Extend Notepad++

Question

As I use Notepad++ daily at work, I want to extend it to be more productive.

What i want to do is select multiple lines containing words, right click and click a menu item like "Comma separate" then get all words on a single line comma separated.

I know that Notepad++ has support for macros and plugins. What would be the best way to do this?

I've got limited C++ skills.

Update:

To clarify, it's never more than 5 or 6 lines of words i need to re-format. The problem is that I do this like 50 times a day, so a way to speed up this would be great. Is there any other application that can do this for me?

Update2

Thanks for your answers. I'm going to try creating a Notepad++ plugin.

Update3

Does anyone know of a .NET-wrapper to create a Notepad++ plugin? Maybe this should be a new question.

Answer 1

I often use Notepad++'s macro function for things like this.

Eg. Say you have this:

apple
pear
banana
grape
orange

To comma separate lines, you could go to the first line, press ctrl+r (start recording), then end, delete, comma, then ctrl+r again to stop recording.

Then press control+p (play recording) repeatedly until you have what you want. If I'm processing a large file, I just hold it down, then ctrl+z my way back if I go too far.

You can't save your macro for later, but something that simple is easy to do again.

Edit: Actually, it turns out you can save your macro for later, and even assign a hotkey to it. Just record the macro, then go Macro -> Save current recorded macro.

Answer 2

You can do this easily now with the Python Scripting plugin for Notepad++.

Just add a script with something like

text = editor.getSelText()
text = text.replace(' ', ',')
editor.replaceSel(text)

Assign the script a shortcut or toolbar button and you're away. I'm not totally clear on what you want to replace, but obviously changing the logic of the script should be pretty easy.