One of the oldest Windows programs and also one of the most important and fundamental, the Notepad, has been converted into an application from the Microsoft Store. This step will be completed in the next version of Windows 10, but it is possible, already now, to download the new Notepad from the Microsoft Store and turn the program included in the Microsoft system into an app . Although this step does not cause any immediate effect, it will have several advantages in the future for two reasons: the first is that for Microsoft it will be possible to update the Notepad program (as an app) by adding new functions without having to wait for a Windows 10 update, the second advantage is a greater integration of the Notepad app with all the other applications, thus making the notepad always at hand.
READ ALSO: 10 Tricks with the Windows Notepad (Notepad)
Notepad as a Windows 10 app
To download Notepad as a Windows 10 app, just open this link from the Microsoft Store and proceed with the download and installation.At the moment you will not notice any change in the most basic Windows writing program. The only visible effect is that by looking for the Notepad application on the Start menu of Windows 10 and clicking on it with the right button you can use the uninstallation options (The Notepad will become completely removable from the next version of Windows 10) and the one to leave feedback or evaluation comment.
Windows 10 Notepad, after installing it as an app, behaves exactly as the program did and also the launch file remains the same, notepad.exe which is located in the Windows folder. The difference from before is that this file starts the app version. There are no downsides, but in order to receive updates to the Notepad app, automatic updates are required in the Microsoft Store settings.
Recent Notepad Features in Windows 10
On this occasion, we also see what are the improvements that, after so many years, Microsoft has made to Notepad in the latest versions of Windows 10, especially after 1809 (functions are absent in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1).- Find and replace : On the Notepad you can search for words in a text using the key combination CTRL-F . The CTRL-H key combination remains for the Replace function. You can select a text and then open the search, to start it automatically for that selected text.
- The Zoom : while on the Windows Notepad the font size is always the same, it is now possible to enlarge the text display using the CTRL + (or CTRL - to reduce) keys or by holding down the CTRL key and using the mouse wheel . the default Zoom is set by pressing the CTRL 0 keys. The same option is also available in View> Zoom .
- Row numbers : From the View menu, you can enable a status bar in Notepad to view the row and column numbers. This only works if word wrapping is disabled (in the Format menu). The character encoding used also appears in the status bar.
- As you create or edit a notebook file, its title written at the top shows an * to indicate that the file has not yet been saved.
- The shortcut Ctrl-Backspace (the large key with the arrow to the left on the Italian keyboard) allows you to delete the last word.
- The display of files with Linux / Unix or Mac format is now correct with the carriage returns respected and not with the displayed text all grouped without formatting.
- By right clicking on a word in the text, you can use the option to search the internet with Bing.
Finally, remember that Microsoft plans to move many of its programs to the Store, turning them into apps. After the Notepad, the Microsoft Paint app is in fact expected, which will replace the Paint program (which will no longer be integrated into the installation of Windows 10).
READ ALSO: Programs Notepad alternative to Notepad on Windows
