How to Auto-Complete Code in Notepad++

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Notepad++ is a popular text and code editor that offers lots of features for programming. One of these features is code auto-completion. It is a great tool for both beginners and expert programmers as it speeds up the coding process, reduces errors, and helps remember the syntax of the programming language you are working with. Auto-completion can be fully utilized in Notepad++ to write code more efficiently by following these steps.

Understanding auto-completion in Notepad++

Auto-completion refers to the feature where the editor guesses what you intend to write and gives suggestions that you can choose from to complete your code. This feature is especially useful in programming environments with complex syntax.

There are two types of auto-completion in Notepad++:

• Function Completion: It suggests function names or method names in a known programming language as you type.
• Word Completion: It suggests words you have typed previously or words in the current file so that you can avoid typing the same thing again and again.

Installing Notepad++

Before getting into auto-completion, make sure you have Notepad++ installed on your system. You can download Notepad++ from its official website. Once downloaded, follow the usual procedure to install the application on your operating system.

Enabling autocompletion

Once you have Notepad++ up and running, follow these steps to enable auto-completion:

Step 1: Launch Notepad++

Open it by double-clicking the Notepad++ icon on your desktop or going to the Start menu. It opens with a new blank file ready for editing.

Step 2: Access the Settings

To access the auto-completion settings, click on the Settings option located in the top menu bar. A dropdown menu will appear.

Step 3: Identify priorities

In the dropdown menu, click on Preferences. This will open a new window showing several customization options for Notepad++.

Step 4: Go to Auto-Completion

Inside the Preferences window, look for a section called Auto-completion on the left pane. Click on it to see the options available to improve the auto-completion feature.

Step 5: Configure auto-completion

Here, you'll see different options that you can customize:

• Enable auto-completion on every input: This checkbox activates the auto-completion feature in all open documents, whenever you type.
• Function completion: You can choose to enable only function completion, which is especially useful when working with specific programming languages like C++ or Java.
• Word Completion: This option allows general word auto-completion based on the words in your document.
• Function parameters hint on input: When this is checked, Notepad++ will also suggest function parameters as you type, which is incredibly useful when working with functions that require multiple parameters.

Using auto-completion

Now that you've enabled the auto-completion feature, it's time to use it effectively while coding.

Example 1: Function completion in C++

Let's consider a simple example in C++. You are writing a C++ program and start typing pr. Auto-completion will suggest:

printf private protected
printf private protected

You can choose printf or any other option that matches your writing intent.

Example 2: Word completion

For word completion, if you have already typed a long variable name in some part of your document, when you start typing it again, Notepad++ will make suggestions based on the words you have already typed. If you have previously typed exampleVariableNameA and you start typing exa, the editor will suggest:

exampleVariableNameA
exampleVariableNameA

This saves time and reduces typing mistakes by automatically filling in the rest of the text.

Customizing auto-completion files

Notepad++ allows users to define their own auto-completion files for languages not natively supported by the default installation. This provides extensive opportunities to personalize the auto-complete behavior to your specific needs.

Creating an auto-completion file

Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can create and implement a custom auto-completion file:

1. Go to the Notepad++ installation directory on your computer, usually under C:\Program Files\Notepad++\autoCompletion.
2. Inside the autocompletion directory, you will find various XML files related to different programming languages.
3. Create your own custom auto-completion file using XML syntax. For example, to create an auto-complete file for a fictional language "MyLang," create MyLang.xml file.
4. The contents of the XML file might be something like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <NotepadPlus> <AutoComplete language="MyLang"> <KeyWord name="myFunction" /> <KeyWord name="initialize" /> <KeyWord name="execute" /> </AutoComplete> </NotepadPlus>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <NotepadPlus> <AutoComplete language="MyLang"> <KeyWord name="myFunction" /> <KeyWord name="initialize" /> <KeyWord name="execute" /> </AutoComplete> </NotepadPlus>

With this file, whenever you start typing one of the defined keywords in Notepad++, it will activate the completion suggestion, making it easier to follow the syntax of the new language.

Troubleshooting auto-completion issues

If you run into problems with the auto-completion feature not working properly, here are some solutions:

• Check language settings: Make sure you are coding in a language supported by Notepad++. Auto-completion is more effective with recognized languages.
• Update Notepad++: Make sure you have the latest version of Notepad++ installed. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements for features like auto-completion.
• XML file errors: If you customized XML files for AutoCompletion or added new files, verify that the XML structure is correct, and that there are no syntax errors.
• Preference check: Double-check the preferences to make sure auto-completion is enabled and configured correctly for your needs.

Conclusion

Auto-completion in Notepad++ is a powerful feature that helps improve coding speed and accuracy. By understanding how to enable and configure this feature, you can leverage it for better programming efficiency. Whether it's default language support or custom language extensions through XML files, Notepad++ provides flexible tools to accommodate various programming needs.

By following the simple setup and configuration steps described, the auto-completion feature can significantly enhance your coding experience in Notepad++, making it an invaluable asset for developers of various skill levels and programming languages.

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