Just dont mess with it!
Keep notepad and use Notepad++ as another app
Replace Notepad with Notepad++
Replace Notepad with another app. (Describe what app in your post)
No, I've not replaced any system files on my machines. However, that doesn't mean there won't be. For me there is no point is mucking with system files when I only need to change file associations. Some applications make it easy for taking file associations. I'm guessing Notepad++ does not offer such functionality?
ok i do not want issues with service packs although i must associate files one by one it can be done so this is what i shall do ALSO if anyone uses a 3rd party notepad what do you use all i know of is Notepad++ and Notepad2 The main difference between the two i noticed was Notepad++ has tab support and Notepad 2 has not tabs a a new window is used for each text file.
Thank you guys for your input I used it on XP after i had installed SP3 as i dont believe i had any service pack issues which you said i would have if i had changed it when i had SP2 then upgraded to SP3. I don't want to deal with issues with Windows 7 as I know i will be installing Service packs in the future as right now i Like Seven the most (if i didn't i would have already installed XP)
Thanks Guys!
Thank you all for helping me decide on what to do!
For those who are wondering why not to just change the file associations - some software that has commands to edit text and config files built into them automatically opens notepad with no option to use another editor, and will bypass file associations. When this is the case it is necessary to follow the instructions above to get a different editor to open it.
In my case it is a WAMP package called Vertrigo Server. It has a quick option built into it that allows me to easily open up some server config files, but it's hard coded to use the ...\windows\notepad.exe path which would be ok if I wanted to use notepad, but when I edit them using Notepad++ I get all the extra options, and colour coding too. Well worth following the simple steps here to get what I want.
Actually you can change those "Edit" commands. My personal editor of choice has the option to do so.
Can also use the tool below to change them.
http://www.creativelement.com/powertools/#tools
You can replace notepad with notepad2 or notepad++ for 'open' (open with...) OR 'EDIT' - which is the tricky one - with a very simple registry hack from Notepad2 Modifications
Do this:
- Create the following registry key if it doesn't exist:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe.
- Inside the key, create a new string (REG_SZ) value, named "Debugger".
(this key already existed on my newly reinstalled W7 system)
- Set the data of this new "Debugger" value to the full path to the Notepad2/notepad++ executable, followed by the /z switch:
["C:\Windows\Notepad2.exe" /z]
( '[]' are around the registry value, not part of it)
My registry entry for Debugger is just this:
[C:\Portables\Notepad++\notepad++.exe] - without the '/z', works great.
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