Updated and lost my list of open files

[PhilCx]

I normally have anywhere from 3 to double-digit number of files open in npp at one time. Until I foolishly updated npp yesterday, on the right side of the npp window frame was a sortable list of the open files. That list has disappeared.

I think it maybe was a plugin I installed sometime in the distant past. I really, really, really want that list back. Help!!

[Alan Kilborn]

@PhilCx

Have you looked at recent postings? You don’t have to go back too far to find this one which seems similar to yours.

[PhilCx]

I haven’t lost any files. What was lost is a feature (or a setting I don’t know where to find) that continuously displayed the list of currently open files. Instead, I have to use the Window menu, diddle around with that, and try to find the file I want to look at, search, whatever.

The “open files pane” (my terminology) had several features. Such as visual indication of which files have been edited but not yet saved, ability to sort by various attributes using column header click (name, date, etc.) and more.

[Alan Kilborn]

@PhilCx

Ah. Nomenclature problem.

Are you looking for Document Switcher perhaps? See Settings menu > Preferences > MISC.

[PhilCx]

Problem solved. All is well. My BP is now almost back to normal.

Turns out It is a plugin called “Window Manager”. The plugins folder has the DLL. “Plugins Admin” did not list it on the “installed” tab. Instead it was listed on the “Available” tab. I checked the box for it on the available tab, clicked install, and now have the feature back where it belongs.

I now see there are several other plugin DLLs in my plugins folder that are not listed as installed. They may need to be reinstalled. Very confusing.

(By now, it is probably obvious that it has been a long time since I last updated NPP.)

[PeterJones]

@PhilCx said:

I now see there are several other plugin DLLs in my plugins folder that are not listed as installed. They may need to be reinstalled. Very confusing.

Ah, it appears you updated to a recent version (hopefully v7.7.1) from a really old version (v7.5.9 or earlier), and didn’t realize that the plugins hierarchy was changed. Mostly, what you have to do is move plugins\xxx.dll to plugins\xxx\xxx.dll for every xxx.dll in your plugins\ directory. Some plugins have extra files which may also need to be moved. The easiest way is, however, just using Plugins Admin to re-install in the correct location. (And after doing the moves or re-isntalls, feel free to delete any .dll file left in the plugins directory.)

[PhilCx]

@PeterJones said:

Ah, it appears you updated to a recent version (hopefully v7.7.1) from a really old version (v7.5.9 or earlier), and didn’t realize that the plugins hierarchy was changed.

Aha! I believe you are correct. Thanks for the tip, Peter. I will do some cleanup.