Feature request: Modify Lines dialog for adding prefix/suffix to lines

SuperCPU

I am using Notepad2 too and I find the Modify Lines dialogue very useful since I’m using it a lot.
“Edit -> Block -> Modify Lines…”

You can use it to quickly add a prefix or suffix (or both) to the selected lines. Very useful stuff indeed.

I would like to place a feature request to implement this, if not in the main Notepad++ program, then in a plugin.

SuperCPU

Here’s a screenshot with this dialog:
http://oi65.tinypic.com/33asdht.jpg
OR
http://es.tinypic.com/r/33asdht/9

Scott Sumner

So in Notepad++ there are at least a couple of ways to prefix a block of lines:

#1

get a column caret (a zero-width rectangular selection) in column 1 (some ways to do it: Alt+Shift+arrows, Alt+Lclick+drag with mouse, there are others…)
type the text you want…it is added at the start of every line

#2

do a regular expression replacement for ^ with the text you want to prefix every line with

There are also a few ways to add a suffix, one is native and one uses a plugin:

#1

do a regular expression replacement for $ with the text you want to suffix every line with

#2

get a column caret (a zero-width rectangular selection) in column 1 and, using the Better Multiselection plugin press the End key – you will now have a caret at the end of each line and you can go ahead and type or paste your desired text

Anyway, here’s how to do a proper Feature Request: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/community/topic/15741/faq-desk-feature-request

SuperCPU

Thanks for your reply.
Indeed, it is possible to add suffix/suffix in other ways.
But it’s simply much faster to just push a hotkey (Alt+M in this case) and do introduce the values for the prefix and the suffix. It’s increasing the productivity a lot.

Thanks for pointing to the right direction for filling feature requests.
But maybe I’ll post my suggestions here first and only after that in the issues-sf sub-forum.

Scott Sumner

@SuperCPU

I forgot to mention a #3 for both prefixing / suffixing: You could script this behavior with one of the scripting plugins.

I wish you Good Luck with your feature request.

Scott Sumner

Here’s an example of a scripting-based solution, with Pythonscript.

When you run the script, it walks you through your choices to get the job done:

Step A:
Imgur

Step B:
Imgur

Step C:
Imgur

Here’s the short script, which I call PrefixOrSuffixLines.py:

def POSL__main():

    title = 'MODIFY LINES - Prefix or Suffix'

    result = notepad.messageBox(
        'PREFIX {} lines (the alternative being to SUFFIX ) ?'.format('all' if editor.getSelectionEmpty() else 'selected'),
        title,
        MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.YESNOCANCEL
        )
    if result == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTYES:
        prefix_or_suffix = 'pre'
    elif result == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTNO:
        prefix_or_suffix = 'suf'
    else:
        return

    result = notepad.messageBox(
        'Apply {}fixing to EMPTY lines ?'.format(prefix_or_suffix),
        title,
        MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.YESNOCANCEL
        )
    if result == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTYES:
        do_empty_lines = True
    elif result == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTNO:
        do_empty_lines = False
    else:
        return

    user_text = notepad.prompt(
        'TEXT to {}fix all {}lines with:'.format(prefix_or_suffix, '' if do_empty_lines else 'non-empty '),
        title,
        ''  # have input box start out empty
        )
    if user_text == None: return

    editor.rereplace(r'(?-s)^(.' + ('*' if do_empty_lines else '+') + ')',
        lambda m: (user_text + m.group(1)) if prefix_or_suffix == 'pre' else (m.group(1) + user_text),
        0,
        editor.positionFromLine(editor.getUserLineSelection()[0]),
        editor.positionFromLine(editor.getUserLineSelection()[1])
        )

POSL__main()