FR: Adding Name/Description column and Date-Time of the last change column into history grid

[dsanalytics]

Thanks again for this great plugin! As far as I know, no other Notepad++ S&R has the ability to save history of S&R pairs and even more importantly, execute multiple regexes in sequence!

Two things would make it even better IMHO - adding two columns into the grid as follows:
a) Name/Description (editable) - after check box as the 2nd column
b) Date-Time of the last change - just before last column
Reason: Well, in a long list of past pairs, especially complex ones, it's hard to recall/recognize what they were for, so Name/Description would help not only with describing what they are for and being able to sort it asc/desc. Date-Time of the last change would allow sorting and would provide extra info too.

Screen real estate? See the mock up below how to get some extra space without making the dialog bigger. On the contrary - with just moving some buttons around as the mockup shows, you'd actually make it smaller with no loss of functionality.

[daddel80]

Hi @dsanalytics, thanks for the kind words and especially for the mockup - that kind of concrete feedback from users is really valuable.

Name/Description column

Good news - MultiReplace already has a Comments column that does exactly this. It's hidden by default. To enable it:

1. Right-click on the list header row (where it says Find, Replace, W, C, etc.)
2. Select Show Comments Column
3. Double-click a cell in the Comments column to add your description

You can also resize and reorder it like any other column. Give it a try - I think it'll cover your use case right away.

Date-Time

I see the value here, especially for sorting by last change in longer lists. I'm considering an optional timestamp column that would work similar to the existing Count columns - automatically set when you edit an entry, sortable by clicking the header, and persistently stored so it survives across sessions.

Your suggestion also got me thinking about adding a visual dirty indicator - a subtle background color on rows that have been modified since the last save. That way you'd see at a glance what you've changed in the current session, without needing a column for it.

UI layout

You're right that the button column next to the list takes away space that the list could use for longer patterns and additional columns. I'll be rethinking this area in the next UI iteration.

Also, moving the 2-Buttons-Mode checkbox to the left side next to the action buttons as you showed in your mockup makes perfect sense - it belongs there contextually. That will definitely come in one of the next versions.

Appreciate the input!

[dsanalytics]

Great! Thanks for the tips! Can we rearrange columns? I'd really like Description column to be the 2nd column. Not a huge deal, just a nice-to-have. Sorry if I missed that somewhere.

Q: Is there a way to 'Transfer from Input Fields' to update the row one right-clicks on? - i.e. to update the row other than editing it in the grid directly. Very handy IMO - one picks the regex from the grid, updates it, tests it, and then updates the row in the grid.

Suggestion: If no expression(s) are selected in the grid, button actions (Find Next, Replace All, etc.) would use input fields regex. That way, one would not need to hide and unhide the grid constantly.

[daddel80]

Great suggestions, let me go through them:

Rearranging columns

Noted - I can see this being useful especially with the Comments column. Will consider it for a future version.

Transfer FROM Input Fields (update existing row)

You're describing a natural workflow: pick a row from the list, edit and test it in the input fields, then write it back. Currently the roundtrip is only one-way (list → input fields via right-click or Alt+Up). The return path is indeed missing.

I'm planning to add Alt+Down as the counterpart - it would write the current input fields back into the selected row. Combined with the existing Alt+Up (which has a bug right now that I've identified and will fix), the workflow would be:

1. Select a row → Alt+Up (transfers to input fields)
2. Toggle list closed → edit and test with Find Next
3. Toggle list open → Alt+Down (writes back to the selected row)

Both shortcuts will work regardless of which control has focus.

Use input fields when no rows are enabled

I understand the friction of toggling the list, but silently switching behavior based on what's enabled would break the "what you see is what you get" principle. With the upcoming UI changes the list toggle will be much quicker to reach, and together with Alt+Up/Down the edit-test-update cycle should feel much smoother.

[daddel80]

Hi @dsanalytics,

Here is a first draft with the adjusted buttons. and discussed features. Does this match your idea? I think it’s a big advantage as it provides much more space for the list. What’s your impression?

Key changes in this build:

• Maximized List Width: Rearranged buttons into a compact toolbar above the list.
• Visual "Dirty" Flag: Added a subtle indicator for modified (unsaved) entries.
• Modified Column: A new column that tracks the latest change timestamp.
• Navigation: Added Alt + Down shortcut to change selected list entries quickly.

You can download the test build here: [Link to build]

How to install:

1. Download the ZIP for your platform.
2. Copy the .dll into: C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\MultiReplace (replace the existing one).

[dsanalytics]

Hi Thomas, sorry for not responding sooner.

Below are my comments, but in general, I'd like to say that many people that create software think of buckets of features rather than buckets of workflows, i.e. how people may use the software to accomplish things. If you look at it that way, you see that what I'm suggesting makes much more sense. Like, pick up regex from the grid, change it, test it, update the grid with it and being done. That is not available currently. Also even once you put it in, you'd still force people to hide/unhide the grid as you don't allow them to test input fields unless grid is hidden. That's extra forced actions/work/time-spent not needed and does not add any value. So think of workflows and how to best accommodate them.

Alt+Down ('Transfer from Input Fields')

Could you put that option in the right-click menu too just below 'Transfer to Input Fields'?

Latest build

Unfortunately, I cannot just keep swapping the current plugin as potential bugs may ruin some work I'm doing. So, I cannot check until it's stable and final. Did you move description column to the 2nd spot? I do not know why you insist leaving that collapse/hide button at the bottom? It takes extra space on the screen just for itself.

Also, IMHO the mockup I presented still looks much leaner to me. And it was also far less work for you as it involved just moving existing controls around and resizing the grid horizontally - nothing more. I do not know why you needed to change the controls, etc. Doesn't that also invalidate your help files as well? You created more work for yourself that IMO was not needed. There was nothing wrong with controls the way they are, it was just their locations that were not optimal IMO.

Hiding/Showing the grid

I still think that having to hide the grid in order to use input fields is extra work/annoyance. Perhaps you could
a) Put that option for the behavior I suggested (no regex selected in the grid - use input fields) in Settings and off by default? Tis would accommodate people that do not have/use checkboxes in the grid and prefer leaving them unchecked
b) If user holds down Ctrl key while clicking on Replace All, Find Next, etc. Input Fields regex is used. This option would accommodate people that do not want to clear selection.
c) Both a) & b) as those are not mutually exclusive and do not get in a way if user does not want to use either.

In closing, I'd like to add: You are certainly free to do whatever you like with your project, but perhaps, if you want to discuss things and get peoples' feedback, you should wait for that feedback rather than making the changes the very same day, deploying beta, and then asking people to download, install and provide feedback. That puts people in a bad position, because saying that they do not like is an indirect ask to undo your work. Just as you did with UI changes. So, just slow down please. It's a design discussion followed by implementation, and not constant implementations followed by design discussion, potentially making you go back to undo, and re-implement it.

Just my 2 cents

[daddel80]

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback - fair points, especially about workflows vs. features.

Alt+Down ("Update from Input Fields")
Done - available in the right-click context menu as "Update from Input Fields" right below "Transfer to Input Fields". Also works as Alt+Down shortcut from anywhere in the panel, including the Find/Replace input fields.

Column reorder
You can now drag & drop column headers to rearrange them freely. Right-click the header -> "Reset Column Order" restores the default layout.

Ctrl+Click to use input fields while list is open
I see the workflow appeal. Alt+Down addresses this from the other direction: type your pattern, Alt+Down pushes it into the selected row(s), then Find/Replace runs from the list. Two keystrokes, list stays consistent. I'm still considering your Ctrl+Click idea, but having the same button behave differently with/without Ctrl could cause confusion. Want to get this right.

UI layout
Your mockup was more conservative - fair point. The icon toolbar gives ~168px more list width and scales better across translations (text buttons get wide in some languages), but the trade-off is learning curve. Tooltips on all buttons help. Open to refinement.

Testing safely
Totally understand - you don't want bugs messing up your work. Safe way to test: just back up your MultiReplace.dll and the MultiReplace config folder (next to the DLL) before swapping. If anything goes wrong, swap them back and you're exactly where you were. The plugin doesn't touch any of your documents on its own. Keep a seperate Backup of your replacement list has been changed with the Modified field.

On the pace
Fair point about design-first. The reason I moved quickly was that your input was genuinely valuable and I wanted to get a working draft in your hands rather than just exchange mockups. It's still a draft though - nothing is final. Please give it a try when you have time and let me know what works for you and what feels off. Undoing changes is always an option, so no worries there.

I'm a bit short on time right now, so apologies if I missed any of your points. I'll revisit everything on Saturday and can address anything that's still open then.

This is the latest build.

New in this build:

• Column reorder via header drag & drop + Reset Column Order
• Modified timestamp column (optional, toggle via header right-click)
• Dirty-flag indicator (subtle stripe on modified rows)
• Alt+Down: Update selected rows from input fields

[dsanalytics]

Hi Thomas, thanks for getting back.

No rush to decide or deliver something fast - we are all busy. We'll sort things out over time and make MR even better!

I'll try to check the new MR later this week and get back.

[dsanalytics]

Re keyboard shortcuts to move regex up/down in the list

Forgot to suggest one more very useful feature. There seems to be no way to move regex up/down in the list with a keyboard, but rather only mouse, which is a problem with people that have long lists - like myself. I just had to click like 20 times to move one item close to some related others. With keyboard, one would be able to just press the combination and row will move up automatically due to auto-repeat. Not sure what's the best combination: Ctrl-Up/Down Arrow perhaps?

No rush - just suggesting - let me know your thoughts when you get a chance.

[daddel80]

Hi @andry81 and @PieceMaker085, I'd like to invite you to join this discussion about some new UI and workflow features. There's a prototype build available - would appreciate your pros and cons if you get a chance to try it.

[dsanalytics]

@daddel80

Safe way to test: just back up your MultiReplace.dll and the MultiReplace config folder (next to the DLL) before swapping.

There's no Config folder under MultiReplace folder. There's one under plugins, but only contains a dll. Could you clarify which Config folder you were referring to? No rush - thanks

[daddel80]

Sry, was a bit quick with my description. C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\MultiReplace is the only directory for the plugin. It's enough to back up this folder.

[dsanalytics]

@daddel80

Quick update: I checked the beta - looks like good progress! I still can't move that description column to the second place though - they still seem position-fixed. Great to be able to update rows from the input fields! Modified looks good too but export (save as) skips it, so they are all blanks in the CSV.

Just an FYI - no rush by any means to respond or fix anything.

[daddel80]

Columns should be freely draggable in the latest build - make sure you have the right version. Regarding the empty timestamps: they only get set when you modify an entry. Existing entries from before the update will show blank until you edit them.

Lastest build

[dsanalytics]

@daddel80

re timestamps export

Sorry, my bad - I did not check properly - dates are exported once set. So that's good.

re dragging columns

Here's the version I'm using - latest picked up from GH. I tried draging them with the left mouse button just as one would in Windows Explorer and nothing happens.

[dsanalytics]

@daddel80

Why MR doesn't have . matches new line like regular Notepad++ S&R? I know that one can use (?s), but still. You do have screen real estate available under regex option radio. Think about it.