Xml Tools Plugin For Notepad++ Better File

This transforms: <root><person age="30"><name>John</name></person></root>

Introduction: The Love-Hate Relationship with XML XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is the backbone of enterprise integrations, configuration files (web.config, app.config), UI layouts (WPF/XAML), RSS feeds, and SOAP APIs. It is powerful, self-describing, and—let’s be honest—brutally unforgiving.

XML Tools > Configuration...

Comparing two XML files in Notepad++’s Plugins > Compare plugin – pretty print first, then compare. 3. Minify (Compress XML) Menu Path: XML Tools > Minify

This is the hidden gem. XPath is a query language for XML. With XPath, you can extract specific data without writing a script. xml tools plugin for notepad++

| Setting | Recommendation | Why | |---------|----------------|-----| | | 2 spaces | Standard for XML; avoids horizontal scroll. | | Indent attributes | Off (unless attributes are many) | Keeps vertical density reasonable. | | Attributes indent size | 4 spaces | Visually separates attributes from tag. | | Check XML on file load | On | Catches errors before you edit. | | Automatic tag closing | On | Saves keystrokes. | | Ignore XML declaration for check | Off | Declaration is required for well-formedness. |

| Limitation | Consequence | Workaround / Alternative | |------------|-------------|--------------------------| | XPath 1.0 only | No lower-case() , no matches() regex. | Use a Python script inside Notepad++ (via PythonScript plugin). | | No XSD validation | Checks well-formedness, not schema validity. | Use xmllint (command line) or Oxygen XML. | | No XML diff | Can’t semantically compare two XML files. | Use Compare plugin (line diff) or dedicated XML diff tool. | | Memory limit | Files > 500MB may crash. | Use EmEditor or Large Text File Viewer . | | No built-in XML Schema generation | Can’t infer XSD from XML instance. | Use Trang (Java tool) or online converters. | Comparing two XML files in Notepad++’s Plugins &gt;

The best tool is the one you have and know how to use. XML Tools ensures that Notepad++ is that tool. Article version 1.0 – Tested with Notepad++ v8.5+ and XML Tools v2.4+