Solved Notepad - What is the point of it?

wiganken · Jul 11, 2023

I have today been dabbling with Notepad for the first time since I started with computers in 1990. See my thread Are there different versions of Notepad?

I now know that Notepad is a simple text editor that can only save files in txt format and is so simple as to make me wonder why people don't use Wordpad instead. Can anyone tell me of any practical instances/examples where one would use Notepad over Wordpad?

This is not a facetious anti-Notepad question. In fact I have always used word processors (Word or Libreoffice Writer) because they have more capability but, if I did not have Word/Writer then I would use Wordpad. Maybe Notepad has some uses but I can't think what those might be. I can't ever see myself using Notepad hence my query in case I am missing something.

Brink · Jul 11, 2023

It's also useful for editing or creating a quick REG or BAT file that don't need a more feature rich text editor.

Fabler2 · Jul 11, 2023

I also keep quick notes of 'how to's'.

OAT · Jul 11, 2023

If you are using cross-platform configuration files, such as a hosts file ,they have to be strictly in plain text, now that notepad allows the return character to be compatible with Unix/Linux, it is more useful than ever before.
You can't use Wordpad for that as the files contain embedded formatting.

SlicEnDicE · Jul 11, 2023

The main reason why Notepad is important is because in a lot of instances you need to read or write pure text in ASCII format. Any word processor adds a lot of extra garbage which is irrelevant in these scenarios and will also ruin the data so it's unprocessable or at least difficult to process.

All this is ofcourse mostly only relevant for computer admins and software programmers.

It's ok, if you don't need it for anything. For me on the other hand it's important, especially because it's also very light weight.

wiganken · Jul 11, 2023

Thanks for the answers. Very helpful. Shows me that I do not need Notepad for what I do so I will forget it.

Now that I think about it then yes I can remember editing the Autoexec.bat file way back in the DOS days. Around 1993 I think but not used Notepad since then.

pparks1 · Jul 11, 2023

I'm totally the opposite, I use Notepad and Notepad++ for almost everything related to text files, and really don't see the point of Wordpad.

badrobot · Jul 11, 2023

Useful for script editing.
I use it a lot when playing around with Rainmeter app where I change all the configs and settings.

glasskuter · Jul 11, 2023

IMO one uses whichever fits one's needs best for what one is doing at the time. I use both but more with Wordpad than Notepad. I make a lot of notes from things I find here on this forum and around the web, so Wordpad works best for that. It is more readable and easier to edit for me or anyone I send it to. I have Word but others may not. The only time I use notepad is as Brink said, when he or others tell me to make a a reg or bat file.

badrobot · Jul 11, 2023

glasskuter said:
IMO one uses whichever fits one's needs best for what one is doing at the time. I use both but more with Wordpad than Notepad. I make a lot of notes from things I find here on this forum and around the web, so Wordpad works best for that. It is more readable and easier to edit for me or anyone I send it to. I have Word but others may not. The only time I use notepad is as Brink said, when he or others tell me to make a a reg or bat file.

I use OneNote for notes taking so I can synch to my phone.
Same in the office. OneNote is very powerful for note taking purpose. You can add sub-notes, paste screenshots and add links.

glasskuter · Jul 11, 2023

badrobot said:
use OneNote for notes taking

Guess I could too. It's more habit than anything else for me, going all the way back to my first computer with Windows 95 when I didn't have Word.
It's hard for an old dog to perform new tricks. We can learn 'em. We're just too set in our ways to change. :wink:

badrobot · Jul 11, 2023

glasskuter said:
Guess I could too. It's more habit than anything else for me, going all the way back to my first computer with Windows 95 when I didn't have Word.
It's hard for an old dog to perform new tricks. We can learn 'em. We're just too set in our ways to change.

I have a password manager app but I still use OneNote for my passwords as I can open it on any of my PCs or devices. But of course I don't fully write down everything. It is still "encrypted". Haha..

johnlgalt · Jul 11, 2023

wiganken said:
I now know that Notepad is a simple text editor that can only save files in txt format

Technically incorrect.

You can save a file created in Notepad with just about any extension that you want. The data inside the file will be ASCII based, not binary, and will always be editable by any note taking app out there. but, as everyone mentioned, you can write and edit all sorts of ASCII based files:

Scripts (.bat, .cmd, .py, .java, etc.)
Logs (.log, .json, .elf, etc.)
Registry files (.reg)

And a whole lot more.

You can also create files with Notepad (both legacy and the new version) with different extensions. I use it all the time to write scripts for running (.bat and .cmd), as well as exporting and editing .reg files.

To save in a format other than .TXT, at the far right of the save window, change the type from TXT to all types, then you can save it with any extension and it will not append .txt to the end.

glasskuter · Jul 11, 2023

badrobot said:
I have a password manager app

Not to get off topic here but I'm curious. Does your PW manager app not have an app for your phone's OS? Mine does. I can use the stored username and password for any site just with my fingerprint.

badrobot · Jul 11, 2023

glasskuter said:
Just curious. Does your PW manager app not have an app for your phone's OS? Mine does. I can use the stored username and password for any site just with my fingerprint.

It does. But like you said, old habit.
And to be honest, I can't get myself to trust those password apps. At the back of my mind, I know my passwords are saved somewhere where bad people can get into. Maybe just me.

Taoufik · Jul 11, 2023

Brink said:
It's also useful for editing or creating a quick REG or BAT file that don't need a more feature rich text editor.

You think that WordPad is gonna be deprecated some time later as we now have Word being provided by AI?

DigitalGoat · Jul 11, 2023

One important use of Notepad and similar apps is to paste links/ code snippets from websites, maybe from tutorials and the like, where Notepad will reveal/ strip out any 'hidden' characters/ formatting where other editing apps may not. This can save people from entering commands or landing at sites they were unaware of.
Also notepad has great cross platform uses, especially for anyone making use of Windows Linux support features.
The OP could have titled this thread "(enter almost any app here) What is the use of it?" and would have probably received plenty of reasons from people who find a use for whichever app was chosen, and more than a few of those uses would be surprising to a lot of others.

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