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Text Editors - Notepad Replacements

Sublime Text with Syntax Highlighting and a Document Minimap

SUMMARY: Sublime Text supports syntax highlighting for a variety of languages, plus a full screen mode where everything can be hidden except the edited text.

Sublime Text is a text editor for Windows with multi-document support and programmer-centric features including syntax highlighting. Languages supported include C#, HTML, Java, and Python. Useful when editing larger documents, the software displays a miniature version (Minimap) next to the edit pane, allowing you to scroll through its sections.

Program features include code autocomplete, indent and unindent text, sorting, comment toggling of a line or section of code, multiple types of selection shortcut keys, bookmarks, a "Distraction Free" full-screen mode that only shows the menu bar with the edited text (even the menu bar can be turned off), and spell checking.

Editing Python code with Sublime Text

Other features include creating and editing projects, switching color schemes, code snippets for a variety of programming languages (save time writing loops and conditionals), macro support, and search and replace with regular expression support.

Preferences including moving the Minimap to the right, disabling auto save, configuring key bindings, and adjusting default or language-specific file preferences.

Sublime Text can be downloaded for evaluation purposes; continued use requires a purchase. The software can be downloaded from the following site:

* Sublime Text

This tip was written regarding Sublime Text v1.2.2 running on a Windows Vista system. Features, information, and screenshots for other versions / operating systems may vary.