Recently, I've been reviewing some freeware editors and looking to upgrade from NoteTab Lite. I have been using NoteTab Lite for several years but lately I've been feeling very disappointed with it.
I found a terrific article in Wikipedia that lists approx 80 freeware editors and compares them feature by feature. Here is the link to that article titled, "Comparison of text editors":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_text_editors
So far, the only editors that I've worked with (because they generally got a favorable review from some of the freeware sites are:
1) Editpad Lite, 2) JEdit, 3) Notepad2, 4) NoteTab Lite, 5) Notepad++, 6) Pspad
I have compiled a small list of features that I find to be pretty much essential for me when using an editor. They are:
1) The ability to open several files at once and be able to easily see the names of all files currently opened and to switch among them quickly and easily.
This is normally accomplished with a tabbed interface and most all modern editors have this feature.
2) Word wrap - unbelievably, it is not available in some editors.
3) Some reasonable cursor movement commands. I need to be able to quickly move the cursor to the following locations:
. start/end of the current line
. top/bottom of current screen
. start/end of current sentence
. next/previous word
. next/previous line
. next/previous page
4) Some reasonable ability to customize program features so that I don't have to accept the author's ideas. With AHK, you would think this doesn't matter because I can always define any shortcuts in AHK. But there are many other kinds of features involved and it is disappointing to be given zero choice as to how certain features are implemented.
5) Text case - ability to select a block of text and convert it to one of: uppercase, lowercase, inverse case, captalized, sentence case.
6) Lines - ability to split or join lines, indent or unindent lines, sort or line number lines - ability to move to a specific line
7) Markers - including the ability to save markers to the file so they don't have to br re-entered each time you open the file.
One of the things I really want in an editor is the ability to see as many lines as possible at once. Most editors allow you to use the entire window except for a single menu bar. But EditPad Lite has this toolbar at the top of the window and will not allow the user to configure the package to remove it. Actually, it will allow you to remove it. But you have to buy the PRO version first and that for some reason that really seems like a cheezy thing to do.
Although I'm still looking for the best editor for me, at present, it looks like JEdit because it is a cross-platform editor and is supported by entire communities of programmers. It has huge libraries of plugins and extremely generous ability for the user to customize its operations and features.
Here is a site that recommends the best freeware in several categories - one of which is text editors. I think it is called, "The very best freeware packages available in 100 different categories."
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-fr ... editor.htm
Here are some links to six of the freeware text editors in case you'd like to give any a try:
EditPad Lite - Website:
http://www.editpadpro.com/editpadlite.html - Download link:
http://www.editpadpro.com/editpadlite.html
jEdit - Website:
http://jedit.org/ - Download link:
http://jedit.org/index.php?page=download
NotePad2 - Website:
http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html - Download link:
http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html
NoteTab Lite - Website:
http://www.notetab.com/ntl.php - Download link:
http://www.notetab.com/ntl.php
Notepad++ - Website:
http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm - Download link:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfile ... _id=102072
PSPad - Website:
http://www.pspad.com/ - Download link:
http://www.pspad.com/en/download.php
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