Preview Plugin

PeterJones

I was able to get a copy. It crashes my Notepad++ when I try to run it.

Notepad++ v7.6.3   (64-bit)
Build time : Jan 27 2019 - 17:16:47
Path : C:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : ON
OS : Windows 10 (64-bit)
Plugins : ComparePlugin.dll DSpellCheck.dll MarkdownViewerPlusPlus.dll mimeTools.dll NppConverter.dll NppExec.dll NppFTP.dll PreviewHTML.dll PythonScript.dll XMLTools.dll

andrecool-68

@PeterJones
It’s better for me to use a browser than with a similar plugin, in the browser it is very convenient to edit styles. And immediately visible results. All of these plugins work as a help file on the core of Internet Explorer)))

Meta Chuh

@PeterJones

Also, for helping others, I don’t really like saying “go to this official location to download the 32-bit; but to get the 64-bit, you have to go to this other file-hosting URL”

correct, i just meant for or our own usage, or if someone wants to experiment on it.
if it will become of larger interest, and the author does not continue his development, someone could host it at github, some day, or fork the entire project.

I was able to get a copy. It crashes my Notepad++ when I try to run it.

i did not experience any crashes yet, and it seems to run fine.
just an access violation alert if i click on the ?or choose about from the plugin’s menu. (see screenshot)
i will test on other machines and windows 10 later if you like.

Imgur

most important, if someone might worry:

here are the virus total results:
(it’s completely clean)

file name: PreviewHTML.dll
scan result: https://www.virustotal.com/#/file/52d281942a5b47b54f62a70c2233da9a564184db25e2a73721b1ba491f9b97cc/detection
detection: 0/67

andrecool-68

Added compression UPX
Preview HTML 64bit http://rgho.st/6YCkZxbL2

Anyway an error pops up in the About Preview HTML window:

Access violation at address 0000000004BB01B0 in module 'PreviewHTML.dll'. Read of address 0000000000000010.

When building 32 bit of this error is not, the icon in the menu is present.

andrecool-68

The author recommends the version of Delphi 10.2 Tokyo
I have installed Delphi 10.1 Berlin …Could this be the cause of this error?

Ekopalypse

I’m not a delphi developer but in general a issue which happens
in a 64bit build but doesn’t occur in a 32bit build might be a integer size problem
especially when something like access violation comes into place.

Might I ask why not using a real browser instead? I mean, a real browser
supports so much more than an ancient html plugin can offer in these days.
I assume it is something obvious which I haven’t understood yet. :-)

Meta Chuh

@Ekopalypse

ahhh, you haven’t followed this.

yes, a browser is better, @andrecool-68 has already said that, but he started to play around with it, compiling it to x64, and then we got to know that @PeterJones is also using this plugin … so here we are. 😉

note: the o.p. is already satisfied as he installed and uses notepad++ 32 bit now.

Ekopalypse

@Meta-Chuh

you’re right :-) - some kind of tldr :-D
But I don’t get what the benefit is?
Does this plugin update while you are coding a html page?
Or just after pressing save file? If the latter is the case then a macro/script
which does save/file - run in browser might do the same, doesn’t it?

Meta Chuh

@Ekopalypse

loooool … tltr … coming from your turbo fingers 😉

Does this plugin update while you are coding a html page?
Or just after pressing save file? If the latter is the case then a macro/script
which does save/file - run in browser might do the same, doesn’t it?

not even one of this.
somehow the o.p. wanted specifically this plugin.
it does not auto refresh.
it does not make a live preview, the data has to be saved first.
if you save, it does not trigger a refresh.
so it’s pretty crude for an integrated plugin, imho.

but for me it’s nice to see, that things that we don’t need at all, can become a playground.
maybe this is the same for andre, and that’s why he compiled something he would probably never use himself.

Ekopalypse

coming from your turbo fingers

LOOL - seems they need to get adjusted (like tyres :-D)
It’s always nice to have something to play with :-D now I get it :-D
But I read @PeterJones comment in the ticket and he seems to be eager to use it
Maybe he can enlight me what he is using it for ;-)

PeterJones

@Ekopalypse said:

But I read @PeterJones comment in the ticket and he seems to be eager to use it
Maybe he can enlight me what he is using it for ;-)

From what I remembered, the PreviewHTML plugin is slightly more live than “on-save”; I think it can update every 15s or something like that. And definitely if you hit refresh. (I hit Ctrl+S – save early, save often! – often enough that I usually don’t notice a difference in timing).

I like it because it’s bundled close to the editing window, and I don’t have to click to a different window (either in another monitor, or a window buried beneath Notepad++) to refresh the browser’s preview. It allows filtering of all sorts of files (like markdown or Perl POD, etc – whatever you define a filter for) into HTML, which then gets renders in the PreviewHTML sub-window.

In fact, that filter-to-HTML-with-on-save-preview was what prompted me to write pyscFilteredViewer, because while I don’t edit much HTML, I am frequently playing with the POD in my Perl, and having the nearly-live preview is nice.

Ekopalypse

@PeterJones

I knew there was a reason for using it - thx for clarifying :-)
Just for clarification, you don’t have to refresh a browser if you are using
some addons like duplicate tab closer and have some mechanism which would call
run in browser when saving the document. At least this works for me with firefox.

Meta Chuh

@PeterJones

testing complete:

i’ve cloned a windows 10 vm with your current setup (resistance is futile 🦹‍♂️) and i can confirm your experience … ahhh, such a nice wording … experience … makes it almost sound as if it is something to enjoy … i think i’ll watch another bob ross episode, while i’m typing this 😉

my test setup:

Notepad++ v7.6.3   (64-bit)
Build time : Jan 27 2019 - 17:16:47
Path : C:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : ON
OS : Windows 10 (64-bit)
Plugins : ComparePlugin.dll DSpellCheck.dll MarkdownViewerPlusPlus.dll mimeTools.dll NppConverter.dll NppExec.dll NppFTP.dll PreviewHTML.dll PythonScript.dll XMLTools.dll

(ps: no joke)

PreviewHTML will crash exit notepad++ on windows 10 pro x64, regardless of it’s settings and regardless of any other installed or removed plugins.

on windows 7 pro x64 it works fine, except the ? or about menu.

Meta Chuh

@PeterJones

From what I remembered, the PreviewHTML plugin is slightly more live than “on-save”; I think it can update every 15s or something like that. And definitely if you hit refresh. (I hit Ctrl+S – save early, save often! – often enough that I usually don’t notice a difference in timing).

yes, you are correct, i’m sorry about that. i was only testing the x64 build from andre.
i’ve just tested the original PreviewHTML x86 version, and this does not require saving at all.
the x86 version gives me a live preview, after a 2 second timeout, as soon as i stop typing.

it seems that the x64 test build does not receive or handle any notepad++ events. not even a save event.

In fact, that filter-to-HTML-with-on-save-preview was what prompted me to write pyscFilteredViewer, because while I don’t edit much HTML, I am frequently playing with the POD in my Perl, and having the nearly-live preview is nice.

it will probably consume much time and energy, but in this case i’m glad that PreviewHTML does not work properly on x64.
otherwise pyscfr wouldn’t have been born … like some real babies, which would probably not exist, if their parent’s tv would have worked that specific night 😉

Ekopalypse

@Meta-Chuh

like some real babies, which would probably not exist, if their parent’s tv would have worked that specific night

are you speaking from WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, Bob? ;-D

Meta Chuh

@Ekopalypse

loooool.

i like the way you are thinking, closing as much circles as possible.
i bet if someone would give you a straight, completely unbendable rod of steel, you will bend the space around it, just to make it a harmonic circle 😄👍

Ekopalypse

@Meta-Chuh

like we say - STEILvorlage. :-D

sorry - don’t know how to translate that word.

vor0nwe

Hi all, author of the Preview HTML plugin here.

I finally managed to get time, energy and motivation at the same time. The link to the 64-bits plugin is available on its home page.

I’ve also updated the installation instructions, where there was a mismatch between Notepad++'s changed plugins folder, and the structure of the zip. It should now suffice to unzip the file in the plugins folder, unless you’ve got an older version of Notepad++.

Apologies for not fixing this sooner, and kudos to @andrecool-68 for managing to build it from source!

I’ve tested it on my machine, and the toolbar button is present and functional. Let me know if you run into trouble with it.
Either in this thread, or by creating a ticket or a forum post over on the plugin’s site. Of course, should you prefer creating a new thread on this forum, please notify me via an @ mention. I won’t be monitoring this forum otherwise.

andrecool-68

@vor0nwe
The plugin works without errors!
Thanks for updating the source code!

Imgur

Meta Chuh

a very warm welcome to the notepad++ community, @vor0nwe

many thanks for releasing PreviewHTML for x64, and especially for taking the time to answer this specific thread in person.
big kudos, both is very much appreciated. 👍

a little note to your installation instructions:

The plugins directory can be located at %AppData%\Notepad++\plugins, or just below the directory containing notepad++.exe, e.g. C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins.

the versions 7.6.3, 7.6.4 and above have their plugins solely at [Notepad++ Program Folder]\plugins.
for installed versions, your plugin target folder would be e.g. %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\plugins\PreviewHTML, or %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Notepad++\plugins\PreviewHTML.
with additional, user specific files, like Filters.ini and Settings.ini at %AppData%\Notepad++\plugins\config\PreviewHTML, but for guides purpose it is better not mention them, as the location varies, depending on the notepad++ installation type, and the files will be created automatically anyways, when accessing the PreviewHTML edit settings/filter menu.
for portable versions the plugin dll location would be npp.7.6.4.bin.x64\plugins\PreviewHTML.

if you would like to extend your installation guide, to bridge the time between your submission to the plugins admin list, and the implementation into plugins admin:

the easiest and simplified guide to install PreviewHTML, on versions above 7.5.9, would be something like:

If you are using a Notepad++ version 7.6.0. or higher, please make sure you update to notepad 7.6.4. or above.
Open Notepad++ and go to the menu: Plugins > Open Plugins Folder... to open your specific plugins folder in Windows Explorer.
Create a folder called PreviewHTML inside your plugins folder.
Copy PreviewHTML.dll to the created PreviewHTML folder.
Restart Notepad++.

note: as notepad++ versions 7.6.4 and above have the Plugins > Open Plugins Folder..., it will be much easier for users to install custom plugins, without having to know, or search for their specific location, which varies depending on the notepad++ versions.

if you like to extend your installation guide, please feel free to use and/or adapt any parts of the text above.

if you wish, you can also link notepad++ specific installation, or other topics regarding your plugin, to the notepad++ community forum’s general discussion page, and we (definitively me), would help supporting users who are stuck installing your plugin.

ps: if you like, feel absolutely free, to post a release announcement for PreviewHTML v1.3.2.0, at the plugin development page, to attract a wider audience and focus or link supportive questions there.

best regards