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RIP Microsoft WordPad

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Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#21

Post by nntwozz »

lotsofpizza wrote: post #18

This is slightly off topic but might be helpful to some people who use both Notepad on Windows and TextEdit on Mac but are tired of the open document screen that starts by default when opening TextEdit. For example, I take calls while at my Windows based workstation. When I'm starting a phone call, I instinctively open notepad and jot down notes while on the phone. I don't usually save the file but I will complete th…

Nice find, you can also do it like this:

System Preferences > iCloud > iCloud Drive ( Options ) > uncheck TextEdit.

Starting with macOS Ventura, it is System Settings > Internet Accounts > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Options > uncheck TextEdit.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/61406/how-to-make-...

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#22

Post by gabesk »

Someone1234 wrote: post #15
MichaelRo wrote: post #13

Literally never found an use for WordPad. Neither for Notepad, if we're at it. For text files, Notepad is pretty much useless. For short files I'm using Notepad++, I tried using plain Notepad and I can't describe exactly why but it's almost unusable in comparison. And for large files (MBs to GBs) I'm using less. From git bash. And if I need any sort of rich text formatting, there's the free Libre Office which is usua…

I'm indifferent about Wordpad; always surprises me to read people don't regularly use Notepad. I use it as a clipboard scratchpad. It strips RTF when copying between programs since Windows itself has no built-in way of doing so and you can also use it to clean up whatever you're copying. It loads fast and is minimalist. Some programs on Windows vomit all over themselves when receiving RTF information, like Teams for…

For small amounts of text, another simple way is to paste it into the Run dialog (Winkey-R) and then copy it back out again. Works well for turning URLs into plain text and removing the editor formatting from function names before pasting into a bug report, for example.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#23

Post by recursive »

LMMojo wrote: post #10
Delfwood wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only use case I have ever used Wordpad for was to open text files with Linux End-of-Lines on a Windows computer with only Wordpad and Notepad (that do not see LF as proper and of lines and just displays one line of mess).

Same here. Open a text file in Notepad and the contents extend way past the edge of the screen. Open it in WordPad and turn on line wrapping. Oh! Also, needing to open an RTF when Word wasn't installed.

Why not turn on wrapping in notepad?

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#24

Post by mgerdts »

If memory serves, the big advantage of wordpad back in the day was that it had line wrap, which was missing from notepad. But it’s been a while since I used windows 95…

Edit: confirmed notepad behavior. Wordpad crashes in the emulator, then causes windows to lock up.

https://archive.org/details/win95_in_dosbox

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#26

Post by kotaKat »

gabesk wrote: post #22
Someone1234 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm indifferent about Wordpad; always surprises me to read people don't regularly use Notepad. I use it as a clipboard scratchpad. It strips RTF when copying between programs since Windows itself has no built-in way of doing so and you can also use it to clean up whatever you're copying. It loads fast and is minimalist. Some programs on Windows vomit all over themselves when receiving RTF information, like Teams for…

For small amounts of text, another simple way is to paste it into the Run dialog (Winkey-R) and then copy it back out again. Works well for turning URLs into plain text and removing the editor formatting from function names before pasting into a bug report, for example.

That's my go-to for a clipboard clear. Win+R, space, Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C/X (I go for X because closer key), ESC, all on the left hand.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#27

Post by anthk »

kotaKat wrote: post #2

I mentioned this in a prior HN thread on this: Rip C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories and back it up somewhere. WordPad.exe is standalone. If you're running Win7+ you'll need the en-us/muis/etc, if you pull from an XP install wordpad.exe is all you'll ever need to do. Bonus points if you just grab a Windows XP iso and deflate wordpad.exe from the install image - copy WORDPAD.EX_ from the i386 folder and just run…

Or just use the ReactOS' Wordpad.exe:

https://github.com/katahiromz/RWordPad/releases

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#28

Post by jan_k_ »

recursive wrote: post #23
LMMojo wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. Open a text file in Notepad and the contents extend way past the edge of the screen. Open it in WordPad and turn on line wrapping. Oh! Also, needing to open an RTF when Word wasn't installed.

Why not turn on wrapping in notepad?

Notepad wouldn't recognize Unix line endings and would interpret the whole file as one line. Word wrapping doesn't fix that.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#30

Post by recursive »

jan_k_ wrote: post #28
recursive wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not turn on wrapping in notepad?

Notepad wouldn't recognize Unix line endings and would interpret the whole file as one line. Word wrapping doesn't fix that.

Oh I see. Yes, I remember that.

FYI, notepad can cover this use case now, as it can handle more character encodings and line-endings.

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