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RIP Microsoft WordPad

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Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#61

Post by g-b-r »

knaik94 wrote: post #41
kyriakos wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use notepad++ on windows and have open all the time. Any more I want to write down I open a new tab. Notepad++ keeps the tabs even if not saved and automatically reopens them next time you start it. Combined with search in open files feature it makes it extremely useful.

I use the autosave and take notes plugin in notepad++ which makes it perfect for this use case. I have it set to autosave when the window loses focus. And the take notes plugin lets me set a default filename with timestamp and save directory, which I set to my dropbox. The plugin also has an option to delete all empty text files when notepad++ is closed. It feels as friction free as writing on a physical notepad with…

Just keep in mind that at least in the old versions it had bugs that lead to occasional loss of all the autosaved files.

I don't know if they fixed them since, I haven't used it in three or four years.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#62

Post by behnamoh »

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…

I always found that weird too! Apple should know better. On the other hand, I like that I can just quit the app and open it (even after restarting) and jump back to my __unsaved__ tabs.

A gripe I have with TextEdit (an app that I love for its simplicity) is that UI elements (like font selection windows) are too small.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#63

Post by derjames »

anthk wrote: post #27
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

Available in wine as well: $ wine wordpad

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#65

Post by teuobk »

FooBarBizBazz wrote: post #11

Yes, Wordpad occupied an awkward middle ground. But it was something you knew Windows users had access to. It was relatively small and lightweight. Grandma could write a letter without having to deal with Word. There was no upsell. It was limited but also generous in a way -- like someone said, "we can't ship Windows without at least a basic word processor built in". To me it's emblematic of a time when software trie…

Exactly this: my 96-year-old grandma still uses Wordpad to write letters that she then prints out and mails to the family -- just like she has been doing for almost 25 years. There's definitely a niche for Wordpad.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#67

Post by imgabe »

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…

Oh my god, thank you! This has been a constant minor annoyance to me since switching to a Mac. I always use Notepad as a kind of extended clipboard on Windows.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#68

Post by tvb12 »

This is such an annoying change. I work in a production facility and I don't get to choose what is installed on the computers. It's either WordPad, notepad, or open a browser for Word. WordPad is obviously a step up over notepad if you need any sort of formatting.

Now imagine a machine is malfunctioning and you need to look up the last known "good" settings to see if anything changed. First open a browser, then go to the office site, then fish out your cell phone because you're going to need the authentication code to log in, then dance around for a bit because you're in a warehouse and the reception is terrible, then open the Word app, then wait ages for it to "work on it".

All I'm trying to do is quickly read some text. I don't see how this is better than clicking a text file icon on the desktop.

Re: RIP Microsoft WordPad

#70

Post by Daneel_ »

g-b-r wrote: post #61
knaik94 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use the autosave and take notes plugin in notepad++ which makes it perfect for this use case. I have it set to autosave when the window loses focus. And the take notes plugin lets me set a default filename with timestamp and save directory, which I set to my dropbox. The plugin also has an option to delete all empty text files when notepad++ is closed. It feels as friction free as writing on a physical notepad with…

Just keep in mind that at least in the old versions it had bugs that lead to occasional loss of all the autosaved files. I don't know if they fixed them since, I haven't used it in three or four years.

This situation happened to me, and just in case it helps someone I thought I’d mention that the files are all saved on the disk - just go into settings and look up the location of the temporary save directory. Open that in explorer and you’ll have all the temporary files available.
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