notepad-replacer (Windows-Only)

Replaces calls to notepad.exe with calls to your favorite editor.

CLI

Install

npm install --global notepad-replacer

Usage

Note: The replacement operation requires admin rights.

If you want to replace notepad.exe with, for example, Sublime:

notepad-replacer --install "C:\YOUR\PATH\TO\Sublime\sublime_text.exe"

Afterwards you should be able to call:

notepad.exe foo.txt

And Sublime should open with a (new) file foo.txt.

If you'd like to have context menu entries (files and directories):

notepad-replacer --install "C:\YOUR\PATH\TO\Sublime\sublime_text.exe" --contextmenu "Open with Sublime"

If you change your mind later:

notepad-replacer --uninstall

Additional help:

notepad-replacer --help

What was done to make this work?

This tool is using the registry to set the Image File Execution Options for notepad.exe. This is normally used to attach debuggers to EXEs automatically, but instead we use it to call a proxy which invokes the editor of your choice. All parameters are forwarded as well.

License

MIT © Oliver Lohmann