Request: default filename is first line of file

[Doug Rogers]

With Word (et al) the first time you hit save it will enter the first line of the file as the default filename. For example, if my file is:
Do List for 21-11-26
task 1
task 2

the first time I hit Ctrl+S it will use “Do List for 21-11-26.txt” as the default filename. I wish Np++ would do this. Right now I have to copy the first line, hit Ctrl+S, then paste the first line in the save box.

[Alan Kilborn]

@doug-rogers

It makes zero sense for programmers, and Notepad++ is first and foremost a programmer’s text editor, so I don’t see something like this happening natively.

However, something like this could be easily scripted with a PythonScript. A really barebones version (just as a demo) of SaveUsingFirstLineAsFilename.py might be:

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

from Npp import *

class SUFLAF(object):

    def __init__(self):
        f = notepad.getCurrentFilename()
        if f.startswith('new '):
            l = editor.getLine(0)
            notepad.saveAs(l + '.txt')

if __name__ == '__main__': SUFLAF()

You’d run this script when you want to save such a file, rather than pressing Ctrl+s.

[stephane352]

Using first line as default filename would be nice for text files though.

[Alan Kilborn]

@stephane352 said in Request: default filename is first line of file:

Using first line as default filename would be nice for text files though.

Even that feels yucky to me and not something the Notepad++ developers would be likely to implement.

If you must have it, go with the script approach. To work effectively, though, the script needs to be “rounded out” a bit more. I wasn’t inclined to do that, because I’d only do that kind of thing if it was some capability I had a lot of interest in. Because I don’t…someone else would have to do it.

[Doug Rogers]

Thank you Alan K for that script. I used to use NPP for all my programming but now I use VSCode; but I still use NPP for all other text files (do lists, notes, etc) and for those this is a very useful feature.

I didn’t know how to use it, so for others in the same predicament I had to:

1. Go to Plugins menu | Plugins Admin; install PythonScript
2. Plugins | PythonScript | New Script
3. Paste the script, save it as FirstLineAsFileName

to run it I have to do:
Alt (to show menu) | Plugins | PythonScript | Scripts | FirstLineAsFileName

I’m trying to figure out how to create a shortcut to run this script because it takes a lot of mousing to get to it

[PeterJones]

@doug-rogers said in Request: default filename is first line of file:

I’m trying to figure out how to create a shortcut to run this script because it takes a lot of mousing to get to it

First, you have to tell PythonScript to add it to the menu: Plugins > PythonScript > Configuration…, then select the script and click the left Add button. Then restart Notepad++, and you will see that your chosen script is now at the Plugins > PythonScript > scriptname level instead of buried deeper. Once that’s true, then Notepad++'s Preferences > Shortcut Mapper > Plugin Commands will list your script (you can filter by PythonScript to find it faster), and you can assign a shortcut that way.