Can I use Word instead of Note Pad?

[thegrindre]

Word has so many more options. I'd much rather use it instead of Note Pad.
Can I get away with it?

Thanks

[THEBERBSTER]

Not sure what you mean?

You always open the files using Notepad.

You can copy and paste the Notepad files in to Word for your own use but not back in to the game files.

Peter

[CapnScurvy]

Originally Posted by thegrindre

Word has so many more options. I'd much rather use it instead of Note Pad.
Can I get away with it?

Thanks

Yes you can.

I'm not an expert on Windows Word, but my wife is. When I've wanted to search/change a certain word or phrase, there is a way to do it within Word which will search the entire document, and change it to whatever you choose. I've asked the "Expert" many a time.

Where I've used this ability is in changing parameters within the "Mission" files. The .mis files within a Campaign or Dynamic Campaign can be quite lengthy, with dozens and dozens of entries. Word makes short work of it.

I'm not entirely sure, but THEBERBSTER may be right about the saving part. It's been over a year since I worked with Word on the .mis files. Although, I don't remember having to do anything special to the changes within the document. I can't find my shoes either!?!

you can also use windows "wordpad" to open it if you want

everyone just uses notepad because its a simple tool everyone already has on there computer and there isn't a full tool bar of stuff that you can get in trouble clicking on lol.

its just the safer option so someone doesn't post "hey, I clicked the wrong thing and half the file is gone, now what do I do?"

[CapnScurvy]

Yesterday I had my "senior moment" regarding what to do with a .txt document like a Mission .mis file and using Windows Word. Today, I remember what to do. Copy/paste the contents of the .mis file directly into a new Word document. Make your search/changes........whatever, within Word. Then simply copy/paste the entire contents back into the .mis file.

It's true, a Word document is not going to be recognized by the game like a .cfg, or a .mis file, but taking the text contents from one, working with it as you like in Word, then replacing it back into its original text format works great.

[thegrindre]

OK, got it. Thanks again.

[Sandman_28054]

One other option.

Any notepad files the game uses, if you right click and click on properties, associate it with "Word" with the exception of some files, "Word" can be used for all.

[Pisces]

You can use Word if you like. But make sure you open the file as a text file (.txt) and also save it like that. Or else it might insert formatting code and treat is as it's native .doc or .docx format. Never do any changes in fonts, color or whatever. It won't save in a .txt file, or the game will consider it corrupt and go critical mass. The various extended options is something you DON'T want if you start editing game files.

Personally, Notepad has everything you need. It's tiny and opens quickly and has a nice and simply user interface. With the modern Windows versions it can even handle really large files.

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by Pisces

You can use Word if you like. But make sure you open the file as a text file (.txt) and also save it like that. Or else it might insert formatting code and treat is as it's native .doc or .docx format. Never do any changes in fonts, color or whatever. It won't save in a .txt file, or the game will consider it corrupt and go critical mass. The various extended options is something you DON'T want if you start editing game files.

Personally, Notepad has everything you need. It's tiny and opens quickly and has a nice and simply user interface. With the modern Windows versions it can even handle really large files.

Actually, there are at least two important capabilities that Word (or any full-function word processor) has that Notepad lacks: Find/Replace within a selection and Change Case within a selection. Notepad will only do a global replace for the entire document, and won't manipulate case at all. Replacing all occurrences of a string within a selection is particularly useful when editing menu_1024_768.ini. Notepad goes off and changes every occurrence of the string in the entire file, which is often not what I want. As long as you use the Save function - NOT Save As - the plain-text formatting remains intact.

[jakjack]

Slightly off-topic, but I expect you'll have the least trouble if you download and use the free Notepad++ program.
All of the functions you need without any of the issues that come with Word, (memory hogging comes to mind), and the ability to edit just about any file containing text.