Auto-indent in Notepad++

Question

We always write code like this formal:

void main(){
 if(){
 if()
 }

Alt text

But when I use Notepad++, the display is:

void main(){
if(){
if()
}

Alt text

How do I use Notepad++ to auto indent?

Thanks to Jonathan, I have set it, but it does not take any effect. The snapshot is below:

Alt text

I am using Notepad++ version 5.1.3.

• ayr: the same problem, but only in HDL (for example with Verilog). But with Matlab, auto-indent work well.

Answer 1

Notepad++ will only auto-insert subsequent indents if you manually indent the first line in a block; otherwise you can re-indent your code after the fact using TextFX > TextFX Edit > Reindent C++ code.

• Fostah: If your version is missing the DLL you can get it from the ZIP 5.9.0 version. Some of the later versions did not include this DLL. notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v5.9.0.html
• sacredfaith: I actually found this while looking for a way to format javascript code. Turns out, this works for .js files as well!
• Adri w Ukraine: @Fostah: you can also install the "Text FX Character" via >Plugins>Plugin Manager>Show Plugin Manager
• Pacerier: @scronide, Is there a shortcut key for this?
• Travis Bemrose: So how does one get started going TextFX > ? I've checked all the menus, plugins, and help file and I don't see anything that looks like that. I can tell Notepadd++ is powerful, but I barely use it because it's so complicated it's almost a no-starter.

Answer 2

If the TextFX menu does not exist, you need to download & install the plugin. Plugins->Plugin Manager->Show Plugin Manager and then check the plugin TextFX Characters. Click 'install,' restart Notepad++.

In version Notepad++ v6.1.3, I resolve with: Plugin Manager->Show Plugin Manager** and then check the plugin "Indent By Fold"

• Dan Lugg: Indent by fold is awesome. The fact that it works in arbitrary formatting (XML, C/++/#, etc.) is great. Only problem with it is the "undo" stack. When used, if you wish to undo to a point before when you indented, you have to undo through every line re-indentation, as it doesn't get added to the stack as a single command. Basically, be careful when working with long files.
• TOPKAT: Hi @Dan the undo problem seem to have been fixed in newer version of indent by fold...
• Beyondo: Yes, It doesn't exist and there's no Plugin Manager.
• Matuzalem: In version 7 and later "Plugin Manager" has been renamed as "Plugins Admin..."

Answer 3

There seems to be an option for auto-format of XML at least. It can be found at TextFX -> TextFX HTML Tidy -> Tidy: reindent XML.

• arviman: you need TextFx plugin for this

Answer 4

Most developers of text editing programs misuse this name (auto-indent). The correct name is "maintain indentation". Auto-indent is what you actually want, but it is not implemented.

I would also like to see this feature in Notepad++.

Answer 5

In the latest version (at least), you can find it through:

• Settings (menu)
• Preferences...
• MISC (tab)
• lower-left checkbox list
• "Auto-indent" is the 2nd option in this group

[EDIT] Though, I don't think it's had the best implementation of Auto-indent. So, check to make sure you have version 5.1 -- auto-indent got an overhaul recently, so it auto-corrects your indenting.

---

Do also note that you're missing the block for the 2nd if:

void main(){
 if(){
 if() { } # here
 }
}

• scronide: Note that this auto-indent setting in Notepad++ assumes you do the first indent in a block manually; it doesn't auto-format the code for you.
• Turion: I got your meaning just now,please forgive my poor Eng... My mother language is Chinese...

Answer 6

You can use 'Indent by fold' plugin. Install it from the plugin manager. It works fine for me.

• Dan Lugg: Indent by fold is great, except that it only indents by fold ;) In situations where you've indented a list initialization, unless the language uses a folding character to delimit the initializer, it'll end up un-indenting. An example is a multi-line array initialization in PHP using array( ... ), where () are non-folding.

Answer 7

For those who using version 7.8.5, the Auto-indent settings is now located at "Settings" -> "Preferences..." -> "Auto-Completion".

enter image description here

Answer 8

In the 6.6.8 version I installed the NppAutoIndent plugin from Plugins> Plugin Manager> Show Plugin Manager. Then I selected the Smart Indent option in Plugin> NppAutoIndent. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

For those who use Notepad++ v6.8.1 and later, the auto-indent setting now is placed in menu Settings → Preferences → MISC. → Auto Indent.

Enter image description here

Answer 10

A little update: You can skip the TextFX Plugin and just use Tidy2. Here you can configure your own formating-rules for different types of codes. Easy to install and remove within

Notepad++> Plugins> Plugin Manager> Show Plugin Manager

and just search for Tidy2 and install it. Done.

• Dieter Meemken: Can you explain a bit more?
• Sven Ya: More information about configuration can be found here: stackoverflow.com/questions/14865770/using-tydy2-for-notepad
• Gaurav Khurana: its quite difficult to use this compare to other plugins

Answer 11

Try the UniversalIndentGUI plugin for Notepad++. It re-indents code based on some parameters. It worked well for me.

• Martin Bonner supports Monica: Note that the link is direct to the download. The website is: universalindent.sourceforge.net. Also, this appears to be a GUI for configuring a reformating tool, rather than automatically formatting the text correctly to start with.

Answer 12

You can add "Text FX Character" plugin. Download it from https://sourceforge.net/projects/npp-plugins/files/TextFX/ and install it via

Plugins → Plugin Manager → Show Plugin Manager.

Then you will find a new "TextFX" menu:

Menu TextFX → TextFX Edit → Reindent C++ code

enter image description here

To add shortcut for Indentation.

Click on Settings → Shortcut Mapper... set the shortcut key you prefer. I prefer Ctrl + =.

Enter image description here

• rollsch: This plugin is no longer available

Answer 13

This may seem silly, but in the original question, Turion was editing a plain text file. Make sure you choose the correct language from the Language menu

Answer 14

Install Tidy2 plugin. I have Notepad++ v6.2.2, and Tidy2 works fine so far.

Answer 15

First download plugin manager this link then unzip the zip folder and copy this inside your program/ notepad++ folder . then restart your notepad++. then you see plugin manager inside plugin menu . then click plugin manager then click show plugin manager . It shows all your plugin list . from the list in bottom find XML tools , checked it and install it. then restart your notepad++. After open a document then plugins/xml tools/pretty plain(indent text) then enjoy.

Answer 16

Tab and Shift+Tab are actually mapped to Edit => Indent => Increase Line Indent / Decrease Line Indent.

Answer 17

Try to save the file before, then it will indent.

• Farbod Ahmadian: It could be comment!
• Toto: Can you elaborate on this a little more?