How do I format XML in Notepad++?

user_162223 0
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I have Notepad++ and I got some XML code which is very long. When I pasted it in Notepad++ there was a long line of code (difficult to read and work with).

I want to know if there is a simple way to make the text readable (by readable I mean properly tabbed code).

I can do it manually, but I want a permanent solution to this as I have faced this several times. I am sure there is a way to do this as I have done it once before a couple of years back, maybe with Visual Studio or some other editor, I don't remember.

But can Notepad++ do it?

notepad++ code-formatting
21 Answers

Plugins -> XML Tools -> Pretty Print (libXML) or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B

You probably need to install the plugin:

Plugins > Plugins Manager > Show Plugins Manager

If you are behind a proxy, download it from here.

Then copy XMLTools.dll to the plugins directory and external libraries (four dlls) into the root Notepad++ directory.

user_29887880

All the previous answers do not define how to add the plugin manager in your Notepad++ installation.

This is for the folks who do not see the the plugin manager in the plugin tab

Download the plugin manager from this link - this is for the 64-bit plugin manager. Once you download the plugin manager, paste in the plugin folder. This is was my location of plugin folder: C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins

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After pasting the .dll file restart Notepad++. Now you can install any plugin. To install a plugin, click on the plugin tab, then go to plugin manager and select the plugin whatever you want.

user_34542080

Plugins -> Plugins Admin -> search for XML Tools

Once install the XML Tools Plugin

select the entire XML file content and click on pretty print

or

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B

user_52563370

The location of XML tools has changed slightly since this question was first asked.

I am currently using Notepad++ v7.8.6

New location is:

  • Plugins tab
  • Plugins Admin...
  • Plugins Admin dialog appears with Available plugins tab as the default
  • Scroll to the bottom and check the XML Tools checkbox
  • Click Install button in top right of the dialog

This will close Notepad++ while it installs and then restart it automatically.

Then there are a couple keyboard shortcuts to beautify the XML:

  • Pretty Print: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + B
  • Pretty Print (indent attributes): Ctrl + Shift + Alt + A

To see more XML Tools options:

  • Plugins tab
  • XML Tools option
user_103843060

The latest version of Notepad++ x64 v7.6.2 on Windows 10 already moved the plugin manager to 'Plugins Admin'.

Old versions of Notepad++ and plugin manager won't work.

user_16813290

Since I see lots of comments about people having problems with the plugin, I thought I'd mention the work around that I use.

I just use one of the online sites for XML viewing (I use https://codebeautify.org/xmlviewer, but there are plenty out there) as follows:

  1. Paste the XML content in the input window
  2. Click the "Beautify / Format" button
  3. Copy formatted XML output from the result window
  4. Paste in Notepad++

I don't know if it qualifies as answering the OP's question exactly, but it's very simple and easy for anyone who is having problems with the plugin.

user_69339320

You can't, granted you don't have access to install plugins. But you probably have or can get Eclipse (Visual Studio can do this too).

Ctrl + N (new file) → (choose XML file) → (paste your XML content) → Ctrl + Shift + K (format)

If you want to format JSON NotePad++ can do this by default with Ctrl + Alt + m

user_13084530
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