties are not
mentioned.

1: User settable background color, bright white is not acceptable by
many.
A Windows program should be able to use system colors which the user
has set up.

Has anyone used a color called "whitesmoke" #F5F5F5?
For those that want white but find it to bright.

You can choose others here:

http://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref_color_tryit.asp?color=WhiteSmoke

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

1: User settable background color
2: User settable Font and font size

I just published my extended matrix...

Also usage of system preferences is marked, but I have not
tested if one setting overwrites the other.

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

Pretty interesting. I don't suppose you noticed which of
those did spell checking ?

I just published an extended matrix.

If you did then did you come across one that would spell check
a directory of files in one go and/or all "open" files ?

Have not seen this option, maybe a combination of spell
checking and scripting abilities can help (jEdit, PSPad
or XEmacs)?

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

These features are important for me because I need to use
the program for text work, not programming. I haven't found
these together in any notepad replacement program so far:

[...]

as I explained, I cannot review any possible feature, but the
updated matrix including printing and spelling is published.

Regards,
Thorsten

 

[aafuss]

Babya E-Type (it's a tabbed text editor):
http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?21000000038621

 

[John Fitzsimons]

Hello,

I just published an extended matrix.

Have not seen this option, maybe a combination of spell
checking and scripting abilities can help (jEdit, PSPad
or XEmacs)?

Yes, I know it can be done via an Emacs script etc. I was wanting
a program that natively spell checked "all open files" and/or a
directory of eg. html files.

I have found that script/command line solutions work very well BUT
if I want to use them 6, 12, or 18 months later I have forgotten the
required sequence of events to make them work. Searching thousands
of old emails/news posts to re-find a "how to" is not my idea of fun.
A GUI solution simply means remembering the name of the program that
worked.

Regards, John.

 

[S.O. Meone]

Paul_B wrote on Wed:

The free version looks like serious crippleware to me. I'll stick to
PSPAd and Metapad.

S.O. Meone

 

[Paul_B]

Paul_B wrote on Wed:


The free version looks like serious crippleware to me. I'll stick to
PSPAd and Metapad.

S.O. Meone

That definitely is very feature-rich. Much as I like the look and
feel of the other one, I have to give this one a chance.

paul

 

[Thorsten Duhn]

Hello,

Babya E-Type (it's a tabbed text editor):
http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?21000000038621

you already suggest this and even when I already know,
what Babya means, I was curious and tried. I dumped it
from listing as I started to get bored from programs
that cannot compete by far to already listed ones, but
I forgot to make at least a notice, why I dumped which
app. Okay, I installed yours again.

Ugly interface, tabs/toolbar etc. must be activated first
(on _every_ app start), problems with UTF-8 (without BOM
and no options to set for a file), no block operation, no
enhanced features like spell check, macro, scripting, html
etc.

BTW do you really use your own apps? I don't think so...

Regards,
Thorsten