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    • Dean-CorsoD
      Dean-Corso @Terry R
      last edited by

      @Terry-R

      Thanks for your answer so far. I did read this thread you mention and stuck already at the first part…

      "displays all header strings in consecutive lines "

      …where is this option?

      Otherwise this RegEx code is using static values for Unicode symbols “\R(?=\x{2013}>)” <-- U+2013 which is a hyphen the other lines starting with in the other example. In my case the lines are unique and I can’t use any marker to check them before. The good thing in my case that the distances between the lines are same for all blocks what means I need only to enter any value X to sort every line. Still no clue how to manage that. Also found no advanced sort plugin or anything like that.

      Terry RT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Terry RT
        Terry R @Dean-Corso
        last edited by

        @Dean-Corso said in Need help with custom sort operations:

        "displays all header strings in consecutive lines "

        That just means that the blocks were made into single lines. Upon further inspection that post has the basis of what you need, but as you don’t have a specific character at the start of each sub-block line it will need adjustment.

        You say there are 5 lines between blocks. That is correct for EVERY block? Or since you showed a blank (truly blank or does it have some spaces in it) line, is this also the case for EVERY block? There needs to be a sure fire method of specifying where each block ends.

        Terry

        Dean-CorsoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Dean-CorsoD
          Dean-Corso @Terry R
          last edited by

          @Terry-R said in Need help with custom sort operations:

          That just means that the blocks were made into single lines.

          Yes you are right, this example you did mention works now (before not / come copy paste issue maybe) but I don’t have any marker to check for in my lines.

          In my example I have 3 blocks with 5 lines. Yes, in this case my blocks are static using same line counts. Otherwise you can also just use 2 lines only for every block etc. Just important are the lines which should get sorted and all lines below should moved.

          Example: Just 2 lines for a block.

          CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
          3
          BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
          2
          AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
          1
          
          to
          
          AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
          1
          BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
          2
          CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
          3
          

          Sort every second line (1, 3, 5) and move every second line after (2, 4, 6).

          Example2: Sort every 1&2 lines & move 3 line of block.

          CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
          AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
          3
          BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
          AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
          2
          CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
          BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
          1
          
          to
          
          AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
          BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
          2
          AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
          CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
          3
          BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
          CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
          1
          

          Sort (1,2 | 4,5 | 7,8) & move line 3, 6 & 9. Its more specific in this case. But the good and simple thing is that the block structure for all blocks is every time the same what means they have same line counts to sort & move = X & Y. Just need to have some function / dialog where I can enter those paramters…

          Enter which every line to sort: 2
          Enter how many lines to sort: 1
          This means 1 line left to move for each block

          or for example 2

          Enter which every line to sort: 3
          Enter how many lines to sort: 2
          This means 1 line left to move for each block

          …and the lines between getting just moved to the same block. Something like that etc you know.

          Terry RT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Terry RT
            Terry R @Dean-Corso
            last edited by Terry R

            @Dean-Corso said in Need help with custom sort operations:

            Yes, in this case my blocks are static using same line counts

            Since I’m having a bit of difficulty in reading your posts I gather that english may not be your first language? It sometimes helps to know that since some of the terminology can be difficult to understand if not english speaking.

            So you seem to suggest you have different lengths in your blocks, from block heading plus 1 other line through to block heading plus 5 other lines where the 5th line is blank.

            Further since you have this variability you were hoping (I gather) to have a custom method to just input the number of lines in each block and have it all sorted for you.

            I doubt there is a plugin available that does that (although I haven’t used every plugin so cannot confirm) and certainly the sorting system in Notepad++ isn’t that sophisticated. That’s why the other post uses a regex to alter the blocks so the sorting function can do it’s work, then reverses that block alteration to return the blocks to the original view.

            So if you wanted to use the method proposed in the other post (make each block a long line) we can provide you with an adjusted method.

            Terry

            EDIT: just noticed example 2 appears to show 2 block heading lines. You show the replacement as the 2 same block heading lines in reverse order, but still maintaining the block with line 3. That puts a further complication on matters. Currently I cannot see a method of doing that.

            Dean-CorsoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Dean-CorsoD
              Dean-Corso @Terry R
              last edited by

              @Terry-R

              Yes, English isn’t my main language and I need to translate sometimes a little or just try to speak more in freestyle you know.

              Ok, sounds bad that npp can’t do that at the moment or you don’t know any plugin what could handle it that way I’m looking for. So the principle of the sort operation I want is pretty simple (sort function npp has already I want to use / line operations) but only need that specific line-select / line-move thing etc. Maybe it would be a good idea to add another function in npp itself for that in any next release. Otherwise I also don’t have a clue how to do my sort operations I want in npp.

              MfG

              Terry RT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Terry RT
                Terry R @Dean-Corso
                last edited by Terry R

                @Dean-Corso said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                So the principle of the sort operation I want is pretty simple

                Well, sorry to say but what you need isn’t simple. If you had every line sorting alphabetically or numerically, ascending or descending then that is what I would call simple. And NPP covers those bases very well.

                Beyond that there are so many different ideas (your’s being just 1 of thousands) I doubt the developer will consider expanding the NPP sorting functions to cover your’s or anyone else’s.

                At present since you may have multiple block heading lines (in a single block) which need sorting first, before the new first block heading line becomes the line to sort the order of the blocks (your example 2) I can only think it will require some code (such as in PythonScript) to do what you need.

                Unfortunately we aren’t a code creating forum as such, just a general forum supporting NPP users. Someone here might possibly consider it a worthwhile exercise to create such a program for you, but don’t expect it.

                I will continue to ponder your request (I’m not a code creator) just in case there might be another way using just a (series of) regex.

                Good luck
                Terry

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Mark OlsonM
                  Mark Olson
                  last edited by Mark Olson

                  This is a great opportunity to try out my new script for sorting multi-line blocks!

                  Just use the regex (?s-i)(^[A-Z]+$).*?(?=^[A-Z]+$|\Z) and the options

                  Group 1 transformation:  [   ]Integer(DEFAULT)      [   ]Decimal      [  x ]String      [   ]Ignorecase-cultural
                  Sort order:  [   ]Ascending(DEFAULT)    [   ]Descending
                  Other:
                  [   ]Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match(DEFAULT)
                  [   ]Remove-non-matching-lines
                  [   ]Sort-non-matching-lines-to-bottom
                  [x   ]Multi-line-blocks
                  

                  EXAMPLE:

                  DDDDDDDDDDDDD
                  onro
                  roeri
                  
                  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                  FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
                  foo
                  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
                  oroieoj
                  roernern
                  
                  reroo
                  BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                  ccc
                  furr
                  CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                  

                  WILL BE SORTED TO

                  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                  BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                  ccc
                  furr
                  CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                  DDDDDDDDDDDDD
                  onro
                  roeri
                  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
                  oroieoj
                  roernern
                  
                  reroo
                  FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
                  foo
                  
                  Terry RT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Terry RT
                    Terry R @Mark Olson
                    last edited by Terry R

                    @Mark-Olson

                    I did just see your “other” post where you showed the new script and wondered if it would be any good for this.

                    I have a problem with your example as you show the first block as just having the DDDDD… line but when it’s sorted it suddenly gains the CCCCCC… line which was at the bottom in the before example. Was that a typo?

                    Or maybe I am just not reading the before and after examples right.

                    Terry

                    PS I was working on a poor mans method which was a bunch of regexes and using some of the more advanced caret moves to expand selections prior to sorting. The macros created would “run until end of file”.

                    Terry RT Mark OlsonM 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • Terry RT
                      Terry R @Terry R
                      last edited by

                      @Terry-R said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                      Or maybe I am just not reading the before and after examples right.

                      @Mark-Olson

                      I was in the headspace of working the solution based on 2 block header lines per block. When I saw your example it seemed like you were doing the same. Re-reading it, it suggests your example doesn’t have a defined block line length. I suppose that is good in that it can cater for a “loose” structure. But how does it know where each block starts and ends? (I’m not a code reader).

                      Terry

                      Mark OlsonM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Mark OlsonM
                        Mark Olson @Terry R
                        last edited by

                        @Terry-R said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                        Or maybe I am just not reading the before and after examples right.

                        Yeah, you’re just reading them wrong. My block-sorter just removed a trailing newline after the DDDDDDDDDDDD block.

                        Terry RT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Mark OlsonM
                          Mark Olson @Terry R
                          last edited by

                          @Terry-R said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                          But how does it know where each block starts and ends? (I’m not a code reader).

                          That is a good question, which the documentation in my script should definitely address.

                          The answer is that your regex must match the entire block and have a single capture group within the portion to be matched.

                          Thus, (?s-i)(^[A-Z]+$).*?(?=^[A-Z]+$|\Z) is the appropriate regex to use, because the first capture group (^[A-Z]+$) contains the header line, and the regex as a whole matches everything up to the next header.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Terry RT
                            Terry R @Mark Olson
                            last edited by Terry R

                            @Mark-Olson said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                            My block-sorter just removed a trailing newline after the DDDDDDDDDDDD block.

                            If you look at the first post the example there showed a “trailing” blank/empty line. They wanted this kept.

                            From all @Dean-Corso posts so far I think they want the ability to dictate 2 parameters before running the process.

                            1. How many lines in each block. They state they are well defined, so ALL the same number of lines.
                            2. How many of the lines (from start of block down) will be sorted first within the block.

                            Lastly another sort is performed on the file using ONLY the first header line of each block (keeping each block intact).

                            Currently I don’t think your script will work that correctly, certainly as you seem to be removing “blank” lines that won’t work for them.

                            Terry

                            Mark OlsonM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • Mark OlsonM
                              Mark Olson @Terry R
                              last edited by Mark Olson

                              @Terry-R said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                              If you look at the first post the example there showed a “trailing” blank/empty line. They wanted this kept.

                              Yep, that’s a limitation of my script. I’m not going to change it, because every way I’ve tried to get around that limitation makes things worse.

                              Fortunately, it is quite easy to make a regex-replace that creates a trailing blank/empty line after each block. Just replace (?<!\A)(^[A-Z]+$) with \r\n{0}

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Mark OlsonM
                                Mark Olson
                                last edited by

                                @Dean-Corso said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                                Just need to have some function / dialog where I can enter those paramters…
                                Enter which every line to sort: 2
                                Enter how many lines to sort: 1

                                Done. Just use the following script in PythonScript

                                # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
                                #########################################
                                #
                                #  sort_line_blocks_and_headers
                                #
                                #########################################
                                
                                # references:
                                #  https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/24742/need-help-with-custom-sort-operations
                                
                                # HOW IT WORKS:
                                # 1. Divide the document into blocks of N lines, of which the top M lines are the header.
                                # 2. Sort the header of each block
                                # 3. Sort the blocks by the sorted headers.
                                # EXAMPLE INPUT:
                                # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                # 3
                                # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                # 2
                                # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                # 1
                                # RESPOND TO THE 4 PROMPTS AS FOLLOWS: 3, yes, 2, yes
                                # RESULT:
                                # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                # 2
                                # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                # 3
                                # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                # 1
                                from __future__ import print_function
                                from Npp import *
                                
                                def main():
                                    eol = [ '\r\n', '\r', '\n' ][ editor.getEOLMode() ]
                                    while True:
                                        lines_per_block_str = notepad.prompt('number of lines per block', 'sort blocks', '3')
                                        if lines_per_block_str is None:
                                            return
                                        try:
                                            lines_per_block = int(lines_per_block_str)
                                            if lines_per_block < 1:
                                                raise ValueError
                                        except:
                                            notepad.messageBox('lines per block must be integer >= 1')
                                            continue
                                        sort_blocks_ascending_str = notepad.prompt('sort blocks least to greatest (yes/no)', 'sort blocks', 'yes')
                                        if sort_blocks_ascending_str is None:
                                            return
                                        reverse_blocks = sort_blocks_ascending_str != 'yes'
                                        lines_in_header_str = notepad.prompt('number of lines in header', 'sort blocks', '1')
                                        if lines_in_header_str is None:
                                            return
                                        sort_header_ascending_str = notepad.prompt('sort header least to greatest (yes/no)', 'sort blocks', 'yes')
                                        if sort_header_ascending_str is None:
                                            return
                                        reverse_header = sort_header_ascending_str != 'yes'
                                        try:
                                            lines_in_header = int(lines_in_header_str)
                                            if lines_in_header < 1 or lines_in_header > lines_per_block:
                                                raise ValueError
                                        except:
                                            notepad.messageBox('lines in header must be integer <= lines in block and >= 1')
                                            continue
                                        break
                                    lines_not_in_header = lines_per_block - lines_in_header
                                    find_regex = '(?-s)((?:.*\R){%s})' % lines_in_header
                                    if lines_not_in_header:
                                        find_regex += '((?:.*(?:\R|\Z)){%s})' % lines_not_in_header
                                    # print(find_regex)
                                    header_block_list = []
                                    doc_len = editor.getLength()
                                    
                                    def on_match(m):
                                        sorted_header = eol.join(sorted(m.group(1).splitlines(), reverse=reverse_header))
                                        edited_block = sorted_header + eol + m.group(2)
                                        if m.span()[1] < doc_len:
                                            edited_block = edited_block[:-len(eol)]
                                        header_block_list.append((sorted_header, edited_block))
                                    
                                    editor.research(find_regex, on_match)
                                    header_block_list_sorted = [x[1] for x in sorted(header_block_list, reverse=reverse_blocks)]
                                    # print(header_block_list)
                                    editor.setText(eol.join(header_block_list_sorted))
                                    
                                if __name__ == '__main__':
                                    main()
                                
                                Mark OlsonM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Mark OlsonM Mark Olson referenced this topic on
                                • Mark OlsonM
                                  Mark Olson @Mark Olson
                                  last edited by

                                  @Mark-Olson
                                  My initial script had some bugs. Use this instead

                                  # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
                                  #########################################
                                  #
                                  #  sort_line_blocks_and_headers
                                  #
                                  #########################################
                                  
                                  # references:
                                  #  https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/24742/need-help-with-custom-sort-operations
                                  
                                  # HOW IT WORKS:
                                  # 1. Divide the document into blocks of N lines, of which the top M lines are the header.
                                  # 2. Sort the header of each block
                                  # 3. Sort the blocks by the sorted headers.
                                  # EXAMPLE INPUT:
                                  # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                  # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                  # 3
                                  # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                  # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                  # 2
                                  # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                  # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                  # 1
                                  # RESPOND TO THE 4 PROMPTS AS FOLLOWS: 3, yes, 2, yes
                                  # RESULT:
                                  # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                  # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                  # 2
                                  # AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                  # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                  # 3
                                  # BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
                                  # CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
                                  # 1
                                  from __future__ import print_function
                                  from Npp import *
                                  
                                  def main():
                                      eol = [ '\r\n', '\r', '\n' ][ editor.getEOLMode() ]
                                      
                                      while True:
                                          lines_per_block_str = notepad.prompt('number of lines per block', 'sort blocks', '3')
                                          if lines_per_block_str is None:
                                              return
                                          try:
                                              lines_per_block = int(lines_per_block_str)
                                              if lines_per_block < 1:
                                                  raise ValueError
                                          except:
                                              notepad.messageBox('lines per block must be integer >= 1')
                                              continue
                                          
                                          sort_blocks_ascending_str = notepad.prompt('sort blocks least to greatest (yes/no)', 'sort blocks', 'yes')
                                          if sort_blocks_ascending_str is None:
                                              return
                                          reverse_blocks = sort_blocks_ascending_str != 'yes'
                                          
                                          lines_in_header_str = notepad.prompt('number of lines in header', 'sort blocks', '1')
                                          if lines_in_header_str is None:
                                              return
                                          try:
                                              lines_in_header = int(lines_in_header_str)
                                              if lines_in_header < 1 or lines_in_header > lines_per_block:
                                                  raise ValueError
                                          except:
                                              notepad.messageBox('lines in header must be integer <= lines in block and >= 1')
                                              continue
                                          
                                          if lines_in_header > 1:
                                              sort_header_ascending_str = notepad.prompt('sort header least to greatest (yes/no)', 'sort blocks', 'yes')
                                              if sort_header_ascending_str is None:
                                                  return
                                              reverse_header = sort_header_ascending_str != 'yes'
                                          else:
                                              reverse_header = False
                                          break
                                      
                                      lines_not_in_header = lines_per_block - lines_in_header
                                      if lines_not_in_header:
                                          find_regex = '(?-s)((?:.*\R){%s})((?:.*(?:\R|\Z)){%s})' % (lines_in_header, lines_not_in_header)
                                      else:
                                          find_regex = '(?-s)((?:.*(?:\R|\Z)){%s})' % lines_in_header
                                      # print(find_regex)
                                      header_block_list = []
                                      doc_len = editor.getLength()
                                      
                                      def on_match(m):
                                          is_last_match = m.span()[1] == doc_len
                                          group1 = m.group(1)
                                          if not group1:
                                              return
                                          sorted_header = eol.join(sorted(group1.splitlines(), reverse=reverse_header))
                                          if lines_not_in_header:
                                              edited_block = sorted_header + eol + m.group(2)
                                          else:
                                              edited_block = sorted_header
                                          if not is_last_match and edited_block.endswith(eol):
                                              edited_block = edited_block[:-len(eol)]
                                          header_block_list.append((sorted_header, edited_block))
                                      
                                      editor.research(find_regex, on_match)
                                      header_block_list_sorted = [x[1] for x in sorted(header_block_list, reverse=reverse_blocks)]
                                      # print(header_block_list)
                                      editor.setText(eol.join(header_block_list_sorted))
                                      
                                  if __name__ == '__main__':
                                      main()
                                  
                                  Dean-CorsoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • Mark OlsonM Mark Olson referenced this topic on
                                  • Dean-CorsoD
                                    Dean-Corso @Mark Olson
                                    last edited by

                                    @Terry-R
                                    @Mark-Olson

                                    Thank you guys for trying to help me (and others maybe too) to find a solution for my sorting problems. Sounds great that you was able to create a script for that task. Only problem at the moment is I don’t know yet how to use it so maybe you could give me a little crash curse what plugin to install and what parameters I have to execute (python + your script + my npp tab or file) etc. So I have python installed already on computer. My question is also whether I can execute your py script in npp for the open / focused tab itself (also when I just have written text in real time without saved file). As I said, not sure what plugin to install for py (by the way, the PyNPP plugin is not listed in plugin manager) if I have to. Would be nice if you could tell me and show one or two examples how to execute your script with an file which is open in notepad++ or if possible also using a direct tab (none file) in pipe mode etc if this is supported. Thank you.

                                    PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • PeterJonesP
                                      PeterJones @Dean-Corso
                                      last edited by

                                      @Dean-Corso said in Need help with custom sort operations:

                                      little crash curse what plugin to install and what parameters I have to execute

                                      FAQ: How to install and run a script in pythonscript

                                      Dean-CorsoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • Dean-CorsoD
                                        Dean-Corso @PeterJones
                                        last edited by

                                        @PeterJones

                                        Thank you for that link & info. Ok, I think I got it working now to execute your script @Mark-Olson and on my first tests it seems to work as I wanted! Coolio! I will do some more tests but it looks already pretty well.

                                        Is this sort operation which works now for all complete lines also doable to for that rectangle selection (maybe for later)? Lets say I have few vertical text blocks and I want to select any of them via rectangle selection and want to sort all lines from that selection. Could that be possible too?

                                        Just as info: I found out that if I want to sort specific rectangle selected lines (middle - end) that it’s only working when I trim all the selected lines starting at same vertical position and I also need to change all blank chars like TABs to Space before I do a sort to make it work. Just don’t understand why but I have to.

                                        Example: 2 blocks / tabs between / sort ascending ic.

                                        66666				qqqqqqq
                                        55555555			zzzzzzz
                                        777					aaaaaaa
                                        88888888888			xxxxxxx
                                        

                                        I just select the second block via rectangle select then I do the line sort with ingore case and I got this out.

                                        55555555			zzzzzzz
                                        88888888888			xxxxxxx
                                        777					aaaaaaa
                                        66666				qqqqqqq
                                        

                                        =? So when I do same but before I call the blank option “Tab to Space” and select the 2. block and call then the sort function then I get this out…

                                        777                 aaaaaaa
                                        66666               qqqqqqq
                                        88888888888         xxxxxxx
                                        55555555            zzzzzzz
                                        

                                        which is correctly now. Just don’t understand why I have to change the tabs to space before the selection so normally it should play no role at this point what comes before the selection you know. Is this a bug or do I understand it wrong? You know what I mean?

                                        Thank you very much so far guys.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • CoisesC
                                          Coises
                                          last edited by

                                          @Dean-Corso If it helps you, my plugin Columns++ (still in alpha stage, though apparently stable) can sort column selections containing tabs.

                                          The reason the native sorts in Notepad++ don’t work is because they determine the first and last character positions of the rectangular selection in the first line of the selection and then apply those character positions to all lines; they don’t use the line-by-line contents of the rectangular selection.

                                          Dean-CorsoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • Dean-CorsoD
                                            Dean-Corso @Coises
                                            last edited by

                                            @Coises

                                            Thank you for that info. I did test your plugin and it seems to work to do the sort operation without conversion. I also see your plugin has also some more interesting functions I need to check out more.

                                            I think one of the problem in npp & plugin is that in both are missing some clear methods to use specific operations just for all lines OR selection with or without to handle lines you know what I mean?

                                            Example: Sort function.
                                            1.) I want to handle all lines
                                            2.) I want to handle just my selection (normal case)
                                            3.) I want to handle rectangle selection + lines
                                            4.) I want to handle rectangle selection itself only

                                            Point 1 & 2 seems to work good so far in npp to do that but in special cases 3 & 4 it could be problematic.

                                            When I sort any lines (selected or not) then empty lines getting removed. Why? How to prevent that? On first view it looks good to remove blank lines but in case when I want to keep the lines original then I need to add empty lines manually after sorting.

                                            What is when I just want to sort the content of my rectangle selection without to move all the lines? I see its also not doable so far in npp.

                                            What is when I want to sort my rectangle selected part / lines and ignore all blank chars till the first char begins? Not working as I can see and I need to bring all the selected lines starting at the same position point like this…(I did rectangle select the right part)

                                            66666		Qqqqqqq
                                            55555555				Zzzzzzz
                                            777				Aaaaaaa
                                            88888888888		Xxxxxxx
                                            

                                            …and before I can sort I need to change them to this…

                                            66666               Qqqqqqq
                                            55555555            Zzzzzzz
                                            777                 Aaaaaaa
                                            88888888888         Xxxxxxx
                                            

                                            …and now I can do a sort which works and moves all lines. But what if I want just to sort that selection only and keep the left part / lines unchanged? Like this…

                                            66666               Aaaaaaa
                                            55555555            Qqqqqqq
                                            777                 Xxxxxxx
                                            88888888888         Zzzzzzz
                                            

                                            …only selection was sorted and the rest is same. So is it too specific what I want?

                                            CoisesC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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