<![CDATA[Access NPP command-line from plugin]]>I want my plugin to handle a custom command line parameter.

I can use the undocumented -z parameter that @Ekopalypse kindly nudged me toward.

For -multiInst I can get the NPP command line from Win32 API (GetCommandLineW), but for mono-instances that will only work for the initial launch.

It seems that mono-instance works on subsequent launches by sending the command line parameters to the first NPP instance via WM_COPYDATA message.

Unfortunately WM_COPYDATA doesn’t appear to be forwarded to plugins “messageProc” by _pluginsManager.relayNppMessages().

Worse - currently NPP strips out the -z (+ next) parameter and doesn’t add them to the WM_COPYDATA message, so it’s not even worth hooking it directly.

I think the best solution might be to implement a new NPPN Notfication something like NPPN_PARAMETERS_CHANGED?

Is this worth my while investigating and maybe raising a pull request?

Or is there a better way!?

Cheers.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/19618/access-npp-command-line-from-pluginRSS for NodeFri, 11 Sep 2026 10:33:54 GMTSat, 27 Jun 2020 19:35:38 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Access NPP command-line from plugin on Sun, 28 Jun 2020 20:04:37 GMT]]>@moon6969

yes I see, I guess some kind of notification, as you wrote, is needed here.
The wording NPPN_PARAMETERS_CHANGED might be a bit misleading
as the mono-instance is still reporting its parameters correctly.
Maybe NPPN_DIFFERENT_INSTANCE_MERGED?
Native speakers - what do you suggest? :-)

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/55402https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/55402Sun, 28 Jun 2020 20:04:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Access NPP command-line from plugin on Sun, 28 Jun 2020 03:44:27 GMT]]>Apologies - I was trying to describe how NPP implements mono-instance mode…
Example…

  • Enable ‘mono-instance’ mode & close all NPP instances
  • Launch NPP notepad++.exe xyz.txt
    • Process ID = 123
    • GetCommandLineW correctly shows notepad++.exe xyz.txt
  • Launch 2nd NPP instance notepad++.exe -z -test abc.txt
    • Process ID = 234
    • NPP 234 detects Mutex from NPP 123
    • sends WM_COPYDATA to NPP 123 containing ‘abc.txt’
    • kills self (234)
  • NPP 123 receives WM_COPYDATA
    • Opens ‘abc.txt’ alongside ‘xyz.txt’
    • GetCommandLineW still just shows notepad++.exe xyz.txt

How can I get the “-z -test” parameters from the plugin running in the mono-instanced NPP 123?

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/55383https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/55383Sun, 28 Jun 2020 03:44:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Access NPP command-line from plugin on Sat, 27 Jun 2020 21:17:02 GMT]]>@moon6969

sorry, but I don’t understand how you can start multiple mono-instances?
What did I miss?

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/55382https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/55382Sat, 27 Jun 2020 21:17:02 GMT