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I have JSON files where 1 line is thousands of character long.
I need to search for something (let’s say “Parameter[”) and then change what is next and this x times on the same line

You might find the JsonTools plugin useful.

Example usage (using a randomly generated “tweet” using a Twitter’s API schema):

The tree view above the Find/replace in JSON dialog box shows a list of results, and when you click on a node in the tree (or navigate to that node using the arrow keys after selecting another node), the caret jumps to the location of the corresponding text in the document, as shown above.

files where 1 line is thousands of character long.

it would be very useful if the search window could show only starting from the search hit onwards.
Is there a way to do that??

Not really.

A search hit could be anywhere in long lines (lines that are too long to show their entire length in the window). So, for example, the first match’s hit text could be in column 1 of the first line of output, the second match’s hit text could be in column 2000. I think you can see the logistical problem; there’s no way to show both column 1 and 2000 at the same time.

If lines are really long, they are truncated in the Search results window and a ... is put at the end. I suppose something like this could be done at the start of each line, and individually for each line, thus keeping search hit text in roughly the same column of each output line. But this isn’t how Notepad++ currently works and would involve someone making a feature request for new behavior, and having the developers agree to implement it.

Truly one should do it this way: \Qtest\E(?-s).{20} but…I realize that no one is going to type all that to achieve this workaround. :-)

Sure, for that I would try something like this AutoHotkey —the * removes the hotkey expression— in the search field:

:*:qre::
SendInput, {text}\Q\E(?-s).{20}
SendInput, {Left 12}    ; sends the caret back between \Q and \E
return

Have fun!

but I like to use such feature in a dialog-based search&replace …
How to use the Find-Result-Panel in this workflow?

The horizontal scrollbar only scrolls enough to show you your entire matching text.
Automatic horizontal scroll by N++ is a bit different than vertical scroll for this purpose.

Here’s a workaround you won’t like :-)

Do your search in Regular expression search mode and add .{20} to the end of your find text.

For example, if you want to search for test then instead search for test.{20}

Such a match on a long line would scroll a hit of test plus the following 20 characters into view horizontally. Adjust the 20 to a number that meets your need.

Note: There are problems with this approach. Truly one should do it this way: \Qtest\E(?-s).{20} but…I realize that no one is going to type all that to achieve this workaround. :-)

BTW: … right click inside the Find-Result-Panel … is really a very new feature: … Word wrap long lines isn’t translated into German ;(

since the last v7.9.1 N++ version, you can split long lines of the Find result panel

Actually a feature of 7.9.0

@Pfiffikus, since the last v7.9.1 N++ version, you can split long lines of the Find result panel ! This should help you to easily visualize the different hits !

Simply, right click inside the Find result panel and choose the Word wrap long lines option ;-))

Best Regards,

guy038

I think OP means the location of the hit’s selected text when Find Next is used.

…although an equally valid question is how to get the highlighted hit text in the Find result window (to be auto-horizontal-scrolled) so when you have really long lines, and the hit is not near the beginning of the lines. Answer: I don’t think you can.

I think OP means the location of the hit’s selected text when Find Next is used.

The Find result window can be either docked or floating. When docked, it stays on whichever edge you leave it docked to. When floating, it remembers the last place you put it. So if it’s not where you like it, put it where you like: it will remember the location, even if you close the results window and re-open it, or even after exiting Notepad++ and coming back. (When it’s docked at the bottom, it has just about as much width real estate as the main editor window, so there isn’t much mismatch in available vs scrolled width when it’s docked at the bottom. That’s where I prefer it, in the rare instances I use the Find All In… options)

The Find (or Replace) window also remembers where you last put it. If you want to re-center that one, you can hit Ctrl-F twice in a row (once to open the Find dialog, once to re-center it), or hit Ctrl-H then Ctrl-F (the first opens the dialog in Replace mode; the second moves the dialog to the center – unfortunately, Ctrl-H twice in a row will clear the existing search from the Replace dialog, but doesn’t center the dialog)