Notepad2 Menu: How to Disable or Tweak It?

Introduction

Notepad++ is a popular, open-source text editor used by developers and writers alike. One of its most notable features is the Tweak menu, which provides access to advanced settings and customizations. However, some users may prefer to disable this menu to simplify the interface or prevent accidental modifications.

Locating the Tweak Menu

By default, the Tweak menu is located at the very end of the Notepad++ menu bar. It can be accessed by clicking on the "?" (Help) menu and then selecting "Tweak" as shown below:

Disabling the Tweak Menu

There are several ways to disable the Tweak menu in Notepad++. In this article, we will cover two methods: using a plugin and editing the configuration file.

Method 1: Using a Plugin

One way to disable the Tweak menu is by using the "Hide Tweak Menu" plugin. This plugin, developed by Don Ho (the creator of Notepad++), removes the Tweak menu from the menu bar entirely. To install the plugin:

1. Download the plugin from this link.
2. Extract the contents of the downloaded file.
3. Place the extracted "HideTweakMenu.dll" file in the "plugins" folder of your Notepad++ installation directory.
4. Restart Notepad++.

Once the plugin is installed, the Tweak menu should no longer be visible.

Method 2: Editing the Configuration File

Another way to disable the Tweak menu is by editing the configuration file directly. This method requires some technical knowledge, as modifying the configuration file can potentially cause issues with Notepad++. To disable the Tweak menu using this method:

1. Close Notepad++.
2. Locate the "notepad++.xml" configuration file in the "config" folder of your Notepad++ installation directory.
3. Open the configuration file in a text editor like Notepad or Sublime Text.
4. Find the following line:
5. Add the following lines after the line found in step 3:
6. Save and close the configuration file.
7. Restart Notepad++.

After following these steps, the Tweak menu should be disabled.

In this article, we covered two methods for disabling the Tweak menu in Notepad++: using a plugin and editing the configuration file. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on your technical expertise and preferences.

References

• Hide Tweak Menu Plugin