For example:
echo “This is the first line of a string
this is the 2nd line
3rd line
and so on.”;

Multi-line strings are my preferred method of doing things, especially since it is just plain “easier to read and understand.” When you work between multiple programming languages, it is also the most portable.

Given this, and the fact that Notepad++ can’t handle alternation (|) in regex find/replace, and Notepad++ can’t handle large file support or even multi-line regex find/replace, then UltraEdit wins hands down. Those are features I use regularly, and Notepad++, while a fine text editor, just doesn’t do what I need.

To chime in… I have been using EditPad Pro for soem years now, but occasionally (like today) look around for alternatives. I am compelled by your text highlighting / handling comparison. I tried your test in the latest EPP and it succeeded at everything except added collapsing for the nested Foreach statement.

Today I briefly looked into Notepad++ and TextPad. Some quick comments…

1) Language selection in EPP is as easy as selecting from a drop-down menu. Finding other or custom languages (or customizing installed ones) is a snap
– NPP appears to have similar/o-par capability
– TextPad’s handling seems a bit clunky and not well thought out (difficult to use)

2) I rely heavily on the Project Grouping capability of EPP. I can open several projects (‘Workspaces’ in TP, ‘Sessions’ in NPP) each having its own dedicated tab (I set it up so they are along the bottom of the open documents’ window-panes). Select a Project tab and all the document tabs at top shift to the current project.
– TP cannot open multiple workspaces at the same time.
– NPP ‘can’ open another window instance and then you can load a unique session in it, so the ability is there, but it feels a bit clunky,
– you have to have multiple windows open
– there’s no menu or anything at all to help you determine which session you have open, may be working in, or to navigate them… so its not really a supported feature, only this “workaround” kinda gets you there.
Would not be practical if you rely on managing concurrent workspaces/projects/sessions, but then I am a bit spoiled by EPP’s advanced handling of this.

3) In EPP I like being able to write custom command sequences for files, or code within files (like select a line, or group of lines, and run them). EPP supports complex configuration of such, and a handy menu for running them. It also sports a results pane. I do not think you can set break points in EPP, but reporting is excellent (ec: dll call and handle reports are very detailed making troubleshooting a snap).
– TextPad and NPP both have similar features, albeit seemingly not near as diverse or easily manageable -but I didn’t spend time with it [yet], so I could be shortchanging them. I have no feedback on their reporting depth or capabilities. TP has a report pane, I do not readily see it (or find it) in NPP.

4) EPP does not wrap document tabs… I sorely wish it had this.
– TP doesn’t either
– NPP does

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I really want to find a features comparison chart that looks at these great editors being discussed here. If anyone knows of something decent in this regard please do post ;^)

Thanks for this article, Ozh!

What i Love about it is:

1. Very Fast To Load
2. Has Simple To use but Powerful Macro Programming
3. Tabbed Interface
4. Can do Search using text/hex, or regex, and can search through files and folders….Very fast too.
5. You can download any syntax color highlighting for free, from textpad.com
6. Tons of macros and tools there as well all free.
7. You can adjust the colors of each file type to fit your own needs or needs of your graphics/monitor.
8. Can easily change case of code/text in blocks to any case, upper, lower, capitalize, sentences

Just a powerful old-skool text-editor…

VIM 7.2 with the default PHP file type renders your snippet perfectly.

To update the PHP bundle after installing textmate change “Python” to “PHP” in the terminal commands on the following page:
http://blog.macromates.com/2006/updating-a-bundle/