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A Review of Skip
Bremer's NotesPad Editor
Last updated: 5/21/02
Frequently, in my office/ shop, I edit text files, such
as the AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, SYSTEM.INI, etc. to configure/troubleshoot
computers. At other times I just want to adjust the Analog configuration
file for Web statistics, etc. The list of these text edit jobs is long. I
do them more frequently than I use MS Word to work on correspondence, newsletters,
etc.
Yes, Windows has an adequate set of tools to perform text
editor functions, perhaps too many. To edit configuration files, one can
use the Windows 98 System Configuration Editor in System tools in Programs
in Accessories in System Information, or Run sysedit or use Note Pad,
WordPad, the DOS Editor, or a word processor, such as MS Word. The
various utilities are too specialized. In my opinion, MS Word is too
complicated for these simple jobs. Note Pad is too far at the other end of
the spectrum. It often runs-out of memory too often, is functionally limited,
and has no speller. And I simply cannot not begin to express how annoyed
I get when Win 98 version of Note Pad insists on sending me to the c:/My
Documents directory--uh, folder-- every time I want to open a file. I
want to go to the directory, and, in particular, the drive, I previously
used in the session. WordPad solves the memory problem, but is I don't use
it because I don't want to fool around with (or trust) a word processor,
albeit a very limited one, subbing as a text editor and it doesn't have a
speller.
In a nut shell, I don't like Note Pad or Word Pad. Why
use multiple tools with multiple interfaces when one good one should be able
to do it all? Don Z'Borey has solved this problem with NotesPad (note
the "s," pun intended). It does it all and does it better.
 NotesPad
is a text editor extraordinary. It has a very good user interface and
is easy to learn. It is feature-rich, but preserves the feeling that you
are still using a text editor and one which won't muck-up your configuration
files. What does it have and do? Here is a short list:
- It can handle up to 16 large files at once.
- When you open the program, the files you last worked
on are tabbed along the top of the display.
- It remembers the status of your files when you last
worked on them. Click the tab of the file you want to work on and
you will find the cursor right where you left it.
- It remembers the last directory you last fetched or
saved a file and goes there when you fetch or save another one.
- It has a speller .
- How about a favorites function for text files?
- Define, load, and save sets of files; e.g., your computer
configuration files.
- Launch programs from the text editor.
- Send an HTML file to a browser for viewing.
- ...
I've written enough. There is a complete(?) list of features here.
I saved best part for last. Notespad is absolutely free.
So, hop over to the above link and download yourself a copy. Thank you, Skip.
It's a splendid piece of work!
Larry
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