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    How to Insert/Import Text from a Separate File

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    • AcmeNuclearA
      AcmeNuclear
      last edited by

      Hello All,

      I have been using Notepad++ for several years but have never identified a fast way to do this (measured against the same functionality in other apps).

      I would like to be able to insert text from another file into an open file by:

      • Place the cursor in the target location
      • Select the command to insert all text from a chosen file on disk (not open in Notepad++) at the target location.

      I have used other editing tools that vary in how one chooses the file to insert using this method.

      • Vi/Vim uses the command :r <filename> to read in the contents of another text file (and achieving the same thing as an insert/import of the text)
      • MS Word uses its NON-WORD PROCESSING command reached by Insert - Object - Text From File to bring up the file picker so one can select the text file to insert at the target location.

      Does Notepad++ have an easier way to make this text file insertion into the current file - without executing something similar to Open (source file), Select all (source file); Copy; Select target location (receiving file); Paste; Close (source file)?

      Thanks for the help!

      Alan KilbornA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Alan KilbornA
        Alan Kilborn @AcmeNuclear
        last edited by Alan Kilborn

        @AcmeNuclear said in How to Insert/Import Text from a Separate File:

        Does Notepad++ have an easier way to make this text file insertion into the current file - without executing something similar to Open (source file), Select all (source file); Copy; Select target location (receiving file); Paste; Close (source file)?

        Not really.
        But if you’re willing to use a scripting plugin, a simple script can be written:

        from Npp import *
        import os
        f = notepad.prompt('Enter file name:', '', '')
        if f and os.path.isfile(f):
            notepad.open(f)
            editor.selectAll()
            editor.copy()
            notepad.close()
            editor.paste()
        

        The script assumes you have the “MRU” setting selected (otherwise when the script closes the file tab it opens, you won’t be returned to the correct file tab):

        de7fbf65-50c8-42ec-bed9-ec4e218fe5ed-image.png

        And, yes, this script is very simple. It intentionally loads the file into Notepad++ (instead of just reading the file with Python) to avoid making non-Notepad++ assumptions about the encoding of the file, it expects you to know the name of the file you want (instead of a “picker”), it will close the to-be-inserted-file if that file happens to be open in N++ when the script is run, etc.). Many things could be done to make the script more well-rounded.

        For the basics of scripting, see HERE.

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