Notepad++ Master Thread

[stooges44]

I didn't see one so here's a master thread.

I need to sort text while maintaining the column layout, every white space needs to remain as is which is why i can't use excel because that would kill the layout.

So, does anyone know how to sort by column in notepad++?

Here is sample text:

123702184C01A02  715CP               00018.0000000.00000000000.00
123702184C01A01  715CP               00040.0000000.00000000000.00
123094189C01A02  YM370 Y             00005.2000000.00000000000.00
123094189C01A01  YM370 Y             00040.0000000.00000000000.00
123098610C01A01  W116                00036.4800000.00000000000.00

The 2 spaces between the first 2 columns are critical and so far the only way I see to sort in np++ is on the whole line even with the TextFX plugin but I really need to sort on the 2nd column so I can separate the Y lines.

Any insight is much appreciated. Thanks!

[shwarmabob]

what do you have between the columns? spaces or tabs?

[lubaby]

Start the project in Excel, use this Formula to find which cells have a Y in it and sort it there (using the 1).

Code: [Select]

=COUNTIF(A1:A1,"*Y*")


You can then move it into Notepad++ if you still need..

Hmm.. I see the Y can also be in the second column. Need to eliminate those.

[etech0]

Start the project in Excel, use this Formula to find which cells have a Y in it and sort it there (using the 1).

Code: [Select]

=COUNTIF(A1:A1,"*Y*")


You can then move it into Notepad++ if you still need..

Or copy it into google sheets and use regex to extract column2, then sort by that column in the google sheet, and copy back to notepad++

[stooges44]

How would I maintain the spacing that I need between the columns after taking it out of excel or google sheets?

[stooges44]

Here's my problem after copying it out of excel or saving it as txt from excel, I lose all the spacing that I need:

see attached.

[lubaby]

Or copy it into google sheets and use regex to extract column2, then sort by that column in the google sheet, and copy back to notepad++

Cool, that does seem to work better (never seen this formula before).

Code: [Select]

=regexextract(A1, "(Y )" )

How would I maintain the spacing that I need between the columns after taking it out of excel or google sheets?

Copy from Excel and Paste it Notepad++, then copy from Notepad++ and paste into Google Sheets.
Eta, this actually ruins the REGEX formula.

I'm guessing @etech0 has a better understanding of how it works and can help

[etech0]

Cool, that does seem to work better (never seen this formula before).

I use regexextract all the time, it's the best way I've found to separate things like first/last names, city/state/zip, etc. It's really cool!

[AsherO]

How would I maintain the spacing that I need between the columns after taking it out of excel or google sheets?

If you paste as text you still lose the spaces? Out of curiosity, why do you need the spaces? Are you pasting it back to the source after filtering out non-"Y" records?

[stooges44]

If you paste as text you still lose the spaces? Out of curiosity, why do you need the spaces? Are you pasting it back to the source after filtering out non-"Y" records?

Yes, see my screenshot above, I lose the spacing after I put it back to np++ or even regular np. And yes, I am importing the flat txt file after it's cleaned up and the import is very space sensitive.

[stooges44]

I might have found a way, until now i  was "opening" up the txt file from excel (file, open, etc..). This time I copied the whole txt, pasted it into excel and filtered out the Y and then I copied back again to np++ and the spacing was there! Woohoo.

Thanks guys.