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    • Claudia FrankC
      Claudia Frank
      last edited by

      cancel button fix

      # this script implements the enhanced multi cursor edit functionality
      
      def default_positions():
          return 0, editor.getLength()
      
      def get_pos_of_bookmarks():
          npp_bookmark_marker_id_number = 24
          npp_bookmark_marker_mask = 1 << npp_bookmark_marker_id_number
          _start_position, _end_position = default_positions()
          
          line_nbr = editor.markerNext(_start_position, npp_bookmark_marker_mask)
          if line_nbr != -1:
              _start_position = editor.positionFromLine(line_nbr)
              line_nbr = editor.markerNext(line_nbr + 1, npp_bookmark_marker_mask)
              if line_nbr != -1:
                  _end_position = editor.getLineEndPosition(line_nbr)
          return _start_position, _end_position
      
      def get_pos_of_visible_lines():
          first_visible_line = editor.getFirstVisibleLine()
          _start_position = editor.positionFromLine(first_visible_line)
          lines_visible = editor.linesOnScreen()
          last_visible_line = editor.docLineFromVisible(first_visible_line+lines_visible)
          _end_position = editor.getLineEndPosition(last_visible_line)
          return _start_position, _end_position
      
      def get_pos_of_selections():
          _start_position, _end_position = default_positions()
          if editor.getSelections() == 2:
              _start_position = editor.getSelectionNStart(0)
              _end_position = editor.getSelectionNEnd(1)
          return _start_position, _end_position
      
      
      area_dict = {'a':default_positions,
                   'b':get_pos_of_bookmarks,
                   's':get_pos_of_selections,
                   'v':get_pos_of_visible_lines}
          
      editor.beginUndoAction()
      
      def Main():
          _text = editor.getTextRange(editor.getSelectionNStart(0), editor.getSelectionNEnd(0))
          if len(_text) != 0:
      
              _current_position = editor.getCurrentPos()
              _current_line = editor.lineFromPosition(_current_position)
              _current_word_start_pos = editor.getLineSelStartPosition(_current_line)
              _current_word_end_pos = editor.getLineSelEndPosition(_current_line)
      
              find_flag = 2 # 0=DEFAULT, 2=WHOLEWORD 4=MATCHCASE 6=WHOLEWORD | MATCHCASE
              mode_options = ' 0=replace,  1=before,  2=afterwards\n'
              area_options = ' a=all, b=bookmarks, s=selected, v=visible'
              expected_results = [x+y for x in ['0','1','2'] for y in ['a','b','s','v']]
                 
              result = notepad.prompt(mode_options + area_options, 'Choose the desired option', '0a')
              while result not in expected_results: 
                  if result is None:
                      return
                  result = notepad.prompt(mode_options + area_options, 'Choose the desired option', '0a')
      
              chosen_mode, chosen_area = result
              area_start_position, area_end_position = area_dict[chosen_area]()
              
              if chosen_mode == '0': # replace whole string version
                  editor.setEmptySelection(_current_position)       
                  position_tuple = editor.findText(find_flag, area_start_position, area_end_position, _text)
                  
                  while position_tuple is not None:
                      if _current_position not in position_tuple:
                          editor.addSelection(*position_tuple)
                      position_tuple = editor.findText(find_flag, position_tuple[1], area_end_position, _text)
                          
      
              elif chosen_mode == '1': # insert before selected string version
                  editor.setEmptySelection(_current_word_start_pos)
                  position_tuple = editor.findText(find_flag, area_start_position, area_end_position, _text)
                  
                  while position_tuple is not None: 
                      startpos, endpos = position_tuple
                      if startpos != _current_position and endpos != _current_position:
                          editor.addSelection(startpos, startpos)
                      else:
                          _current_word_start_pos, _current_word_end_pos = startpos, startpos
                      position_tuple = editor.findText(find_flag, endpos, area_end_position, _text)
      
      
              elif chosen_mode == '2': # insert after selected string version
                  editor.setEmptySelection(_current_word_end_pos)
                  position_tuple = editor.findText(find_flag, area_start_position, area_end_position, _text)
                  
                  while position_tuple is not None: 
                      startpos, endpos = position_tuple
                      if startpos != _current_position and endpos != _current_position:
                          editor.addSelection(endpos, endpos)
                      else:
                          _current_word_start_pos, _current_word_end_pos = endpos, endpos
                      position_tuple = editor.findText(find_flag, endpos, area_end_position, _text)
      
                      
              # now add the current selection
              editor.addSelection(_current_word_start_pos, _current_word_end_pos)
      
      Main()
      editor.endUndoAction()
      

      Cheers
      Claudia

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • kpymK
        kpym
        last edited by

        I want to advocate too for CTRL+D sublime-like build-in shortcut.
        This is the most useful way to use multi-cursors :

        • add next identical
        • skip next identical
        • select all identicals
        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • Alan KilbornA
          Alan Kilborn
          last edited by

          @kpym

          So maybe on the surface this seems different, but this is really just a Find and Replace operation, for which Notepad++ already has a good solution for. Here’s a comparision:

          • your ctrl+d <–> N++'s press ctrl+h, fill in replace field
          • your add/skip next identical <–> N++ either “Find Next” or “Replace”
          • your select all identicals <–> N++ “Replace All”
          • your “whatever action you would do on what is multiselected…” <–> N++'s nothing to do, it’s already done!
          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • bitagorasB
            bitagoras
            last edited by

            @Alan Kilborn
            What you irgnore in your comment is the fact that Ctrl+D function is mainly used to quickly clone the cursor at positions of identical strings and not neccessarily to replace the selected. Once you have multiple cursors, you can move them and do much more things than just renaming. I uploaded a gif animation that shows what I mean:

            https://gifyu.com/image/TaVW

            It’s really magic what you can to with it and safes you a lot of time with a minimum of commands to remember. It is very intuitive and in most of the cases faster than search / replace or macro recording. Sometimes I use VS Code in parallel with Notepad++ only because of this function.

            What is missing to make full use of this kind of multi editing:

            • Ctrl+D (or another shortcut) to clone the cursor at similar occurences of the current word or selection.
            • Multiple cursors should stay persistent until escape is pressed (as in the plugin “better multiselection”).
            • Ctrl+mouseclick should not only add but also remove one cursor (when Ctrl+D has produced an unwanted cursor).
            • Every cursor should have an indiviual clipboard.
            Scott SumnerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Scott SumnerS
              Scott Sumner @bitagoras
              last edited by

              @bitagoras

              This kind of functionality really has nothing to do with Notepad++ itself, but rather is Scintilla-related. Scintilla in Notepad++ is known to be very outdated. Would upgrading Scintilla to the latest version provide such functionality? I don’t know, but since remaining current with Scintilla doesn’t seem to be a priority of Notepad++ developers, it probably isn’t worth much discussion here. :-(

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • bitagorasB
                bitagoras
                last edited by

                I think with a little bit of programming it could be possible with scintilla but it is not a standard feature that can just be activated.

                But you say the Notepad++ developers plan to replace Scintilla? Do you know any details? I haven’t seen any discussion here on this. I wonder, if this wouldn’t be just another new editor but not Notepad++ any more.

                Scott SumnerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Scott SumnerS
                  Scott Sumner @bitagoras
                  last edited by

                  @bitagoras said:

                  but it is not a standard feature that can just be activated

                  Maybe not, I didn’t investigate–but I seem to recall that some of the “fancier” multi-selection stuff is available in newer Scintilla versions…but I don’t know if it takes it to the level of your examples. I really don’t care…until Notepad++ updates to something newer, and THEN I’ll take the time to explore what new features it provides.

                  you say the Notepad++ developers plan to replace Scintilla?

                  I most certainly did NOT say that! :-)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • guy038G
                    guy038
                    last edited by

                    Hello, @bitagoras, @scott-sumner and All,

                    @bitagoras, why don’t you use the excellent @Dail plugin BetterMultiselection version v1.3 ? See, below :

                    https://github.com/dail8859/BetterMultiSelection/

                    https://github.com/dail8859/BetterMultiSelection/releases

                    https://notepad-plus-plus.org/community/topic/13653/new-plugin-bettermultiselection

                    Note that, if you have the last v7.6 version of N++, you’ll have to :

                    • Create the new directory BetterMultiSelection, under your active plugins folder

                    • Place the BetterMultiSelection.dll inside the BetterMultiSelection folder

                    Now, assuming the test test, below :

                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr..stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr..stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr..stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr><stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr><stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr><stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr..stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr..stuv wxyz 012345789
                    abcde fghijk lmno pqr..stuv wxyz 012345789
                    
                    • Create a column-mode selection, on the 3 middle lines, between the angle brackets ><

                    • And, now have fun, playing around, with any of the following keys or shortcuts, below ;-))

                      • Home , End , Left , Right , Ctrl + Left , Ctrl + Right

                      • Shift + Home, Shift + End , Shift + Left, Shift + Right , Ctrl + Shift + Left , Ctrl + Shift + Right

                      • Backspace , Delete , Ctrl + Backspace , Ctrl + Delete

                      • Up, Down , Shift + Up, Shift + Down

                      • Enter , Tab , Shift + Tab

                    Just a pleasure, isn’t it ? Many thanks, again, @dail, for this very useful plugin, while waiting for this native behavior in N++, after a future update of Scintilla !

                    Though I suppose,it will not happen soon, as I guess that @don-ho is quite busy with the new plugin’s organization :-)

                    Best Regards,

                    P.S. :

                    You may be interested, too, by this other @dail useful plugin SurroundSelection.dll. See, below :

                    https://github.com/dail8859/SurroundSelection/

                    https://github.com/dail8859/SurroundSelection/releases

                    https://notepad-plus-plus.org/community/topic/13610/new-plugin-surroundselection

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • bitagorasB
                      bitagoras
                      last edited by

                      @Scott-Sumner

                      I most certainly did NOT say that! :-)

                      Sorry that I misunderstood you sentence. What you say is that it is a priority to upgrade to a new Scintilla version rather than tinker with the current version. I agree.

                      @guy038,

                      Yes BetterMultiSelection works very well. But the mulit clipboard and the Ctrl+D would make it perfekt.

                      Here the example again. I just figured out how to embedd the GIF.

                      Scott SumnerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • Scott SumnerS
                        Scott Sumner @bitagoras
                        last edited by

                        @bitagoras said:

                        What you say is that it is a priority to upgrade to a new Scintilla version rather than tinker with the current version

                        I didn’t say THAT either (I don’t know WHAT if any Scintilla-based decisions are being made, or how they are made), but I agree as well. :-)

                        I just figured out how to embedd the GIF.

                        I don’t see the embedded GIF. But it is OK since it is available via the earlier link you posted.

                        bitagorasB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • bitagorasB
                          bitagoras @Scott Sumner
                          last edited by

                          @Scott-Sumner

                          ok but I think I got your point ;-)

                          Probably this GIF is only visible from my IP.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • PeterJonesP
                            PeterJones
                            last edited by

                            I can see the animated gif. It may be that Scott’s connection is being filtered from seeing s2.gifyu.com – I know that my employer blocks many file-sharing sites; fortunately, imgur is not one of them (amazingly enough), so I can upload to and see embedded images from imgur, which is quite helpful here.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • guy038G
                              guy038
                              last edited by guy038

                              Hi, @bitagoras, and All,

                              I found out a work-around to simulate the behavior of your animated gif picture !

                              I suppose 3 hypotheses :

                              • The Multi-Editing feature is enabled ( Settings > Preferences… > Editing > Multi-Editing settings )

                              • The BetterMultiSelection plugin is installed and enabled

                              • The Ctrl+ D shortcut is assigned to the Scintilla function SCI_SELECTION DUPLICATE ( and not to SCI_LINEDUPLICATE ! )


                              So, assuming this sample test, below , in a new tab :

                              var1, var2, object1, object2, object3, flag2, flag3
                              
                              • Place the cursor right before the string var1 ( without the Ctrl key pressed )

                              • Holding down a Ctrl key, left click, right in front of all the other strings, in order to get a total of 7 cursors !

                              Now :

                              • Backspace * 2

                              • Enter

                              You should get a 7- lines selection, below :

                              var1
                              var2
                              object1
                              object2
                              object3
                              flag2
                              flag3
                              

                              Note that the SP notation, below, represents a hit on the Space bar

                              • Type obj.

                              • Shift + End

                              • Ctrl + D

                              • Right

                              • Type SP=SParg["

                              • Shift + End

                              • Ctrl + D

                              • Right

                              • Type "]SP#SPDefinitionSPofSP

                              • Esc

                              You obtain the following text :

                              obj.var1 = arg["var1"] # Definition of var1
                              obj.var2 = arg["var2"] # Definition of var2
                              obj.object1 = arg["object1"] # Definition of object1
                              obj.object2 = arg["object2"] # Definition of object2
                              obj.object3 = arg["object3"] # Definition of object3
                              obj.flag2 = arg["flag2"] # Definition of flag2
                              obj.flag3 = arg["flag3"] # Definition of flag3
                              

                              Now, regarding the second block, we start, again, with the following text :

                              var1, var2, object1, object2, object3, flag2, flag3
                              
                              • Place the cursor right before the string var1 ( without the Ctrl key pressed )

                              • Holding down a Ctrl key, left click, right in front of all the other strings, in order to get a total of 7 cursors

                              Then :

                              • Backspace * 2

                              • Enter

                              Again , you’ll obtain the 7- lines selection, below :

                              var1
                              var2
                              object1
                              object2
                              object3
                              flag2
                              flag3
                              

                              Now :

                              • Tab

                              • Type "

                              • Shift + End

                              • Ctrl + D

                              • Right

                              • Type ":SPobj.

                              • End

                              • Type ,

                              • Esc

                              And… you get the expected text, with a leading tabulation :

                              	"var1": obj.var1,
                              	"var2": obj.var2,
                              	"object1": obj.object1,
                              	"object2": obj.object2,
                              	"object3": obj.object3,
                              	"flag2": obj.flag2,
                              	"flag3": obj.flag3,
                              

                              Cheers,

                              guy038

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • cipher-1024C
                                cipher-1024
                                last edited by

                                I don’t know HOW I missed @dali 's plugin for this long! I have to admit whenever I saw someone doing multiline work I was extremely jealous and tempted to try the VS Code waters. @guy038, what is your CTRL-D mapped to? CTRL-D is mapped to “Duplicate Current Line” for me. When I follow your instructions, I just get duplicate lines. If I try to copy and paste, the paste is just all of the selections globbed together. I can’t seem to duplicate just the selection (like it does in the gif on github). This is what I get when I follow your instructions:

                                	"var1": obj.,
                                	"var1
                                	"var2": obj.,
                                	"var2
                                	"object1": obj.,
                                	"object1
                                	"object2": obj.,
                                	"object2
                                	"object3": obj.,
                                	"object3
                                	"flag2": obj.,
                                	"flag2
                                	"flag3": obj.,
                                	"flag3
                                
                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • cipher-1024C
                                  cipher-1024
                                  last edited by cipher-1024

                                  Ohh you rascals! I went into the shortcut mapper and under the Scintilla commands tab there was an unassigned “SCI_SELECTIONDUPLICATE”. I assigned that to Ctrl + D et voila! (as Guy would say)!

                                  Christmas came early this year! Now I’m not the only kid on the block that can’t mulitedit! Thank you @dail and @guy038 for bringing this plugin to my attention!

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                  • guy038G
                                    guy038
                                    last edited by guy038

                                    Hello, @cipher-1024, and All,

                                    Yes, as you found it out yourself, my Ctrl+D shortcut is assigned to the Scintilla function SCI_SELECTIONDUPLICATE ( and not to SCI_LINEDUPLICATE ! )

                                    So, I updated my previous post to add this statement to the hypotheses block !

                                    Cheers,

                                    guy038

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                    • cipher-1024C
                                      cipher-1024
                                      last edited by

                                      Thanks Guy. I must have changed the default ages ago because I don’t remember doing it. Also a big thank you again to @dail. Now I don’t have to be all like this.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • bitagorasB
                                        bitagoras
                                        last edited by

                                        For your information: The newest version of the plugin “BetterMultiSelection” is now capable to do copy and paste on multiple cursors (as I used it in the VSCode animation above).

                                        There is now only the one missing important feature to make multi editing as fast as in VSCode: the ctrl+D select function. Scintilla seems to support this feature as well, but it’s not available in Notepad++ for keyboard shortcut:

                                        SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT (in VSCode bound to ctrl-d)
                                        SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDEACH (in VSCode bound to shift-ctrl-l)

                                        What ctrl-d does:
                                        It selects the next occurence of the current selection as added multiselection. You can use it to very quickly rename variables. In Notepad++ you have to use the mouse, which is much slower, or the replace function. In VSCode there is also a “skip next occurence” (ctrl-k) and “undo last selection” (ctrl-u) which makes it very versatile.

                                        EkopalypseE dinkumoilD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                        • EkopalypseE
                                          Ekopalypse @bitagoras
                                          last edited by Ekopalypse

                                          @bitagoras said in Multi selection and multi edit:

                                          SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT

                                          Added this feature request.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                          • dinkumoilD
                                            dinkumoil @bitagoras
                                            last edited by dinkumoil

                                            @bitagoras

                                            About to one year ago we had a conversation about this topic here in the forum, have a look at this thread.

                                            The essentials of the discussion:

                                            1. You can already use these features using a scripting plugin.

                                            In the following I provide the code for the NppExec plugin.

                                            Command SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT (with the help of @Ekopalypse):

                                            sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS SCFIND_WHOLEWORD
                                            sci_sendmsg 2690  // SCI_TARGETWHOLEDOCUMENT
                                            sci_sendmsg 2688  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT
                                            

                                            Command SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDEACH (generously provided by @Ekopalypse):

                                            sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS SCFIND_WHOLEWORD
                                            sci_sendmsg 2690  // SCI_TARGETWHOLEDOCUMENT
                                            
                                            sci_sendmsg SCI_GETSELECTIONEMPTY
                                            
                                            if $(MSG_RESULT) == 1 then
                                              sci_sendmsg 2688  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT
                                             
                                            sci_sendmsg 2689  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDEACH
                                            
                                            1. As these commands are not supported in Notepad++ versions older than v7.7, it is possible to emulate them using a scripting plugin. In the following I provide the Lua code (can be used in conjunction with the LuaScript plugin) to do this:

                                            Command SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT (provided by @dail):

                                            -- =============================================================================
                                            -- Add menu entry to select next occurence of word under or next to cursor or
                                            -- already selected word
                                            -- =============================================================================
                                            
                                            npp.AddShortcut("Selection Add Next", "", function()
                                              -- From SciTEBase.cxx
                                              local flags = SCFIND_WHOLEWORD -- can use 0
                                            
                                              editor:SetTargetRange(0, editor.TextLength)
                                              editor.SearchFlags = flags
                                            
                                              -- From Editor.cxx
                                              if editor.SelectionEmpty or not editor.MultipleSelection then
                                                local startWord = editor:WordStartPosition(editor.CurrentPos, true)
                                                local endWord   = editor:WordEndPosition(startWord, true)
                                            
                                                editor:SetSelection(startWord, endWord)
                                              else
                                                local i = editor.MainSelection
                                                local s = editor:textrange(editor.SelectionNStart[i], editor.SelectionNEnd[i])
                                                local searchRanges = {{editor.SelectionNEnd[i], editor.TargetEnd}, {editor.TargetStart, editor.SelectionNStart[i]}}
                                            
                                                for _, range in pairs(searchRanges) do
                                                  editor:SetTargetRange(range[1], range[2])
                                            
                                                  if editor:SearchInTarget(s) ~= -1 then
                                                    editor:AddSelection(editor.TargetStart, editor.TargetEnd)
                                            
                                                    -- To scroll main selection in sight
                                                    editor:ScrollRange(editor.TargetStart, editor.TargetEnd)
                                            
                                                    break
                                                  end
                                                end
                                              end
                                            
                                              -- To turn on Notepad++ multi select markers
                                              editor:LineScroll(0, 1)
                                              editor:LineScroll(0, -1)
                                            end)
                                            

                                            Command SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDEACH (devolped by myself by extending above script):

                                            -- =============================================================================
                                            -- Add menu entry to select all occurences of word under or next to cursor or
                                            -- already selected word
                                            -- =============================================================================
                                            
                                            npp.AddShortcut("Selection Add All", "", function()
                                              local flags     = SCFIND_WHOLEWORD -- can use 0
                                              local startWord = -1
                                              local endWord   = -1
                                              local s         = ""
                                            
                                              editor.SearchFlags = flags
                                            
                                              if editor.SelectionEmpty or not editor.MultipleSelection then
                                                startWord = editor:WordStartPosition(editor.CurrentPos, true)
                                                endWord   = editor:WordEndPosition(startWord, true)
                                            
                                                editor:SetSelection(startWord, endWord)
                                              else
                                                local i   = editor.MainSelection
                                            
                                                startWord = editor.SelectionNStart[i]
                                                endWord   = editor.SelectionNEnd[i]
                                              end
                                            
                                              s = editor:textrange(startWord, endWord)
                                            
                                              while true do
                                                editor:SetTargetRange(0, editor.TextLength)
                                            
                                                local i            = editor.MainSelection
                                                local searchRanges = {{editor.SelectionNEnd[i], editor.TargetEnd}, {editor.TargetStart, editor.SelectionNStart[i]}}
                                                local itemFound    = false
                                            
                                                for _, range in pairs(searchRanges) do
                                                  editor:SetTargetRange(range[1], range[2])
                                            
                                                  if editor:SearchInTarget(s) ~= -1 then
                                                    editor:AddSelection(editor.TargetStart, editor.TargetEnd)
                                                    itemFound = true
                                                    break
                                                  end
                                                end
                                            
                                                if editor.TargetStart == startWord and
                                                   editor.TargetEnd   == endWord   or
                                                   not itemFound                   then
                                                  break
                                                end
                                              end
                                            
                                              -- To turn on Notepad++ multi select markers
                                              editor:LineScroll(0, 1)
                                              editor:LineScroll(0, -1)
                                            end)
                                            
                                            bitagorasB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
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