PSPad is a project-based programmer's text editor with special support for Web development.
It features a hex editor, CP conversion, text differences, templates, macros, spellcheck option (additional download), syntax coloring, auto-completion, Code Explorer, tabbed documents, and more.
This superb ASCII text editor is pre-configured for the most popular programming languages (VB, C++, SQL, PHP, ASP, Python, etc) and includes tools like support for file browsing, custom shortcuts, built-in FTP client to edit files on the server, and more.
PSPad does not include dictionaries for the spell checker but these can be downloaded from the author's site (for example, English is a 211kB download). It uses the TSynSpellCheck dictionaries (a total of 13 are currently available) and also integrates with TopStyle Lite (CSS) and TidyHTML.
While designed as a programmer's editor, it is also very suitable as a replacement for the much maligned Notepad text editor supplied with Windows.
We were most impressed with PSPad. It is easy to use yet offers an enormous range of features and tools.
One particular tool we liked was the built-in HTML viewer which shows what your page will look like in 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768 screen resolutions. Too many people design sites which a particular screen resolution and don't appreciate how others, who don't use that resolution, may see their site.
While it does not offer quick tag insertion (as do most dedicated HTML editors), it does offer an FTP capability.
PSPad is a "must have" tool for programmers.
Get it!
Note: this program is not suitable for Windows 95.
PSPad has been updated to version 4.2.9.
The author has not advised the changes in this version.
PSPad has been updated to version 4.3.2.
The author advises that changes in this version include: option to scroll with Ctrl key, it can now be started in TextDiff mode, you can now set line spacing with the ExtraLineSpacing (integer) parameter, added direct template edit, added class support in VBScript Code explorer, can now import from FileZilla (ftp command), added a Confirmation tab in Program settings, plus lots of small bug fixes.
PSPad has been updated to version 4.3.3.
The author has not advised us of the changes made in this version.
PSPad has been updated to version 4.5.0.
The author advises that changes in this version include: Unicode support; ability drag/drop text between editor windows; added Opera8 support; added pasv command to keep FTP online; changed file type plugins; clip files handling was rewritten; Cobol highlighter; code explorer for Fortran; connect to FT button; expanded hash generator (md4, md5, sha1, ripemd160); expanded SQL code explorer; bug fixes, and more.
PSPad has been updated to version 4.5.2.
The author advises that changes in this version include: a new option for C++ highlighter; new Tab Key comments up to end of the line; added new keywords into PL/SQL and MySQL highlighters; new scripting support; new editor functions; FTP connection window is resizable; column block mode sets automatically scroll past EOL; new user highlighter comment for HTML; modified JavaScript preview in the internal HTML browser; added VBScript preview in the internal HTML preview; small changes in docking; modified Mark List; Ctrl+Left mouse in the left gutter creates mark; and some bug fixes and other improvements.
Below: the main window (HTML view)
Below: up close and personal
Below: the Settings dialog box
Below: the built-in HTML viewer (showing 640x480 resolution)
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