Set up Notepad++ for AutoHotkey

( AHK forum - Tested with Notepad++ v8.4.8 64-bit )

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Syntax Highlighting

• Download userDefineLang_AHK.xml (right-click the download link and choose Save link as)
  • Download | Preview (Default theme)
  • Download | Preview (Lazy theme)
• Open your download folder
• Start Notepad++ and click on menu Language -> User Defined Language -> Open User Defined Language folder...
• Move userDefineLang_AHK.xml from your download folder to this folder
• Restart Notepad++

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Auto-Completion

• Download AutoHotkey.xml (right-click the download link and choose Save link as)
  • Download | Preview
• Save it to the right location:
  • 32-Bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\autoCompletion\
  • 64-Bit: C:\Program Files\Notepad++\autoCompletion\
• Start Notepad++ and click on menu Settings -> Preferences
• Click on Auto-Completion and activate Enable auto-completion on each input
• (Recommendation: From 2th character, Function completion & Function parameters hint on input)

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Useful Notepad++ Plugins

These plugins may be useful when using Notepad++ to edit AutoHotkey scripts:

• AutoSave - automatically save the currently open files based on a timer schedule.
• RunMe - execute the currently open file, based on its shell association.

Install Notepad++ Plugins

You can install Notepad++ plugins by using the Notepad++ plugin manager:

• Start Notepad++ and click on menu Plugins -> Plugins Admin...
• Check the box for the plugins you want to install
• Click Install

Or by using Notepad++ import:

• Download the plugin's dll file
• Start Notepad++ as administrator and click on menu Settings -> Import -> Import plugin(s)...
• Navigate to the downloaded dll file and click the Open button

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Set up AutoHotkey to Use Notepad++

AutoHotkey launches an editor to edit a script when menu option Edit Script or Edit This Script is selected. This menu option is listed in Windows Explorer's right-click menu and in several AutoHotkey menus.

If AutoHotkey v2 is installed

To set up AutoHotkey to use Notepad++ as script editor:

• Run AutoHotkey (which launches AutoHotkey Dash) and click Editor settings
  (Or select Edit Script or Edit This Script in one of the menus if an editor has not been set yet)
• A dialog will appear where you can set the editor of your choice. In the Command line field, enter the following text:

  Notepad++.exe "%L"
  

• Click OK

If AutoHotkey v1 is installed and not also AutoHotkey v2

To set up AutoHotkey to use Notepad++ as script editor, do one of the following:

• Create and run a .ahk file with the following contents (run as administrator):

  RegWrite REG_SZ, HKCR, AutoHotkeyScript\Shell\Edit\Command,, Notepad++.exe "`%L"
  

• Or execute at the Command Prompt (run as administrator):

  REG ADD HKCR\AutoHotkeyScript\Shell\Edit\Command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Notepad++.exe \"%L\"" /f
  

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Others

• Hotstrings - (by Helgef) expand parameters for AHK's functions, commands and directives.
• FunctionList - enable function list in Notepad++ for AHK scripts.
• MsgBox Creator - (by boiler) integrated into the editor like it is in SciTE4AutoHotkey.
• Run - (by boiler) run a script directly from Notepad++ whether or not it has ever been saved to a file.

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Downloads

• Notepad++ (software)
• AutoHotkey (software)
• userDefineLang_AHK.xml (xml file for Syntax Highlighting, Default theme)
• userDefineLang_AHK.xml (xml file for Syntax Highlighting, Lazy theme)
• AutoHotkey.xml (xml file for Auto-Complete function)

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Donations

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