Preview Plugin

Meta Chuh

thank you for your debug information.
unfortunately i have only been able to find Preview HTML for the 32 bit version of notepad++.

if you have found a PreviewHTML.dll that is made for 64 bit (as you said january 2019 version):

open explorer and go to C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins.
create a folder called PreviewHTML.
copy PreviewHTML.dll to that folder.

your PreviewHTML.dll location should now be:
C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\ PreviewHTML\PreviewHTML.dll.

this is all you have to do to get it running.
the config files will be created automatically, if you go to the preview html settings or filter menu, so you don’t have to copy the template ini from the zip.

note: if you have found a 64 bit version of PreviewHTML, please share the link where you have downloaded it, it might be useful for other readers.

if you did not find a 64 bit version of PreviewHTML, and you want to get the 32 bit version up and running because you need it right now:

download the portable notepad++ version 7.6.4. 32 bit from >>> here <<<
extract npp.7.6.4.bin.zip to your desktop.
open up the extracted npp.7.6.4.bin folder.
open the plugins folder inside.
create a folder called PreviewHTML.
copy PreviewHTML.dll to that folder.
your PreviewHTML.dll location should now be:
Desktop\npp.7.6.4.bin\plugins\ PreviewHTML\PreviewHTML.dll
start this notepad++ portable version by double clicking notepad++.exe inside of npp.7.6.4.bin.

note: the portable version can coexist with your installed version.
both notepad++ will be completely isolated and any settings or plugins of the portable version will not change your installed version.

Steve LaLonde

First Meta Chuh, your answer took a lot of time, typing and explanation -THANK YOU!

This works. 64x, 32x did not matter to me. I had gotten installation explanations from two different individuals posting instructions and their instructions made no reason to believe the plug-in was either 64 or 32 or that it would matter. 2+ hours on something that would normally have taken me 4 minutes. :(:(:(

So If I download the 32x version and performed the same instructions creating directory and copy\paste, can I assume the plug-in will work with the 32x program? :)

Thanks
Steve

Steve LaLonde

@Meta-Chuh said:

open the plugins folder inside.
create a folder called PreviewHTML

On third party site page, the above instructions were left out.
Instruction stated just copy to the plugins folder which does not work.

I just went through the normal installation and applied your instruction.
It worked.

Thanks again
Steve

andrecool-68

I tried to compile the plugin for 64 bits, that’s what happened
http://rgho.st/7nfxx68BB
Truth icons in menu there is no.

andrecool-68

It is necessary to contact the author of this plugin, that he himself would correct the project for 64 bit.

Meta Chuh

@andrecool-68

you did not just try to compile PreviewHTML for x64 …
YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPILED PreviewHTML for x64 !!!

i think the missing PreviewHTML toolbar icon on x64 is no big deal, as users can use [ctrl]+[shift]+[h] to switch PreviewHTML on and off.

this is very cool … it’s andrecool-68 ;-)
thanks for sharing.

andrecool-68

@Meta-Chuh
I sometimes compile other people’s plugins for the sake of experiment with Russian localization, but I am very far from this programming)))

PeterJones

@andrecool-68 ,

It is necessary to contact the author of this plugin

You mean like this ticket, which the author has had open since July of 2017?

According to the code history, the author has touched the codebase since the ticket was placed (and since I commented on that ticket), but there has not yet been a 64-bit release.

While waiting for that, I created my pyscfilteredviewer. It’s not quite as integrated as the PreviewHTML plugin, nor quite as automated (it uses your default browser; it cannot update based on the edited-but-not-saved, and it cannot force your browser to refresh), but for me, it’s a viable workaround until such time as PreviewHTML is released 64-bit.

I just pinged that ticket again, since it had been more than a year since my last ping. Maybe if everyone in this thread pinged it, too, it might get done.

PeterJones

Maybe if everyone in this thread pinged it, too, it might get done.

As an addendum: @andrecool-68 : since you were able to compile it 64-bit, your input for the developer would probably go a long way! Please chime in on that ticket! 🙏

andrecool-68

@PeterJones said:

You mean like this ticket, which the author has had open since July of 2017?

Honestly, I have not seen this page)))
I just downloaded the sources and compiled the project by adding the option 64 bits to the properties of the project.

PeterJones

@andrecool-68 said:

I just downloaded the sources and compiled the project by adding the option 64 bits to the properties of the project.

Well then, plesae add a note to the ticket that tells the author how easy it is, in your experience. 🙏

Meta Chuh

@PeterJones

does the x64 version that @andrecool-68 compiled, not suffice the current needs ?
is the missing toolbar button really that important ?
or have i missed something while i was testing ?

PeterJones

Some IT groups block such a URL.

Also, for helping others, I don’t really like saying “go to this official location to download the 32-bit; but to get the 64-bit, you have to go to this other file-hosting URL”

PeterJones

I was able to get a copy. It crashes my Notepad++ when I try to run it.

Notepad++ v7.6.3   (64-bit)
Build time : Jan 27 2019 - 17:16:47
Path : C:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : ON
OS : Windows 10 (64-bit)
Plugins : ComparePlugin.dll DSpellCheck.dll MarkdownViewerPlusPlus.dll mimeTools.dll NppConverter.dll NppExec.dll NppFTP.dll PreviewHTML.dll PythonScript.dll XMLTools.dll

andrecool-68

@PeterJones
It’s better for me to use a browser than with a similar plugin, in the browser it is very convenient to edit styles. And immediately visible results. All of these plugins work as a help file on the core of Internet Explorer)))

Meta Chuh

@PeterJones

Also, for helping others, I don’t really like saying “go to this official location to download the 32-bit; but to get the 64-bit, you have to go to this other file-hosting URL”

correct, i just meant for or our own usage, or if someone wants to experiment on it.
if it will become of larger interest, and the author does not continue his development, someone could host it at github, some day, or fork the entire project.

I was able to get a copy. It crashes my Notepad++ when I try to run it.

i did not experience any crashes yet, and it seems to run fine.
just an access violation alert if i click on the ?or choose about from the plugin’s menu. (see screenshot)
i will test on other machines and windows 10 later if you like.

Imgur

most important, if someone might worry:

here are the virus total results:
(it’s completely clean)

file name: PreviewHTML.dll
scan result: https://www.virustotal.com/#/file/52d281942a5b47b54f62a70c2233da9a564184db25e2a73721b1ba491f9b97cc/detection
detection: 0/67

andrecool-68

Added compression UPX
Preview HTML 64bit http://rgho.st/6YCkZxbL2

Anyway an error pops up in the About Preview HTML window:

Access violation at address 0000000004BB01B0 in module 'PreviewHTML.dll'. Read of address 0000000000000010.

When building 32 bit of this error is not, the icon in the menu is present.

andrecool-68

The author recommends the version of Delphi 10.2 Tokyo
I have installed Delphi 10.1 Berlin …Could this be the cause of this error?

Ekopalypse

I’m not a delphi developer but in general a issue which happens
in a 64bit build but doesn’t occur in a 32bit build might be a integer size problem
especially when something like access violation comes into place.

Might I ask why not using a real browser instead? I mean, a real browser
supports so much more than an ancient html plugin can offer in these days.
I assume it is something obvious which I haven’t understood yet. :-)

Meta Chuh

@Ekopalypse

ahhh, you haven’t followed this.

yes, a browser is better, @andrecool-68 has already said that, but he started to play around with it, compiling it to x64, and then we got to know that @PeterJones is also using this plugin … so here we are. 😉

note: the o.p. is already satisfied as he installed and uses notepad++ 32 bit now.