Are there any plans to make Notepad++ a restartable Windows 10 application?

[jcrmatos]

Hello,

Are there any plans to make Notepad++ a restartable Windows 10 application?

The opposite of this article
https://www.howtogeek.com/396884/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-reopening-your-previous-applications-after-restarting-your-pc/

Best regards,

João Matos

[andrecool-68]

@jcrmatos You need to restart notepad++?
I am using this script:
https://www.cyberforum.ru/vbscript-wsh/thread2616849.html

[Apple Ono]

@andrecool-68 I think by “restartable” they are talking about a Windows feature where if Windows auto-updates and automatically reboots while you’re away from your PC, it automatically saves the state of the applications you had open (including unsaved data), and reopens them when it restarts, exactly like you left off. Evidently not all applications work with this feature (including Notepad++), but the ones that do are called “restartable applications”.

[PeterJones]

@Apple-Ono ,

Notepad++ has the option to “enable session snapshot and periodic backup”, where if you cleanly exit Notepad++ without saving, it will remember any changes that haven’t been saved, and remember which files are open. When you relaunch Notepad++, it will reload the file, even with the unsaved changes. This usually even works when you shut down Windows with Notepad++ open.

However, despite the best efforts of the developer and other volunteers, occasionally a windows crash or windows update will cause that periodic backup to be corrupted/lost, because windows gets impatient after sending the “save your state” message to applications. But with modern Notepad++, there are only a handful of complaints about that, compared to many, many thousands of users, so I would estimate that it is better than 99.9% “restartable”.

[PeterJones]

@Apple-Ono ,

You also said in the other new topic you created,

Over the past year or so, I have noticed this works for more applications, although a few (Notepad++, VS.Code, paint.net) are still not automatically being recovered.

The state of your primary instance of Notepad++ is saved. However, Notepad++ won’t necessarily automatically re-run on reboot, unless you always have Notepad++ run at startup.

Is there any configuration change we can do to enable Windows to save and recover the working session in Notepad++ (including unsaved files,

Yes. Already answered above

new files that were never saved, and multiple instances of Notepad++ because I often have 2 Windows open side by side, with different files) ?

No. Notepad++ only allows one instance of the application to have access to the session file.

If this is currently not supported, is it currently on the “to do” list, and if not, how do we get this added to it (including support for multi-instances)?

It is not. We have a FAQ that explains where feature requests go.

[Apple Ono]

@PeterJones Thank you for your reply but I think you misunderstood.
The point is that when Windows auto-updates and auto-reboots while you’re away from your computer (something many people have no control over at their workplace due to security settings), Windows attempts to save and restore all applications that were open, including unsaved files and new files that have never been saved.

This can happen at any time, so if you step away from your computer and don’t make it back, you can find it has restarted on you, and you might not have cleanly exited Notepad++.

Also, cleanly exiting Notepad++ does not save the state of multiple instances. I often have 2 instances of Notepad++ open side by side, with completely different files open.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think that whether or not Windows is able to restart and restore the state of an application, it needs to be coded to enable this feature to work with Windows or conform to some standard Microsoft requires (I have seen the term “restartable” to describe applications that Windows is able to restore the state of).

The feature works for certain applications but not all. Over the past year or so, I have noticed it works for more applications, although a few (Notepad++, VS.Code, paint.net) are still not automatically being recovered.

So my first question is: is there any configuration change we can do to enable Windows to save and recover all instances of Notepad++ ?

If this is currently not supported, is it currently on the “to do” list, and if not, how do we get this added to it (including support for multi-instances)?

Thanks again

[PeterJones]

@Apple-Ono said in Are there any plans to make Notepad++ a restartable Windows 10 application?:

@PeterJones Thank you for your reply but I think you misunderstood.
The point is that when Windows auto-updates and auto-reboots while you’re away from your computer (something many people have no control over at their workplace due to security settings), Windows attempts to save and restore all applications that were open, including unsaved files and new files that have never been saved.

As I said, “This usually even works when you shut down Windows with Notepad++ open.” I was trying to imply with that even when Windows shuts down on its own.

This can happen at any time, so if you step away from your computer and don’t make it back, you can find it has restarted on you, and you might not have cleanly exited Notepad++.

And if Windows is playing nice, Notepad++ will remember its state for the primary instance.

Also, cleanly exiting Notepad++ does not save the state of multiple instances. I often have 2 instances of Notepad++ open side by side, with completely different files open.

As I said, “No. Notepad++ only allows one instance of the application to have access to the session file.”

I’m not 100% sure, but I think that whether or not Windows is able to restart and restore the state of an application, it needs to be coded to enable this feature to work with Windows or conform to some standard Microsoft requires (I have seen the term “restartable” to describe applications that Windows is able to restore the state of).

I know of know such standard. But I am not a developer of windows apps.

So my first question is: is there any configuration change we can do to enable Windows to save and recover all instances of Notepad++ ?

Already answered.

If this is currently not supported, is it currently on the “to do” list, and if not, how do we get this added to it (including support for multi-instances)?

Already answered.

[Apple Ono]

@PeterJones I think you answered my question here. Thank you.
I think the multi-instance support would be a great improvement, guess I will need to go look at the FAQ. Thanks again.

[xomx]

@Apple-Ono

I have making the N++ such “restartable app” on my TODO.

But 1st I had to fix the previous N++ incorrect behavior during a forced Windows Update restart (fixed in the released v8.4.7). Now I am in a waiting-for-user-feedback phase. If everything will be ok, I proceed further…

I have no plans for changing the N++ multisession behavior.

[xomx]

@jcrmatos

Implemented, it will be in the next N++ (v8.5.8).

Or there are the commit binaries for a preview (click there on an appropriate build - most probably MSC-x64-Release and look for Artifacts).