\Program Files\GridinSoft\Notepad\backup

the original folder for the Windows Notepad is typically here:
C:\WINDOWS\system32

Just copy the backed-up notepad.exe into the \WINDOWS\system32 folder

Seems conincidental that the functioning Vista version was released the next day. I would like to use the version that works on Vista. Not being able to fairly evaluate this editor on Vista leaves a bad first impression. I’m going to have to pass on GridinSoft Notepad and reconsider Notepad++ or AptEdit.

I’m posting this a comment only because I don’t have enough information to know if this is actually supported. Once again the lack of documentation hurts.

Just took another look at UltraEdit. Indeed, it is a very powerful editor. Using just the “Notepad Replacement” Environment, here is what I noticed:

1. Tabbed Interface:

I figured out how to move the tab buttons [UltraEdit calls them "File Tabs"] to the bottom of the program window [viz., by dragging via the mouse]. However, they do not seem to be stackable which is vital when working with numerous files simultaneously [I sometimes have 10-30 files open simultaneously].

UltraEdit can place a coloured dot on each tab button according to the type of file format/extension [quite neat!] but I was not able to find any options for changing the text & background colour of the tab button for focussed vs unfocussed tabs. In NoteTab, I use a white background for the focussed tab button and in Firefox [I know, it's not a text editor], I also change the focussed tab button’s text colour to tourquoise. [NoteTab can change the font face & colour for only ALL of the tab buttons, not specific ones.]

2. Syntax Highlighting

Well done and reasonably configurable. However, when strings are used as “Values” for “Attributes” in HTML Tags [ie., <IMG SRC="filename.gif" ALT="Image description">], they are the same colour as the normal text ["black", by default]. In contrast, numeric Values [ie., <IMG BORDER="0" WIDTH="123">] receive their own colour ["red", by default].

NoteTab’s syntax highlighting is slightly weaker. Specifically, while filenames [Values for "SRC"] & URLs [Values for "HREF"] are coloured coded distinctly ["red", by default] from HTML Tags, HTML Attributes & string Values are coloured the same as HTML Tags ["blue", by default].

3. Text Selection

UltraEdit does have “Select All” via the right-click context menu but not NoteTab’s “Copy All”. Not really a big deal, though.

4. Line Numbering

No leading zeros [NoteTab doesn't have this either] and I wasn’t able to find a “Go to Line Number” dialog [which NoteTab does possess].

I don’t work for them, just a fanboy!

don’t know, but they might still offer a lifetime license for just a small amount more than the usual price, I got that a few yrs ago.

Based upon long ingrained habits developed from hand coding web pages the past decade, here are SOME of the features I desire in a text editor. (Note that, because I’ve used it extensively the past 5-6 years, NoteTab [Light & Pro] is my basis for comparison, even though it doesn’t meet all my requirements.)

1. Tabbed interface:

– stackable [aka "multi-line"]
– movable to bottom or top of program window [I prefer them at the bottom of the program window like in WordPerfect. First thing I do in Firefox is install TabMix Plus and move the tabs to the bottom.]

2. Syntax highlighting

– configurable colours
– for HTML, separate colours for Tags, Attributes, & Values

3. Search & Replace

– global as well as current document
– multi-line selections
– auto-fill of “Search for” field with highlighted document text
– unified dialog box

4. Line Numbering

– “leading zeros” is nice
– “Go to Line #” is very helpful

5. Restore documents upon restart

– documents that were open at the end of the previous session are re-opened automatically
– cursor restored to last edit point in each document

6. Text Selection

“Select All” and “Copy All” options, especially via a right-click context menu [such as in NoteTab], is most useful.

The last time I posted was item # 36 in the AptEdit offering: href=”http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/aptedit-pro-46/#comments
. I indicated that I would look at both AptEdit and PSPad.

Having finally tested AptEdit, I was quite pleased with it. The 2 minor faults I discovered were:

1. Separate dialog boxes for “Replace…” and “Replace in Files…”. NoteTab, as well as many other editors, places them in the same dialog box along with a simple toggle switch for current & all documents. Ditto for the “Find…” and “Find in Files…” functions.

2. The tab buttons can be moved to the bottom of the program window but aren’t stackable…they merely become narrower with increasing numbers of open documents.

As promised, I also examined PSPad. It too had a few minor problems.

1. Upon re-opening, it would re-load all documents from the previous session but wouldn’t place the cursor at the last edit point in each document. Bit of a nuisance with long documents.

2. Like AptEdit, “Search…” and “Search/Replace in Files…” were separate menu selections and invoked separate dialog boxes.

I did notice that in PSPAD the tab buttons were stackable, could be moved to the bottom of the program window, and possessed 3 style options. In contrast, in NoteTab, the tabs couldn’t be moved to the bottom but could be styled for text and background colour in both focussed and unfocussed states.

Both AptEdit and PSPad had “Select All” options in the right-click context menus but no “Copy All” like NoteTab. This necessitates an extra step when copying entire pages.

Both AptEdit and PSPad did an excellent job with HTML syntax highlighting, distinguishing between Tags, Attributes, and Values, and permitting colour customization.

Now, on to today’s GAOTD offering, GridinSoft Notepad. It is very good although with some minor problems.

It has a large number of interface styles/schemes, provides the option of leading zeros for line numbering, has movable/dockable toolbars and restores all open documents from previous session along with placing the cursor at the last edit point(s). The status bar at the bottom is rather interesting in that it possesses toggles for NUM & CAPS lock, insert/overwrite, file statistics, and a line & column status indicator with “Go to line number” pop-up dialog.

I found 6 areas that need work:
A. Syntax Highlighting [Format > Options > Color Scheme: HTML Document]

1. odd conventions

With a typical HTML tag such as <IMG SRC=”filename.gif”>, the components are labeled, respectively, “Tag”, “Attribute”, and “Value”. However, GridinSoft Notepad uses “ML:Tag”, “ML:Key”, and “ML:Quoted value”. As a result, it took trial and error to find the corresponding items.

2. Default HTML syntax colour scheme

The Tag ["ML:Tag"] and Value ["ML:Quoted value"] colours were the same ["blue"] with the former being distinguished by being bolded. An alternative colour [I used Fushia for testing purposes] would be better. Since the HTML tags were bolded, I also added bold to regular text for visbility.

3. Attributes Dialog Box

Each modifiable syntax entry is prefixed with either Css, Es, ML, or Php. Perhaps it would be more intuitive to use “HTML” instead of “ML”.

B. “Replace…” and “Replace in Files…”

1. Same problem as AptEdit and PSPad wherein “Replace…” and “Replace in Files…” menu selections and dialog boxes are separate instead of unified.

2. Auto insertion of highlighted document text into “Search for:” filed works with “Find…” and “Replace…” menu selections but not for “Search…” and “Search in Files…” menu selections.

3. Multi-line Search and Search and Replace not available.

C. Tabbed Interface

Movable to bottom of program window but not stackable

D. Spellchecker?

Despite viewing the flash video at GridinSoft, and exploring the program settings, I couldn’t get the spellchecker to work with HTML documents.

E. Closing Documents

The “File” menu has a “Close All” option but no “Close” option. In contrast, the right-click context menu for a tab bar button would provide “Close” and “Close All But This” options but no “Close All” option. Curious…

F. Hang upon exit

Aftering loading 10 HTML documents ranging in size from 13KB to 169 KB, the program would simply hang upon exit. To prevent this, I had to close all of the documents first.