TextFX 64-bit binary / source code unavailability?

[Alan Kilborn]

@Jeff-Johnston said:

compelling argument for why 64-bit 7.6.6 is superior to 32-bit 7.5.9

I don’t think there is anything compelling… 64-bit is the future, though…so there’s that.

[dinkumoil]

@Alan-Kilborn said:

but then wouldn’t the original text of the “formula” stay as well?

Yes it would, as I already wrote in my first NppCalc posting.

The whole NppCalc thing seems clunky, while in spirit it has some good ideas

I agree, it is somewhat like a half-baked Excel. But one can open a document in Npp and use it like some kind of dynamic notebook and as such NppCalc can be useful.

[PeterJones]

@Jeff-Johnston said:

compelling argument for why 64-bit 7.6.6 is superior

1. Though 64-bit still has an unreasonably-small file-size limit due to the old Scintilla component, you can still open larger files with Notepad++ 64-bit than with 32-bit
2. When you do File > Open Containing Folder… > Explorer / cmd, 32-bit Notepad++ will open the 32-bit explorer or cmd.exe window
3. When running any 32-bit application (like 32-bit Notepad++) in a 64-bit Windows OS, Windows will lie to you: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/winprog64/file-system-redirector
   • In NPP32 (or cmd.exe 32, or explorer.exe 32, or …), if you try to open a file in %windir%\system32 (which is where the 64bit windows system files go), it will actually open %windir%\syswow64, but will tell you that it’s system32.
   • in NPP32, in order to edit a file that’s really in the 64bit system directory, you have to use the %windir%\sysnative alias

[Jeff Johnston]

Really the only big thing in TextFX that I miss a whole lot in Notepad ++ 64 is TextFX > Tools > Sort, which has a lot of useful options (case-sensitive, case-insensitive) and allows you to sort UNIQUE to remove duplicates. Is there anything current that allows that?

[Alan Kilborn]

@Jeff-Johnston

Notepad++ itself has some sorting options (though “case” criterion isn’t there) in the Edit menu’s Line Operations area. A recent (7.6.x) Notepad++ has a Remove Consecutive Duplicate Lines command, which could be used after a sort, to replicate the TextFX “unique sort” feature you described.

[Alan Kilborn]

@PeterJones

Not very compelling. :)

When you do File > Open Containing Folder… > Explorer / cmd, 32-bit Notepad++ will open the 32-bit explorer or cmd.exe window

I’m not sure about that one…doesn’t 64-bit Notepad++ open a 64-bit explorer or cmd window?

[PeterJones]

@Alan-Kilborn said:

I’m not sure about that one…doesn’t 64-bit Notepad++ open a 64-bit explorer or cmd window?

Yes. And I never see a good reason for not using 64-bit explorer or cmd window. And when 32-bit notepad++ opens a 32-bit explorer or cmd, then explorer/cmd are back to lying to me (#3). I really don’t like that Windows lies to me.

[Alan Kilborn]

@PeterJones said:

I really don’t like that Windows lies to me.

Yeah. Do you really edit text files in those areas all that often though?

[PeterJones]

@Alan-Kilborn said:

all that often

Not really, no. It’s the principle of the thing. ;-)

My list above, plus your “64-bit is the future”, was compelling enough for me to make the switch to 64-bit some time back. And it’s compelling enough to show 64-bit is superior… but for some users (especially those who use the special features of TextFX, or of other not-yet-converted plugins), there are still good reasons for staying on 32-bit. Each user needs to weigh the pros and cons, and make an informed decision.

[Jeff Johnston]

@Alan-Kilborn - That’s very nice, thanks! In that case I think I’ll use 64-bit Notepad++.