New built-in Plugin Admin (Plugin Manager) is ready

dinkumoil

You are unlucky, the portable version currently doesn’t include Plugin Admin, maybe in the future.

Michael Grohol

Just downloaded v7.6. I see the new Plugins Manager is mentioned here: Notepad-plus-plus.org/features/plugin-admin.html. I do not know how to launch it, though, from inside Notepad++ v7.6. Thoughts? I am particularly interested in the plugin NppExport which should allow me to export .v files (Verilog HDL) to a Word doc and preserve the syntax coloring. Thanks for any tips.

dinkumoil

@Michael-Grohol

Please provide some additional informations:

Did you perform a fresh installation of Notepad++ or an update and thus you had been able to use the NppExport plugin in your previous version?
Did you download an installer of v7.6 or a ZIP/7z file to run a portable version of Notepad++?

Şahin Beygu

Sorry if that’s a double entry but I’ve searched the posts and couldn’t find any related entry:

As seen in this Plugins menu screenshot, there exists two menu items (Plugin Manager and Plugin Admin) which is very confusing.
It would be better to include Plugin Manager in “npp core” and avoid this confusion.

Also, after the installation of the new Plugin Manager its “Installed plugins” list does not show the installed plugins and comes empty whereas the old Plugin Admin lists the plugins as it should be. See these old and new lists.

Meta Chuh

welcome to the notepad++ community, @Şahin-Beygu

there exists two menu items (Plugin Manager and Plugin Admin) which is very confusing.

“plugin manager” is not part of notepad++, it is a plugin you have installed in the past and it is not compatible with newer versions 7.6.x of notepad++ and above.
please remove the “plugin manager” plugin, as it will write to and delete from wrong folder locations.
please use the official plugins admin only.
(for a guide on how to delete it on your setup, we will need your debug information. please go to the notepad++ menu ? > debug info > copy debug info into clipboard. and paste the information here)

note: i also recommend to update to 7.6.2 if you are on a version lower than that.

after the installation of the new Plugin Manager its “Installed plugins” list does not show the installed plugins and comes empty whereas the old Plugin Admin lists the plugins as it should be

all plugins that are at the correct location will be shown in plugins admin

note: unfortunately i was not able to open your screenshots, i can only get a 403 Forbidden, nginxerror message when trying to open them.

i hope this information may help you.

PeterJones

@Meta-Chuh said,

“plugin manager” is not part of notepad++, it is a plugin you have installed in the past

Not quite accurate.

The “Plugin Manager” was the plugin which handled installing plugins and was bundled with Notepad++ until v7.4.2; starting in v7.5, it was no longer bundled (see FAQ), but you could still manually install it.

So if @Şahin-Beygu had a previous (pre-7.5) that had been consistently or occasionally updated until it became 7.6 or later, then “plugin manager” would have been inherited from pre-7.5, and thus not a plugin that “you [@Şahin-Beygu] have installed in the past”.

Everything else you said was dead on, but I just wanted to make sure that little bit of misinformation was corrected.

Meta Chuh

@PeterJones

The “Plugin Manager” was the plugin which handled installing plugins and was bundled with Notepad++ until v7.4.2; starting in v7.5, it was no longer bundled (see FAQ), but you could still manually install it.

yes, you are absolutely correct, sorry about that.
my statement “it is a plugin you have installed in the past” is a lesser probability than that it was already there from a version 7.4.2 or below in this case.

thanks for the faq reminder, wow, this specific faq already seemed more than 9 months ago to me, like version 6.x or so … hmmm, and again, dagger to my heart on what i miss ;-)

George Rodger

I am using Notepad++ v7.6.3 (64-bit) on Windows 10 (64-bit).

With reference to the third item in Notepad++ v7.6.3 new enhancements and bug-fixes, viz:

 "3.  List plugins in alphabetical order in Plugins Admin dialog."

which does the job perfectly, why can’t the same thing be done in the Plugins menu of Notepad++ too?

When many plugins are installed, it can be difficult to locate their respective sub-menu items when they are not listed alphabetically under Notepad++'s Plugins menu. I accept that the sub-menu for Plugin Admin might best be treated exceptionally in this regard, and I suggest that its sub-menu be separated out as the first item under the Plgins menu.

Meta Chuh

welcome to the notepad++ community, @George-Rodger

why can’t the same thing be done in the Plugins menu of Notepad++ too?

yes, you are absolutely correct, and there’s a simple reason for that:

if you have a look at your %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins folder, you will notice, that the alphabetical order you see here is exactly the same order you will see at your plugins menu, albeit some plugin developers used different names as menu item, not matching their plugin folder names … and thats the culprit.

now if you install eg. the snippets plugin, you will notice, that it’s developer has used the hard-coded name “Snippets” at the menu, but renamed it to NppSnippets for it’s files.

so this plugin will be correctly sorted at your folder, but as notepad++ relies on the actual file names for sorting, because it needs to read all plugins sequencially at startup, you will have the snippets plugin somewhere close to other plugins starting with an “n”.

unfortunately those plugins, where the plugin’s developer does not stay with one of his naming conventions, will rely on the author, to fix this and use the same names for files and plugin menu entry, instead of using different, alternating names within the same plugin.

workaround:
if you want to keep those “true name - identity crisis” plugins ;-) you can rename the folders and the dll within this folder, to their matching plugins menu name, and you will see them in a more logical, alphabetic order.
(eg, rename the NppSnippets folder and it’s containing NppSnippets.dll to Snippets and Snippets.dll, as this is the same name it’s aouthor has used for the menu entry)

note: there is one exception at your folder view, compared to your notepad++ plugins menu, if this is of interest to you:
if you have customize toolbar installed, it will be at the bottom of your plugins menu, but on top of your folder listing, due to the preceeding _ underscore character.
this _ character is used by notepad++, to load this plugin as last plugin, as customize toolbar can only customize the toolbar for plugins that are loaded in advance, before customize toolbar itself has been loaded.

George Rodger

@Meta-Chuh : Thanks for your reply, but I remain confused.

@Meta-Chuh said:

if you have a look at your %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins folder, you will notice, that the alphabetical order you see here is exactly the same order you will see at your plugins menu, albeit some plugin developers used different names as menu item, not matching their plugin folder names … and that’s the culprit.

Well, my %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins folder contains only three sub-folders, as follows:

“API” which contains 25 files with .xml extension
“config” which contains an empty “Hunspell” sub-folder
“disabled” which is empty

Any further ideas?

George Rodger

@donho

@Meta-Chuh said:

workaround:
… you can rename the folders and the dll within this folder, to their matching plugins menu name, and you will see them in a more logical, alphabetic order.

@Meta-Chuh
Will I have to perform this renaming routine following every version update of the relevant plugins?

Meta Chuh

@George-Rodger

thanks tor reporting back.

Well, my %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins folder contains only three sub-folders, as follows:

“API” which contains 25 files with .xml extension

“config” which contains an empty “Hunspell” sub-folder

“disabled” which is empty

%ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins is the default plugin folder for a notepad++ v7.6.3 (64-bit) install.
we would need your debug information from ? > debug info... > copy debug info into clipboard to have a closer look where your own plugins folder is located, if you haven’t found it yet.

the “APIs” folder is a leftover from an older notepad++ and contains auto completion files for different languages (eg. php.xml).
those files have been relocated to %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\autoCompletion in newer versions, as “autoCompletion” is more logical and descriptive than the old “%ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins\APIs” location.

Will I have to perform this renaming routine following every version update of the relevant plugins?

plugins admin will not even present you any updates for renamed plugins, as they will no longer match the name of the updater list.
renamed plugins will neither be updated by plugins admin, nor renamed back to the original names.

you will, however be able to distinguish your renamed plugins at the plugins admin’s “installed” list, as they will be listed with the .dll extension, as seen at the screenshot below, instead of just the name.
(NppConverter renamed to Converter will show up as Converter.dll)

Imgur

note: keep in mind, that renaming the plugin’s files is a workaround, for power users that prefer an alphabetic order at the plugins menu.
the most ideal thing would be, if all plugin authors would stick to a single name for files and menu entry … but that’s a wish fulfillment i’m not patient enough to wait for ;-)

Derek Brown

So how does the Plugin Admin updates it’s plugin list? The old Plugin Manager plugin could self-update (it included itself in the plugin list and you could update it from the update tab). I don’t see anything similar for Plugin Admin. Does it automatically update? Or does it only update when Notepad++ updates?

Meta Chuh

@Derek-Brown

yes, your findings are very accurate.

the plugins list for the built in “plugins admin” of newer notepad++ versions, like 7.6.3, resides statically compiled as resource into a file called nppPluginList.dll, usually located at
[PathToYour]\Notepad++\plugins\Config\nppPluginList.dll.

currently this list is only updated as a bundle with a new notepad++ release, and will not get updated without updating notepad++ itself.

as of the moment, i don’t know when or if this will be changed in the near future, but i’ve read that it might be considered.

we will have to wait and see, if this will eventually gains more priority some day.
especially because plugins currently don’t update as quickly and often as notepad++ itself, and delivering a signed nppPluginList.dll only at notepad++ release dates, seems to eliminate security issues like spoofing a fake update list, by intercepting and modifying network traffic.

side note: if you are also interested in the detailed contents of nppPluginList.dll, as well as the download urls of all included plugins, or you want to have a look what will be available at the next release, you can have a look here:

latest plugin list for 64 bit: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notepad-plus-plus/nppPluginList/master/src/pl.x64.json
latest plugin list for 32 bit: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notepad-plus-plus/nppPluginList/master/src/pl.x86.json

Peter McLean

I installed Notepad++ V7.6.4 32-bit on Windows XP and do not have “Plugin Admin” listed in the Plugin Menu List. Also I originally used “Plugin Manager” to install and manage my old 2-bit plugins, but “Plugin Manager” appeared to misbehave after the move to github and installation of Notepad++ V7.6 onward, due to new configuration folders for plugins, etc. However I have been able to install some of my old compatible plugins by using the V7.6 Setting>Import>Import plugin(s)… option, i.e. point to old plugin dlls and V7.6 creates plugin folder for and installs OK. However now although I can make use most of my old compatible plugins, i do not have the new “Plugin Admin” to install and manage the latest 32-bit plugins. Also some of the latest version of plugins do not work on Windows XP due to compatibility issues, which I understand why. I have searched the Internet for npppluginlist.dll, but can’t find, so assume that plugin admin is build into the new V7.6 notepad++ executable, as evidenced by the npppluginlist.dll not being installed by a fresh install of notepad++ v7.6.4. How can I get “Plugin Admin” to work on notepad++ V7.6.4 32-bit on Windows XP. Please help… :-)

Meta Chuh

@Peter-McLean

I installed Notepad++ V7.6.4 32-bit on Windows XP and do not have “Plugin Admin” listed in the Plugin Menu List.

unfortunately plugins admin is not supported on windows xp for technical reasons.
please upgrade to windows 7 or above, if you want to use plugins admin, or use notepad++ version 7.5.9 or below, together with the old plugin manager if you want to stay on windows xp.
(it is recommended to use retro software on retro machines)

I originally used “Plugin Manager” to install and manage my old 2-bit plugins

i don’t recall any 2 bit plugins have ever existed 😉 (just kidding)

How can I get “Plugin Admin” to work on notepad++ V7.6.4 32-bit on Windows XP. Please help… :-)

you can not.
your options are to upgrade to windows 7 or above, if you want to use plugins admin, or use notepad++ version 7.5.9 or below, together with the old plugin manager if you want to stay on windows xp.
(it is recommended to use retro software on retro machines)

Peter McLean

Thank you for your very prompt response. I much appreciated you time here in down under Aussie, especially when you commit many hours of your time free. I take no offense to your comments, which I found quite humorous. Yeah mate the 32-bit plugins did exist and they were quite useful for code management, XML and SQL development, etc. :-) I am a 65-year-old 40 years ICT professional that has been using notepad++ on Windows 7 for approx. 10 years, and Window 10 for approx. 2 years for ICT software development. I was around when CPM 8-bit and DOS 8-bit were first invented and we user line by line text editors on computer terminals. Were you? :-) My wife uses the Windows XP box at home and I hop on now and again to knock up some quick code. For the record thought, once you install notepad V7.6 on wards that comes with Plug-in Admin, the old Plug-in Manager misbehaves (earlier notepad versions were fine) and you need to use Plug-in Admin to get everything singing properly. The two Plug-ins managers do not seem to coexist very well. The catch 22 is that Plug-in Manager wants the Plug-in environment its way and Plug-in Admin wants its Plug-In environment configured in a different way. Therefore the best option for me if I wish to run the latest V7.6 on Windows XP is to use the Setting>Import>Import Plug-In(s)… option to install the old Plug-ins. I cannot use Plug-In Admin to install any Plug-ins at all on Windows XP, as it is not available. On Windows 7 and Windows 10, I got rid of Plug-In Manager and the old Plug-ins and use Plug-In Admin for all Plug-ins. Shame is that I no longer have the old useful plugins available on Windows 7 and Windows 10. Thanks again for a great development tool and do not listen to the knockers. We love notepad++ and will continue to use and support it. Cheers mate… :-)

Meta Chuh

@Peter-McLean

you’re welcome.

I was around when CPM 8-bit and DOS 8-bit were first invented and we user line by line text editors on computer terminals. Were you? :-)

no, i started out with an apple ii when it came out, so i’m pretty much kind of a freshman ;-)

once you install notepad V7.6 on wards that comes with Plug-in Admin, the old Plug-in Manager misbehaves (earlier notepad versions were fine)

then stick to 7.5.9, as you stick to xp (with good reasons, as i and many others around here use xp too, as it, if you compare it to a car, was the last windows version, that did not move the steering wheel into the trunk and put the clutch on the other side)

a nice quote that might apply:
patient: doctor, doctor, my leg hurts if i press here.
doctor: then don’t press here.

Yeah mate the 32-bit plugins did exist and they were quite useful for code management, XML and SQL development, etc. :-)

they still are, i just took your “2 bit” typo literarily, my apologies for that.

Shame is that I no longer have the old useful plugins available on Windows 7 and Windows 10.

all but two or three 32 bit plugins work fine on windows 7 and 10, as long as you use the 32 bit version of notepad++.
we will help you on any plugin you would get stuck while trying (as long as it is not one of the two or three mentioned before ;-) ).

with best regards and a big cheers back mate ;-)

Peter McLean

Hey man. Good news. Based on your sound advise, I recovered all of my old 32-bit plugins from backup. I then placed each plugin in an appropriate folder under the notepad++ plugins folder on my Windows 7 box. I then used the Notepad++ V7.6.4 Setting>Import>Import plugin(s)… option to import each old 32 bit plugin, and like magic all plugins imported and now all plugins appear to be working OK. This was after some mucking around with removing and installing some of the older 32-bit plugins, Also I noted that more plugs are now showing in the Plugin Admin available list (seems more than before), and also in the Plugins Admin Installed list. It all seems to me that the following steps did the trick: 1) Fresh install of notepad++ V7.6.4. 2) Fresh install of plugins available with “Plugin Admin” 3) Setting>Import>Import plugin(s)… import of old 32 plugins. I now have 24. including old and new, plugins working. I’ll let you know if anything breaks. “All is good in the world” now man! :-) Cheers Pete.

Peter McLean

More news. After getting 24 32-bit Plug-ins working on Windows 7, I renamed the Program Files>Notepad++ folder on XP to “Notepad++ Org”, copied the whole Program Files>Notepad++ folder tree structure to XP from my Windows 7 box, and got 21 of the 24 Plug-ins to work on XP. The only problem is now, that I do not have a “Plug-in Manager” or “Plug-in Admin” that works on XP with Notepad++ V7.6.4. I can technically only install “Plug-in Manager” on XP, whereas I cannot even install “Plug-in Admin” on XP. However even if I install “Plug-in Manager”, “Plug-in Manager” cannot manager the Plug-ins running under Notepad++ V7.6.4, since V7.6.4 uses a different installation configuration. So my option now is to install the 32-bit Plug-ins on the Windows 7 box and then copy same to the XP box, and if they work then great, if not then bad luck hey? All you have to do, if the 32-bit Plug-ins do not work on XP, is to answer yes when asked if you wish to remove for compatibility reasons, or delete the incompatible Plug-in name folder under the Program Files/notepad++\plugins folder, e.g. C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\csvquery to remove the 32-bit “csvquery” Plug-in. I hope that what I have learned is of some help to someone. Cheers from Aussie mate and happy Notepad++ing hey? :-)