Don’t ask the same question in 2 threads; you asked the same question HERE

Now all I need to do is copy the shortcut you gave me and place it into a file and keep it onto my desktop

Instead of that you could make a macro out of it.

• set up your search but don’t execute it yet (or execute it to test it!)
• leave Find window open
• do Macro menu then Start Recording
• now execute the search you’ve previously set up
• do Macro menu then Stop Recording
• do Macro menu then Save Currently Recorded Macro… and name your macro

Now the name you gave the macro will appear in the lower part of the Macro menu, and you can execute it by selecting it.

easy way to get a list of all the <plot>•••••</plot>

I interpreted the OP’s request as only 1 instance of the text to be selected in the file.

Terry

May be, I misunderstand something obvious, but there is an easy way to get a list of all the <plot>•••••</plot>, at once, in a new file :

• Open the Mark dialog ( Ctrl + M )

• SEARCH (?s-i)(?<=<plot>).+?(?=</plot>)

• Tick the two options Purge for each search and Wrap around

• Un-tick all other box options

• Select the Regular expression search mode

• Click on the Mark All button

=> The <plot>•••••</plot> areas shouild be hightlighted in red !

• Now, click on the Copy Marked Text button

• Open a new file ( Ctrl + N )

• Paste the clipboard contents ( Ctrl + V )

Voila !

In addition, as you’re currently doing a multi-lines regex search, the Copy Marked Text feature automatically inserts a four-dashes separation line ( ---- ) between each occurrence ;-))

Best Regards,

guy038

Do you know of any other tips like this one.

Well most of the members who have used Notepad++ (often shortened to NPP) for a while will have methods that they use to help them. Unfortunately there isn’t a repository of these that I’m aware of.

But if you have an issue I would suggest searching on this forum first. If you can’t find an answer just post your question. Most of the members will willingly provide their ideas (and solutions) if they think it will help, as I did.

There is an online manual for NPP and references to regular expressions in the FAQ section, so look there as well.

Terry

I have been using Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v for a while now I just thought I need to re-select it and then copy it and then paste it. But knowing that by finding it its already highlighted and selected for me. Once I actually copy it with Ctrl+c it gets much easier.

thank you for all the help with this. Now all I need to do is copy the shortcut you gave me and place it into a file and keep it onto my desktop. Do you know of any other tips like this one. Or of a site with tutorials so I can take some tips and place them into a file and keep it on my PC. So I could have some tips at my finger tips so to speak.

I do see it all grayed out but I was wondering if there is a easier way then to Hold Shift and then Left Click the text I want to select.

Sorry, I don’t know if you mean this to be a new question or follow on from previous.

So once it is highlighted close the Find window and then press Ctrl-C (this will pickup the highlighted text). Go to a new tab or file and position the cursor before Ctrl-V (paste).

Understand it will retain the line formatting as previous, so if multiple lines in the original, then the copy will look exactly the same with indents, line feeds etc.

Terry

is there a way to select all the text between <plot> and </plot> automatically

There is a method, it involves using “regular expressions”, or regex for short.

So once the file is opened in Notepad++, use the Find function. Set search mode to regular expression and use the following.
Find What:(?s)(?<=plot>)(.+?)(?=</plot>)
click on the Find Next button. The text you want is highlighted.

If you need an explanation of the syntax of the regex:
(?s) … Identifies any DOT character as also containing the line feed characters (\r and \n)
(?<=plot>) … This positions the cursor so the preceding characters are plot>
(.+?) … This means grab characters lazily until … (The DOT character means any character)
(?=</plot>) … we see immediately ahead of us the </plot> sequence.

Terry