BUG when reloading changed file with diff encoding

Michaela Julia M · May 13, 2017, 5:42 PM

Hi,

I was just using notepad to monitor some text output from one of my c# programs and noticed that, when the file gets rewritten with a different encoding, notepad prompts me to reload the file but does not change the encoding which makes the displayed text a proper mess.
I was actually swearing at my program LOL until I noticed that if I close notepad and then reopen the file everything looks fine.

gstavi · May 14, 2017, 10:58 AM

Practice some modesty/caution before calling specific behavior a BUG.

Files do NOT have encoding.
Encoding is applied to the file’s byte stream when it is loaded into a buffer within Scintilla.
On load, an automatic detection algorithm is used to select an encoding. Many threads in this forum state a wish for an option to override this automatic selection.
After load the user can override the encoding.

The question of whether file reload should re-trigger the automatic detection or not is an open user interface decision with no ONE RIGHT ANSWER.

Since the scenario you described of a file changing its contents in the background in away that will trigger different encoding result from the automatic detection apply to 0.001% of Notepad++ users I think that maintaining the current encoding of the buffer is the choice that benefit the majority of users.