For the binary (executable program) download, you have 2 choices: zip format and executable installer format. The installer format should suit for everyone since it gives all the possibilities (the choice of language, the options for components to install...). Whereas the zip format contains the minimum files to execute Notepad++.

For the zip format installation, if it's the first time you install Notepad++, just unzip the zip file to desired directory, then execute notepad++.exe. However, if you upgrade Notepad++ from the previous version, you have to follow the instructions:

1. Get Run Dialog by clicking start->run (Notepad++ should be closed).
2. Copy this text %APPDATA%\Notepad++ into the text field of Run Dialog.
3. Click ok. A folder named "Notepad++" will appear.
4. Delete 2 files config.xml and stylers.xml then unzip the zip file and launch Notepad++.

Download Notepad++ executable files

 

To build this package:

• For generating the executable file (notepad++.exe), you can use VC++ 7 or MinGW 3.0 / 2.X . A makefile is available, but not maintained anymore. I suggest you generate makefile via CMakeLists.txt come with this project by using cmake.
• For generating the dll files (SciLexer.dll) , you have to use VC++ 6 or MinGW 3.0 / 2.X

All the binaries will be built in the directory notepad++\PowerEditor\bin

Download Notepad++ source files

 

From the v3.1, Notepad++ has the extension capacity - the plugin system. Please see Plugins HOWTO to learn how to install a plugin or/and how to develop a plugin.

Check here to get the list of all plugins.

Make your first Notepad++ plugin in less 10 minutes, follow 6 steps to make a very simple plugin:

1. Downdload and unzip Notepad++ Plugin Template.
2. Open NppPluginTemplate.vcproj in your Visual Studio.
3. Define your plugin name in PluginDefinition.h
4. Define your plugin commands number in PluginDefinition.h
5. Customize plugin commands names and associated function name (and the other stuff, optional) in PluginDefinition.cpp.
6. Define the associated functions.

You are guided by the following comments in both PluginDefinition.h and PluginDefinition.cpp files:

//-- STEP 1. DEFINE YOUR PLUGIN NAME --// 

//-- STEP 2. DEFINE YOUR PLUGIN COMMAND NUMBER --// 

//-- STEP 3. CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLUGIN COMMANDS --// 

//-- STEP 4. DEFINE YOUR ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS --// 

A good sample illustrates better the whole picture than a detailed documentation. You can check Notepad++ Plugin Demo to learn how to make some commands more complex.

However, the knowledge of Notepad++ plugin system is required, if you want to accomplish some sophisticated plugin commands.

Here's a little Notepad++ launcher which allows you to replace Notepad completely by Notepad++.

Installation Instruction:

• Backup your original Notepad.exe (we never know...).
• Copy notepad.exe which comes with this package into 4 directories (in given order) :
  1. c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386
  2. c:\windows\system32\dllcache
  3. c:\windows\system32
  4. c:\windows
  When you replace notepad.exe in c:\windows\system32 and c:\windows, a "Windows File Protection" message box appears, click Cancel. Then another message box appears, click OK.
• Modify you registry (if you use installer to install your Notepad++, you don't need to do this step): Create key \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Notepad++, then add your Notepad++ full path as the default value of this key. In my case, it's C:\Program Files\Notepad++.

Now Notepad++ is your default Notepad.

I make a point of thanking Stépho for his contribution. The source code is available here.

 

One of the most demanded features is open from Explorer Context Menu Entry (right click). The context menu feature comes with the installer. If you use the zipped package, download Notepad++ Context Menu Component, unzip NppShell.zip and copy NppShell.dll to your notepad++ directory, then run reg.bat. This component is made by Harry B. to meet the need of Notepad++.

For the x64 OS (xp and vista) users, you can use NppShell 64 bits.

Some people asked me for Notepad++ logos to put on there sites. So here they are.

 

Notepad++ (from v2.3) supports the multilanguage functionality by means of a translated xml file (from english.xml). Normally you don't need it if you install Notepad++ by its installer. You may need the language file if you install Notepad++ from zip format binary (or if your language is not supported by NSIS installer).

To make Notepad++ speak another language, you have to :

1. Download the language you need, rename it to nativeLang.xml.
2. Get Run Dialog by clicking start->run then type %APPDATA%\Notepad++ into the text field of Run Dialog.
3. Copy nativeLang.xml into the opened Directory
4. Launch Notepad++

Here are the available languages for Notepad++ for the moment:

Chinese	by Don HO	French	by Don HO
Spanish	by Alberto Martínez & Alzacon & Maira Belmonte & Larvitus	Hungarian	by György Bata
Russian	by Sergey Frolov & Piros aka Wonderer & Stjujsckij Nickolaj	Dutch	by Hans Luijten & Harm Hilvers & Klaas Nekeman
Chinese Simplified	by Li Chen & noword & DING2M & Wang Yong-Xian	Polish	by Marek Robak & Dzajek & Andrzej Michalski
German	by Dominik Geyer & Heinz Hemker & Meinrad Schwamborn & Jan Schreiber	Italian	by Consonni Daniele (bitmap) & Alberto Doria & Luca Tarasi & Luca Leonardi
Danish	by Kenneth Mikkelsen & Holger Terkelsen & Jørgen Rasmussen	Czech	by Ondrej Muller & Tomáš Hrouda
Slovenian	by Jure Zemljic	Slovak	by Juraj Valašik & Vladimír Belička
Ukrainian	by Taras Budurovych	Turkish	by FIRAT KÜÇÜK & Yavuz Tona
Brazilien Portuguese	by Cristiano Ascari & Ricardo Crudo	Norwegian	by Geir Håkon Eikland
Swedish	by Kjell Rask & Timmy Almroth & Johan Fredin	Catalan	by Manel Guerra & el_libre
Arabic	by Motaz Isamil & Abdulelah AlWabel	Lithuanian	by Meskauskas Audrius
Galician	by Emilio Rodríguez & Fabrica	Finnish	by Jaakko Salonen & Lukeboxi
Greek	by Dionysis Zindros & Θόδωρος Στεφανίδης	Romanian	by Viorel RB & Alexandru Bogdan Munteanu
Extremaduran	by Purgossu	Korean	by Kim Taegon & Choi Ji-Hui
Hebrew	by Ran Sasson & Ofir Aviram	Portuguese	by Bruno Antunes & José Caetano Silva
Farsi	by Khosro Afroozeh	Samogitian	by Mindaugas Machernis
Bulgarian	by Milen Metev (Tragedy)	Indonesian	by Dwi Susanto
Albanian	by Fatmir Raka	Japanese	by Chris Campbell & Kentaro Suzuki
Croatian	by Sivi	Georgian	by Daniel
Basque	by Ander Martinez Sanchez	Aranese	by Javier Torres
Spanish (Argentina)	by Eduardo Leon	Belarusian	by Робин Кот
Serbian	by Branislav Lukic	Nynorsk	by Thomas Bernes
Thai	by Wiennat Mongkulmann	Malay	by Andi Rady
Occitan	by Yannig MARCHEGAY	Friulian	by A. Decorte
Luxembourgish	by Gengler Steve	Tagalog	by Percival Raj Ian Spirit Sarmiento
Uzbek	by Orzu Samarqandiy	Kazakh	by PKypchak Kypchak
Afrikaans	by Jean Ruan Roux	Kyrgyz	by Murat Jumashev
Macedonian	by Kiril Sardjoski

There are some language files that you may need. Here're the instructions to install them :

1. Download the user-defined language to your computer
2. Open the file with your favourite text editor (such as notepad++ or notepad)
3. Click start, run, type (or paste in) %APPDATA%\Notepad++ then click ok
4. Open userDefineLang.xml with a text editor
5. If this is the first userdefined language you are adding, copy/paste the entire first file (which you downloaded) into the userDefineLang.xml, replacing all that was there. If this is the second or more language you add, simply copy everything from the first file starting at <UserLang...> to </UserLang> and paste it at the end of the userDefineLang.xml right before </NotepadPlus>
6. Save the newly improved userDefineLang.xml

Please see User Language Define System HOWTO to have further information.

Cue Sheet : by György Bata	Smarty : by Helge de Vries
DCL : by Wolfgang Wahlh�tter	WinBatch : by Nicolas Couthouis
Autohotkey : by Matthias Goodwin	HLSL : by universal
ColdFusion : by Bernhard Steffen	UnrealScript : by DarthDevilous
PowerShell : by Jon Galloway	RenderMan Shading Language & RIB : by Stefan Gustavson
Cobol : by Alain Chappuis	Cobol (v2) : by Alain Chappuis
AWK : by Vitaliy Dovgan	Sap ABAP : by Franco Capetta
SAS : by Joakim	STATA : by Keith Kranker

styles.xml plays a role for the look and feel of your Notepad++. It manages the colours and fonts for each language supported by Notepad++. If you want to share your style file, mail it to me.

Ruby Blue (Screenshot) : by tomsolo
Vibrant Ink (Screenshot) : by Tyler Ritchie

Requirement: v2.4 or upper version

Installation:

1. Unzip all the files into a directory, say C:oo\.
2. Open the toolbarIcon.xml which comes with this package with your favourite editor (Notepad++, of course ;) ). replace E:\Sources otepad++\PowerEditor\bin ewIcons\ by C:oo\ in the tag<Theme name = "Demo" pathPrefix = "E:\Sources otepad++\PowerEditor\bin ewIcons\"> then save it.
3. Get Run Dialog by clicking start->run, type %APPDATA%\Notepad++ into the text field of Run Dialog, and then type ENTER. A folder named Notepad++ will appear. Copy the modified toolbarIcon.xml into opened folder.
4. Now it's the magic moment: Close the Notepad++ then re-launch it. You'll see the Crystal icon set instead of the default icons.

Don't forget to check the menu item 'View->Tool Bar->Enlarge me', otherwise it won't take effect.

 

Notepad++ Theme Demo Package

Note: I didn't find out the icons standing for the items Wrap text, Invisible characters and show/hide indent guideline.
If you have the icons match them, please send them to me.

 

Crystal++ Theme Package

A complete set of high quality icons, made by Alican Toprak.