NotePad++, More than just a text editor.

Notepad++ - This is a great, free but under utilized, text editor. But it is more than that. This little gem comes with a host of formatting rules that allow it format and color code many different types of files. Language menu types include PHP, Java, HTML, XML, MS INI, ASP, SQL, Perl, Python, Postscript, Matlab and a host of others. This tidy package is lean on size, speedy in response and as the commercial goes, "priceless". There is just so much you can do with this tool.

Example with PHP

I have actually replaced Notepad with this. Want to know how? Easy enough. Download this NotePad++ Launcher. Copy the notepad.exe from this archive and place it in the following locations overwriting the Windows stock notepad.exe.

C:\Windows\
C:\Windows\LastGood\
C:\Windows\system32\
C:\Windows\LastGood\system32\
C:\Windows\system32\dllcache\

Now if you follow the instructions in the download you will find that on Windows XP SP 2 your new Notepad.exe will keep reverting back to the original 68kb file. That is because the readme.txt appears to be old. Replace notepad.exe in the above five locations and you will be good to go.