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    • 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
                      • bitagorasB
                        bitagoras @dinkumoil
                        last edited by

                        @dinkumoil : Ok thank you, I was not aware. But I still would appreaciate if the two functions would be added to list of scintilla comands at the keyboard shortcuts. Should not be to difficult.

                        EkopalypseE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • EkopalypseE
                          Ekopalypse @bitagoras
                          last edited by

                          @bitagoras
                          I just have updated the FR with my test.
                          A simple keyboard binding does not work but the solution is
                          similar easy.

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

                            Here is my entire solution (copy from this Github Issue) with NppExec which gives Notepad++ all the multi editing functionality from VSCode. The only difference is that there are two different shortcuts each for addNext and for skip.

                            addNext (Ctrl-D):

                            NPP_CONSOLE 0
                            sci_sendmsg 2690  // SCI_TARGETWHOLEDOCUMENT
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS 0
                            sci_sendmsg 2688  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT
                            

                            multiSelect_D

                            addNextWholeWord (Shift-Ctrl-D):

                            NPP_CONSOLE 0
                            sci_sendmsg 2690  // SCI_TARGETWHOLEDOCUMENT
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS SCFIND_WHOLEWORD
                            sci_sendmsg 2688  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT
                            

                            multiSelect_DW

                            addEach (Shift-Ctrl-L):

                            NPP_CONSOLE 0
                            sci_sendmsg 2690  // SCI_TARGETWHOLEDOCUMENT
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_GETSELECTIONEMPTY
                            if $(MSG_RESULT) == 1 then
                              sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS SCFIND_WHOLEWORD
                            else
                              sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS 0
                            endif
                            sci_sendmsg 2689  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDEACH
                            sci_sendmsg 2689  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDEACH
                            

                            multiSelect_EACH

                            undoAddNext (Ctrl-U):

                            NPP_CONSOLE 0
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_GETSELECTIONS
                            set n ~ $(MSG_RESULT) - 1
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_DROPSELECTIONN $(n)
                            

                            multiSelect_DU

                            skip (Alt-Ctrl-D):

                            NPP_CONSOLE 0
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS SCFIND_NONE
                            sci_sendmsg 2688  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_GETSELECTIONS
                            set n ~ $(MSG_RESULT) - 2
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_DROPSELECTIONN $(n)
                            

                            multiSelect_DS

                            skipWholeWord (Alt-Shift-Ctrl-D):

                            NPP_CONSOLE 0
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_SETSEARCHFLAGS SCFIND_NONE
                            sci_sendmsg 2688  // SCI_MULTIPLESELECTADDNEXT
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_GETSELECTIONS
                            set n ~ $(MSG_RESULT) - 2
                            sci_sendmsg SCI_DROPSELECTIONN $(n)
                            
                            Don BhaiD bitagorasB 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 6
                            • michaelfernandez98M
                              michaelfernandez98
                              last edited by

                              Hello
                              I’m new to this but I’m interested in having the functionality to select similar strings in a document and be able to do multiple editing
                              how can i add this functionality to notepad ++?

                              Alan KilbornA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Alan KilbornA
                                Alan Kilborn @michaelfernandez98
                                last edited by

                                @michaelfernandez98

                                Perhaps the simplest way would be to add the NppExec plugin to your Notepad++ and used the scripts by @bitagoras directly above?

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • michaelfernandez98M
                                  michaelfernandez98
                                  last edited by

                                  yes i was watching
                                  I already installed the NppExec script to the notepad++
                                  but now the problem is how do I add the scripts by @bitagoras to the notepad ++?

                                  Alan KilbornA PeterJonesP 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Alan KilbornA
                                    Alan Kilborn @michaelfernandez98
                                    last edited by

                                    @michaelfernandez98

                                    It feels a bit like spoon-feeding, but…

                                    • Select Plugins from the N++ menus
                                    • Select NppExec
                                    • Select Execute (default key assignment is F6)
                                    • Paste in ONE of the short “scripts” above in the Execute… box that appears
                                    • Optionally (but recommended) test run it by pressing the OK button
                                    • Press F6 again; “script” from before was retained and shows in the box
                                    • Press Save… , give it a name (suggested above the “scripts” above), press OK
                                    • Assign a keycombo (again; suggested ones are above the “scripts” above)
                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                    • PeterJonesP
                                      PeterJones @michaelfernandez98
                                      last edited by PeterJones

                                      @michaelfernandez98 said:

                                      but now the problem is how do I add the scripts by @bitagoras to the notepad ++?

                                      @Alan-Kilborn replied:

                                      …
                                      Assign a keycombo (again; suggested ones are above the “scripts” above)

                                      If saving and naming a script wasn’t obvious, then assigning a keycombo is going to be less intuitive. Just saying. ;-)

                                      @michaelfernandez98,
                                      Once you have one or more scripts named and saved as Alan described, then go to Plugins > NppExec > Advanced Options. In the lower left, use the Associated Script pulldown to select the script; click Add/Modify button to add it to the list of Menu Items in the upper left; note whether or not ☑ Place in the Macros Submenu is enabled (you will need this later). Repeat as necessary for all of the above scripts. When you hit OK to apply those changes, a popup will tell you that you should restart Notepad++: save any open files, then restart Notepad++.

                                      After the restart, then either the Macros menu (if the checkbox was enabled) or the Plugins > NppExec submenu (if the checkbox was disabled) will list your new NppExec scripts.

                                      To assign a keycombo to each, go to Macros > Modify Shortcut/Delete Macro (or, equivalently, Settings > Shortcut Mapper), and go to the Plugin Commands tab. Filter by NppExec and scroll down until you see the new script names. Click on the script you want a keycombo for, hit Modify, and pick the appropriate combination of Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and the selected key. Repeat the Modify procedure for all the scripts that you want a keycombo for.

                                      Alan KilbornA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                      • Alan KilbornA
                                        Alan Kilborn @PeterJones
                                        last edited by

                                        @PeterJones

                                        Thanks for filling in those details Peter!
                                        As I was walking thru the steps on my setup, I didn’t do that part, so I’d forgotten that it was maybe not the most obvious thing.

                                        Is there a way to delete scripts that just isn’t obvious to me at the moment?
                                        For example, during my experimentation I named my script “junk”.
                                        Now I want to get rid of it, but don’t see a way to in the NppExec UI.
                                        Or do I have to resort to hand-editing the config file for the plugin?

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                        • PeterJonesP
                                          PeterJones
                                          last edited by

                                          @Alan-Kilborn said in Multi selection and multi edit:

                                          Now I want to get rid of it, but don’t see a way to in the NppExec UI.

                                          No obvious way, that’s for sure.

                                          The … > Advanced Options > Delete button removes it from the menu, but not from the saved scripts.

                                          Oh, right, there it is. F6, select junk, counter-intuitively hit Save…, then click the Delete button.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                          • michaelfernandez98M
                                            michaelfernandez98
                                            last edited by

                                            I could already install the plugin and assign the keycombo to it
                                            thanks @PeterJones @Alan-Kilborn
                                            They were very helpful

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
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