Out of recommendation from a certain evil norwegian, I gave EditPad Pro a whirl. Took me 10 minutes to remove it again.
Am I too picky? Maybe. Here's what I want from a text-editor (in no particular order):
- Runs on Windows 2000. Vent your anti-Microsoft anger somewhere else, I use Windows every day and I'm not likely to switch any time soon.
- Native Unicode and UTF-8 support. This is 2004. Unicode has been around for ages, and I see no reason why I should occupy myself with encoding issues. I deal with multiple languages, so Unicode is the only logical choice. Unicode compatibility is no longer a problem thanks to the Microsoft Layer for Unicode (from now on I will shoot everyone who refers to a byte as a 'character'). Note: automatic conversion between Unicode and the current ANSI codepage doesn't cut it (that's what Editpad Pro seems to do).
- IME-friendly, with bonus points for an integrated IME. Sometimes I type Japanese, and it requires indirect input and conversion of typed characters. Certain editors I've encountered do weird things which prevents the IME from doing its job, so that's why I mention it explicitly.
- Advanced editing for web-development. I do a lot of HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL and JavaScript, so anything that can make coding easier is a plus. The least I want is syntax highlighting, but intelligent auto-completion, validation, previewing and other visual cues are very handy too.
- Good user-interface. This one shouldn't really be necessary to mention, but so many programs seem to miss the point here: a program should be easy to use. I'm not going to go down to specifics, there are a lot of good references on the subject around. Because I'm picky as hell, reconfigurable toolbars, panels and hotkeys score good too. Don't confuse this item with the next one, which is:
- Nice to look at. I don't need menus that whiz by, flashy windows with skins or other novelty visual effects, but that doesn't mean my applications can be butt-ugly. Things such as proper spacing and margins, aesthetic proportions and contemporary looks are big pluses.
I don't think these are such crazy demands, so if anyone who has suffered through this rant up to now knows a program which satisfies these conditions, please post a link here ;).
Update: I've settled for Notepad2 for now. It's a small, functional, neat editor and it's open-source too.
Armedbear-J
It's Java-based, and I've run it on everything from Mac to Unix to Windows. It's not the prettiest, but it IS a text editor, and highly configurable. Editing via FTP, and heck, you can even read your mail with it if you want.
I don't think it's IME-friendly, but it probably hits every other requirement.
http://www.armedbear.org
Great
I tried it out and it does indeed look good: it handles UTF8 transparently when configured correctly.
The only thing that is lacking is IME support: it uses the java global IME, but doesn't use a unicode font for it. So you can't see what you are typing until you insert it.
The configuration is also a bit lo-fi (could use a preference dialog), but I'm already going over the list of options I can edit through prefs.
Thanks.
notetab pro
this programme is very useful and highly configurable. and it was only 19.95 USD woo-hoo
you can try out the light version to get an idea (but it's missing silly things like UNDO)
http://notetab.com/ntp.php
-there's also an active user community sharing clipbooks and stuff like that too
~heather
No Unicode support at all
Um, did you actually read my post, or did you just come here to spam this program? Notetab doesn't have Unicode or UTF8 support at all, and it certainly doesn't edit natively in Unicode.
also give this one a try
http://scintilla.sourceforge.net/SciTE.html
It's not so great on user-friendlyness but I'm undergoing the same quest and after some twicking this was the best editor I've came accross. Doesn't look all that great at first but don't give up without putting a fight ;)
Needs work indeed
Scite certainly has a couple of nice features (finally something which does proper Unicode out of the box), but as you said this really needs work on user-friendlyness.
It seems to refuse to remember default settings: very annoying. It keeps reverting to 8-bit ANSI and I have to switch to UTF8 manually every time. And the default window placement (filling the entire vertical space, but not maximized, causing an annoying 2 pixel border at the top and bottom) is a classic 'UI sin'.
Maybe 'sessions' can be used for this, but I can't seem to get that to work (I get 0 byte files when using 'Save session').
The menu structure is plain crazy (with those huge options/languages menus) and needs to be rethought. In fact it could really use a nice preferences/options window separated into editor layout, editing behaviour, visual style, language-dependant options, etc.
But before devs dive into this, thought should go into listing exactly what the user needs to be able to change, and how he/she needs to be able to change it.
I'm not going to subscribe to their mailing list just to send in some suggestions though. Communication with your users should be as simple and straightforward as possible.
Give UltaEdit-32 a whirl
I haven't tested the features that you are looking for, but the program definetly supports em. UTF-8, IME, configurable interface, Coding Support :).
http://www.ultraedit.com/products/features.html
There's the link for the Feature page. It's shareware with a 45 day grace period. Anyway, I think you will dig that prog.
I came to your site after finding it in an AVS preset. I am a collector of em, started over 3 years ago (I think before you started making em). Anyway, your presets have always been OUTSTANDING, you have been a true influence in the AVS and graphic community in general. I salute you Steven Wittens. I for one know and will remember the few individuals, like yourself, that contributed their ideas, time, and very souls to make AVS (and with it Winamp) pure EYE-Candy.
For those of you that have never taken a look at what actually makes an AVS preset work, let me tell you. The math required to even attempt an innovative preset, such as the ones UnConed (AKA Steven) releases on a periodic basis, would make a sane man ... well just watch the movie 'Pi'.
I know this isn't the place (editors and all), but I guess I just wanted to say thank you. :)
Edit plus?
I have similar needs, and find edit plus is the dogs's bollocks
Doesn't do Unicode
I tried it, but EditPlus doesn't do Unicode.
I use crimson edit
you can get it off of www.download.com. It works well for me - it does syntax highlighting for many different languages and is simple and easy to use and do what you want. It has a great layout and tabbed windows can definitely be nice when working on a mulitpage website. I definitely give it a big recommendation - completely free too.
Try Texturizer
This program might be to your liking. I am personally loving it so far.
SciTE
Well, SciTE is more of a test bed for scintilla (the amazing editing component underlying SciTE), than a end-user friendly editor. Having said that, if a user is willing to edit SciTEGlobal.properties manually (thus breaking your user-firndly mantra), the program is VERY extensible (and will remember those settings). You can add external help called for keywords, language API's, links to many external apps, and very soon, full scripting using the excellent Lua language.
try it
http://www.pspad.com
UTF8
It keeps reverting to 8-bit ANSI and I have to switch to UTF8 manually every time.
Just add to X:\Documents and Settings\USER-NAME\SciTEUser.properties file line
code.page=65001. It's set UTF8 by default
Why SciTE?
http://www.314bits.com/index.php?sec=software&subsec=texteditor
Description
I have used three editors for work during the last 5 years: Ultra Edit, Code Genie and SciTE. The text editor is one of the most important programs for me. I spend most of my computer time editing text files. SciTE is the one that makes me feel most comfortable. I think it's not one of those programs you can download and use 100% right away. It has hundreds of configuration options and every little thing can be customized. But after some adjustments you start wondering about how were you able to live without it :-)
I use Textpad (www.textpad.co
I use Textpad (www.textpad.com). It suits my needs perfectly, appears to have UTF-8 support and has a flexible syntax highlighting engine (profiles are available for almost every type of text file).
I use it mainly to write XHTML and CSS.
Bonus for textpad: libraries
I used it for loads of Mathlab coding and PHP coding before i switched to linux.
I must say that especially the libraries are a major PRO. I have not yet found an app that does this so well as textpad.
UTF-8 yes, Unicode, no
Textpad does not edit natively in Unicode: it converts the data into 8-bit. So when it opens up a UTF-8 file, all Unicode characters not in the current ANSI codepage are lost. This makes it useless for most UTF-8 purposes.
well here's two that meets some of your wishes
Crimson Editor is a nice little program that I enjoy. I do not use UNICODE myself, but their help page shows an option for set encoding type for active document to Unicode http://www.crimsoneditor.com/english/docs/commands.html
It has run nicely on all versions of MS that I use, from NT3.51 to Windows 2003 with no issue for me (I prefer it to notepad and put it on all my systems). Don't know about IME. You get context hightlighting for your wish list. Not the rest. You can also launch tools from within it (kix and vbscript stuff (my use). The interface is just fine for me. Hmmmmm.....oh, it's free.
The only other one I can think of is Primal Script from http://www.sapien.com/primalscript.aspx.
I use it for VBScript and some web stuff, it will run cscript stuff in program, built in web browser. It has auto-complete for vbscript, not sure about the rest. Certainly context highlighting. If you add a layer from Jalidi Igloo (http://www.jalindi.com/igloo/) it evidently can connect to a CVS system. Hmmm, maybe I should try storing my scripts in CVS.
Let's see....
Their KB says that it properly recogizes and formats Unicode based files, not sure if that will work for your criterea. Again, not sure of IME.
I like the Interface and it seems nice to look at.
Oh, it is $179.
30 day trial, have fun.
Crimson editor
No matter what I try, I can't get crimson editor to ungray that Unicode option. It doesn't recognize UTF-8 / UTF-16 encoded files, which pretty much sucks.
bummer
And I had such hopes. You might try emailing the author. Who knows, with my learning about Drupal I may be needing the feature soon too and it would be so much easier if someone else went through all the work of getting the ug fixed :).
Have you run through Primal Script? I know it rocks for VBScript, just not sure if it rocks for anything else as that and editing HTML files occasionaly is all I use it for.
Primal script lacks native Un
Primal script lacks native Unicode editing support as well.
The good news is that I've found a good editor: EmEditor. It satisfies all my requirements and is fully Unicode integrated (even opens unicode filenames and such). The bad news is that it's not freeware. But it seems a great program.
I also found Oxygen XML editor, which is a Java program, but it starts much too slowly here for every day use.
Joseph Boyle
Have you tried notepad2? I found this just by googling for "utf-8 text editor windows" and got it as one of the first hits. (your blog page was a later hit) I've just edited a lengthy Japanese UTF-8 document (the EDICT dictionary) in it and the Unicode support looks good. It also seems much faster than Notepad on large files, has built-in syntax highlighting for many file types, etc.
Hah, wonderful!
Great... the only thing it doesn't do is full Unicode integration with Unicode capable OSes, but I'm hacking it in as I speak ;).
HTML-Kit
My editor of choice for (X)HTML, PHP, Javascript and general text files is HTML-Kit (http://www.chami.com).
I think it fills all of your criteria, but I'm not so sure about the unicode support (wouldn't suprise me if there's a 3rd party plug in for it though).
Its free, superbly supported and has way to many features to quote here.
Note: I have no commerical connection with Chami or HTML-Kit, I'm just a satisfied end-user.
HTML-Kit
I used to use HTML-Kit, it's indeed quite nice for most people. However, it has no (real) Unicode support. It only has a weird Unicode pad feature which allows you to enter and decode UTF-8 through it, but it's unusable for proper work.
I doubt there is a plug-in that can do it, because Unicode requires support in every area of the application. Programs that are not written with encodings in mind are hard to convert. I asked the HTML-Kit development newsgroup about Unicode, and they said it was not a priority.
In any case, I dumped HTML-Kit and switched to Notepad2. It starts up in a fraction of the time it takes HTML-Kit to display its splash screen. It does lack some of HTML-Kit's stuff, but I wasn't using 90% of its features anyway.
scite
you should visit http://scintilla.sourceforge.net/SciTEDoc.html
these properties can set the window position when scite startup:
position.left
position.top
position.width
position.height
and you can setup codepage use this:
code.page=65001
SciTE UTF8
Having added mentioned above property (code.page=65001)
to user properties file SciTEUser.properties it still opens all UTF 8 files in 8 bit ANSII
:-(((((
Smultron
For Mac OS X users. But it is really nice and GPL.
after years of my obstinate
after years of my obstinate refusal, my friend and his persistent yapping finally made me investigate and learn vim (www.vim.org). that was several years ago, and it's my 'happily ever after' from that point -- it's free, runs on every platform imaginable, supports all charsets there are (including unicode implementations), it's highly extensible thanks to its scripting ability (ftp/scp/whatever clients for 'remote' editing, syntax highlighting for myriads of languages, even games), configurable gui... controls seem horribly awkward when you face them for the first time, but shortly they will convince you they're reasonable, intuitive and logic (and configurable :).
Not for a million euro
Vim represents everything to me that an editor should not be.
jEdit
Hi, I face the same problem as well. Currently I am using jEdit. Get it here: http://www.jedit.org/
It supports utf-8 and unicode. The default version did not allow me to use Japanese ime but with the patch and instruction (http://homepage1.nifty.com/dangan/en/Content/Program/Java/jEdit/jEditPat...)
ime support can be enabled. I am managed to create japanese version of my homepage using jEdit :)
I used to use crimsion editor for my normal english editing until i realised it cannot display japanese text correctly (despite the fact it support utf-8 encoding). Anyway, for jEdit, the only thing I felt missing is the "tab" for different opened files like crimson editor. That way I can switch to different opened files easily. Anyone can introduce me one (preferably freeware) that has the that kind of functionality but yet supports utf-8, unicode and ime?
RE: tabs in jedit
You can add buffer tabs in jEdit- just open the plugin manager and install "Buffer Tabs". You can place them at the top or the bottom of the editor.
Scite/Scinitilla
Note that Scite, Notepad2, Notepad++ are all based on Scintilla editor engine. All should handle Unicode...
I'm using SuperEdi, another editor that handles unicode well.
CrimsonEdit also does handle Unicode and I have no trouble using it.
Programmers Notepad
I like Programmers Notepad a lot, it is based upon Scintilla but is more user friendly than Scite:
http://www.pnotepad.org
Crimson Editor
Crimson Editor doesn't handle Unicode, although its documents say it does. It might appear to, because Latin characters encoded in Unicode will display. Characters further up the range will not.
EmEditor Free
Last year - 2006, EmEditor Free is Back after 8 years' absence.