Auto-indent in Notepad++

Question

We always write code like this formal:

void main(){
  if(){
    if()
    }

Alt text

But when I use Notepad++, the display is:

void main(){
if(){
if()
}

Alt text

How do I use Notepad++ to auto indent?

Thanks to Jonathan, I have set it, but it does not take any effect. The snapshot is below:

Alt text

I am using Notepad++ version 5.1.3.

score 142 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 05 '09 at 07:26

142

Notepad++ will only auto-insert subsequent indents if you manually indent the first line in a block; otherwise you can re-indent your code after the fact using TextFX > TextFX Edit > Reindent C++ code.

answered Jan 05 '09 at 07:26

scronide

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If your version is missing the DLL you can get it from the ZIP 5.9.0 version. Some of the later versions did not include this DLL. http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v5.9.0.html – Fostah Mar 09 '12 at 18:31
2

I actually found this while looking for a way to format javascript code. Turns out, this works for .js files as well! – sacredfaith Apr 19 '12 at 15:57
7

@Fostah: you can also install the "Text FX Character" via >Plugins>Plugin Manager>Show Plugin Manager – Adriano Jan 17 '14 at 14:37
@scronide, Is there a shortcut key for this? – Pacerier Aug 07 '16 at 17:08
Note that despite the name, it absolutely also correctly re-indented the javascript code I was trying to fix the indentation of. No reason I would expect it not to, just mentioning, since the name *is* rather specific. Dunno why the author of that library felt he had to give special preference to C++... :D – neminem Dec 04 '17 at 17:08
It doesn't work with User-Defined Languages, I'm trying to use it with GLSL which is mostly C-like. – Beyondo Jun 16 '18 at 18:06
1

So how does one get started going `TextFX >` ? I've checked all the menus, plugins, and help file and I don't see anything that looks like that. I can tell Notepadd++ is powerful, but I barely use it because it's so complicated it's almost a no-starter. – Travis Bemrose Dec 18 '20 at 18:01

score 105 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 23 '12 at 03:34

105

If the TextFX menu does not exist, you need to download & install the plugin. Plugins->Plugin Manager->Show Plugin Manager and then check the plugin TextFX Characters. Click 'install,' restart Notepad++.

In version Notepad++ v6.1.3, I resolve with: Plugin Manager->Show Plugin Manager** and then check the plugin "Indent By Fold"

edited Aug 23 '12 at 03:34

Fluffeh

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answered Mar 24 '12 at 05:47

Moose5

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Indent by fold is awesome. The fact that it works in arbitrary formatting (*XML, C/++/#, etc.*) is great. Only problem with it is the "undo" stack. When used, if you wish to undo to a point before when you indented, you have to undo through **every** line re-indentation, as it doesn't get added to the stack as a single command. Basically, be careful when working with *long* files. – Dan Lugg Jan 26 '13 at 14:21
Hi @Dan the undo problem seem to have been fixed in newer version of indent by fold... – TOPKAT Apr 09 '17 at 14:13
3

Yes, It doesn't exist and there's no Plugin Manager. – Beyondo Jun 16 '18 at 17:22

score 31 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 31 '15 at 11:11

31

There seems to be an option for auto-format of XML at least. It can be found at TextFX -> TextFX HTML Tidy -> Tidy: reindent XML.

edited Aug 31 '15 at 11:11

Peter Mortensen

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answered Mar 18 '10 at 06:42

Abhishek

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you need TextFx plugin for this – arviman May 31 '16 at 06:37

score 29 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 31 '15 at 11:11

29

Most developers of text editing programs misuse this name (auto-indent). The correct name is "maintain indentation". Auto-indent is what you actually want, but it is not implemented.

I would also like to see this feature in Notepad++.

edited Aug 31 '15 at 11:11

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jan 06 '09 at 12:13

Jonathan Lonowski · Answer 5 · 2009-01-05T07:19:57.073

22

In the latest version (at least), you can find it through:

Settings (menu)
Preferences...
MISC (tab)
lower-left checkbox list
"Auto-indent" is the 2nd option in this group

[EDIT] Though, I don't think it's had the best implementation of Auto-indent. So, check to make sure you have version 5.1 -- auto-indent got an overhaul recently, so it auto-corrects your indenting.

Do also note that you're missing the block for the 2nd if:

void main(){
  if(){
    if() { }  # here
  }
}

edited Jan 05 '09 at 07:19

answered Jan 05 '09 at 06:57

Jonathan Lonowski

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Note that this auto-indent setting in Notepad++ assumes you do the first indent in a block manually; it doesn't auto-format the code for you. – scronide Jan 05 '09 at 07:05
I got your meaning just now,please forgive my poor Eng... My mother language is Chinese... – Turion Jan 05 '09 at 12:49

score 16 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 15 '12 at 17:04

16

You can use 'Indent by fold' plugin. Install it from the plugin manager. It works fine for me.

answered Jun 15 '12 at 17:04

Aki143S

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Indent by fold is great, except that it only indents by fold ;) In situations where you've indented a list initialization, unless the language uses a folding character to delimit the initializer, it'll end up un-indenting. An example is a multi-line array initialization in PHP using `array( ... )`, where `()` are non-folding. – Dan Lugg Mar 21 '13 at 12:23

score 6 · Answer 7 · answered Apr 23 '20 at 06:54

6

For those who using version 7.8.5, the Auto-indent settings is now located at "Settings" -> "Preferences..." -> "Auto-Completion".

answered Apr 23 '20 at 06:54

ooi18

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score 5 · Answer 8 · answered Sep 03 '14 at 18:07

5

In the 6.6.8 version I installed the NppAutoIndent plugin from Plugins > Plugin Manager > Show Plugin Manager. Then I selected the Smart Indent option in Plugin > NppAutoIndent. Hope this helps.

answered Sep 03 '14 at 18:07

TheRS

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score 5 · Answer 9 · edited Jul 20 '18 at 11:10

5

For those who use Notepad++ v6.8.1 and later, the auto-indent setting now is placed in menu Settings → Preferences → MISC. → Auto Indent.

edited Jul 20 '18 at 11:10

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 23 '16 at 05:56

Luke

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score 3 · Answer 10 · answered Apr 14 '16 at 07:56

3

A little update: You can skip the TextFX Plugin and just use Tidy2. Here you can configure your own formating-rules for different types of codes. Easy to install and remove within

Notepad++ > Plugins > Plugin Manager > Show Plugin Manager

and just search for Tidy2 and install it. Done.

answered Apr 14 '16 at 07:56

Sven Ya

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Can you explain a bit more? – Dieter Meemken Apr 14 '16 at 08:14
More information about configuration can be found here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14865770/using-tydy2-for-notepad – Sven Ya Apr 14 '16 at 13:26
its quite difficult to use this compare to other plugins – Gaurav Khurana Feb 14 '18 at 05:04

score 3 · Answer 11 · edited Dec 20 '21 at 08:43

3

You can add "Text FX Character" plugin. Download it from https://sourceforge.net/projects/npp-plugins/files/TextFX/ and install it via

Plugins → Plugin Manager → Show Plugin Manager.

Then you will find a new "TextFX" menu:

Menu TextFX → TextFX Edit → Reindent C++ code

To add shortcut for Indentation.

Click on Settings → Shortcut Mapper... set the shortcut key you prefer. I prefer Ctrl + =.

edited Dec 20 '21 at 08:43

jumpjack

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answered Oct 20 '17 at 11:30

Saurav Sahu

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This plugin is no longer available – rollsch Feb 07 '22 at 00:41

score 2 · Answer 12 · edited Aug 31 '15 at 11:13

2

Try the UniversalIndentGUI plugin for Notepad++. It re-indents code based on some parameters. It worked well for me.

edited Aug 31 '15 at 11:13

Peter Mortensen

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answered Aug 23 '13 at 15:44

imriss

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Note that the link is direct to the download. The website is: http://universalindent.sourceforge.net/. Also, this appears to be a GUI for configuring a reformating tool, rather than automatically formatting the text correctly to start with. – Martin Bonner supports Monica Oct 08 '13 at 08:26

score 2 · Answer 13 · answered Oct 02 '16 at 07:56

2

This may seem silly, but in the original question, Turion was editing a plain text file. Make sure you choose the correct language from the Language menu

answered Oct 02 '16 at 07:56

kurdtpage

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score 0 · Answer 14 · answered May 01 '18 at 23:45

0

Install Tidy2 plugin. I have Notepad++ v6.2.2, and Tidy2 works fine so far.

answered May 01 '18 at 23:45

score 0 · Answer 15 · edited Feb 11 '19 at 20:45

First download plugin manager this link then unzip the zip folder and copy this inside your program/ notepad++ folder . then restart your notepad++. then you see plugin manager inside plugin menu . then click plugin manager then click show plugin manager . It shows all your plugin list . from the list in bottom find XML tools , checked it and install it. then restart your notepad++. After open a document then plugins/xml tools/pretty plain(indent text) then enjoy.

score -1 · Answer 16 · answered Jun 19 '20 at 10:52

-1

Try to save the file before, then it will indent.

answered Jun 19 '20 at 10:52

Sh13

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It could be comment! – Farbod Ahmadian Jun 19 '20 at 12:20
Can you elaborate on this a little more? – Toto Jun 19 '20 at 13:00

Auto-indent in Notepad++

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