This article explains how to install and use Notepad ++ on a Windows computer. It is a text editor optimized for programming languages, the ideal choice for writing using languages such as C ++, Batch and HTML.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Installation
Step 1. Open the Notepad ++ website
Go to https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ with your browser.
Step 2. Click on download
You will see this tab at the top left of the page.
Step 3. Click on DOWNLOAD
It is a green button in the center of the page. Press it and you will start downloading the Notepad ++ installation file.
Depending on your browser settings, you may need to select a save location or confirm the download before continuing
Step 4. Double-click the installation file
Its icon looks like a green frog.
Step 5. Click Yes when asked
The installation window will open.
Step 6. Select a language
Click on the language drop-down menu, then click on the one you want to use.
Step 7. Click OK
You will find this button at the bottom of the language window.
Step 8. Follow the directions on the screen
You need to complete the following steps:
- Click on Come on
- Click on I accept
- Click on Come on
- Click on Come on
- Check the advanced options, then click on Install
Step 9. Click Finish
If you do not remove the check mark from the item "Run Notepad ++", pressing the button will close the installation window and open the program.
Part 2 of 5: Setting up Notepad ++
Step 1. Open Notepad ++, if you haven't already
Double-click the application icon, which looks like a white paper with a green frog.
Step 2. Delete the text contained in Notepad ++
You'll usually find some developer notes; just select and delete them.
Step 3. Click on Settings
You will see this tab at the top of the Notepad ++ window. Press it and a drop-down menu will open.
Step 4. Click on Preferences…
This item is located in the drop-down menu Settings. Press it and the Preferences window will open.
Step 5. Check Notepad ++ settings
Read the options in the center of the window or click on a tab on the left side to view another category of items.
You can change the settings to your liking, but be careful not to change any you don't understand
Step 6. Click Close
This button is located at the bottom of the Preferences window. Press it to save the changes and close the window.
Step 7. Look at the menu buttons
At the top of the Notepad ++ window you will see a row of colored buttons. Hover the mouse pointer over each of them and you will see an indication of their function.
For example, the purple floppy disk icon in the upper left of the window allows you to save the progress of a project
Step 8. Choose a language
This article shows programming examples in C ++, Batch, and HTML, but you can use almost any language you want with Notepad ++. Once you've made your choice, you can use the text editor to write your program.
Part 3 of 5: Creating a Simple C ++ Program
Step 1. Click on the Language tab
You will find it at the top of the window. Press it and a drop-down menu will open.
Step 2. Select C
You will find this option in the drop-down menu Language. A menu will appear.
Step 3. Click on C ++
You will see this button in the newly appeared menu. Most programmers' first experience with C ++ is to create a program that says "Hello, World!" when it runs, so we'll use that example.
Step 4. Give the program a title
Type followed by the title of the program (for example "My first program"), then press Enter.
- All text written after two slashes is not considered as code.
-
For example: to assign the title "Hello World" to your program, you should type
//Hello World
- on Notepad ++.
Step 5. Enter the command for the preprocessor
write
#includes
in Notepad ++, then hit Enter. This command tells C ++ to execute the lines of code written later as a program.
Step 6. Declare the function of the program
write
int main ()
in Notepad ++, then press Enter.
Step 7. Add an opening parenthesis
write
{
in Notepad ++, then press Enter. You have to put the main program code between this opening and closing bracket that you will add later.
Step 8. Write the code for your program to execute
write
std:: cout << "Hello World!";
to Notepad ++ and press Enter.
Step 9. Add a closing parenthesis
write
}
on Notepad ++. This closes the execution phase of the program.
Step 10. Review the program
It should look something like this example:
-
//Hello World
-
#includes
-
int main ()
-
{
-
std:: cout << "Hello World!";
-
}
Step 11. Save your schedule
Click on File, then on Save with name… in the drop-down menu, enter a name for your program, select a save path and click on Save.
If you have an application on your computer that can run C ++, you should be able to use it to open your new Hello World program
Part 4 of 5: Creating a Simple Batch Program
Step 1. Click on the Language tab
It is located at the top of the window. Press it and a drop-down menu will open.
Step 2. Select B
You will see this option in the drop-down menu Language. A window will appear.
Step 3. Click on Batch
You will see this entry in the newly appeared window. Batch is a modified version of the Command Prompt commands, so all Batch files will be opened from the Command Prompt.
Step 4. Enter the command "echo"
write
@echo off
to Notepad ++ and press Enter.
Step 5. Give the program a title
write
Title text
and press Enter, making sure to replace "text" with your chosen title.
When you run the program, the title will appear at the top of the Command Prompt window
Step 6. Enter the text to be printed
write
echo text
and press Enter. Replace "text" with the phrase you want to appear in the Command Prompt.
-
For example, if you want the Command Prompt to write "Humans are superior!", Type the code
echo Humans are superior!
- on Notepad ++.
Step 7. Stop the program
write
breaks
on Notepad ++ to indicate the end of the program.
Step 8. Review the code
It should look something like this:
-
@echo off
-
Title Command Prompt Improved
-
echo Humans are superior!
-
breaks
Step 9. Save the program
Click on File, then on Save with name… in the drop-down menu, enter a name for the program, select a save path and click on Save.
If you want to run your program, just search for it in the path where you saved it and double-click on it
Part 5 of 5: Creating a Simple HTML Program
Step 1. Click on the Languages tab
You will see it at the top of the window. Press it and a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 2. Select H
You will see this item in the menu Languages. Press it and a window will open.
Step 3. Click on HTML
It is in the newly appeared window. HTML is a commonly used language for websites, so we'll create a simple webpage with a header and subtitle.
Step 4. Enter the document header
Type in Notepad ++, then hit Enter.
Step 5. Add the "html" tag
Type in Notepad ++ and hit Enter.
Step 6. Add the "body" tag
Type in Notepad ++ and hit Enter. This command indicates that a section of text or other information relating to the body of the page is starting.
Step 7. Enter your page header
write
text
and press Enter, making sure to replace the "text" section with the header of your choice.
-
For example: to write the message "Welcome to my swamp", you should write
Welcome to my swamp
- on Notepad ++.
Step 8. Add some text under the header
write
text
and press Enter. Replace "text" with your favorite phrases (for example "Make yourself at home!").
Step 9. Close the "html" and "body" tags
Type and press Enter, then type.
Step 10. Review the code
It should look like this example:
-
Welcome to my swamp
-
Make yourself at home!
Step 11. Save the program
Click on File, then click on Save with name… in the drop-down menu, assign a name to the program, select a save path and click on Save.
- If you choose the language before saving, Notepad ++ automatically selects the correct format for you.
- You should be able to open your HTML file in all web browsers.
Advice
Notepad ++ uses tabs to store various types of content, so even if it crashes unexpectedly, your work will likely still be available when you reopen the program
Warnings
- Selecting an incorrect programming language results in errors in program execution.
- Always test your programs before showing them to other people. This way you can correct errors and make any necessary changes.