Commenting code in Notepad++

104
votes

I'm using Notepad++ as an editor to write programs in Python. It might sound daft but I looked around in the editor and could not find any means (not the manual way but something like in Emacs) to do a block comment in my code.

Since so many language settings are supported in Notepad++, I'm curious to find a way to block comment code.

10
commentsnotepad++
Both CTRL-K and CTRL-Q can be seen in the Edit menu of Notepad++ – toto
"comment sections of my code"? In Python? The "#" key is missing? Clearly, you're not talking about Python comments using "#" or docstrings. What are you talking about? – S.Lott
Actually, I wanted to block comment my code written in Python or in fact any other language, in Notepad++ editor. May be that was not quite clear from my question. But Niels's and other answers helped. – Arnkrishn
Are you talking about applying comments to all lines of a block of code? Please update the question -- don't comment on your own question when you can fix the question. – S.Lott
Is there a shortcut to comment out the current line of code? Ctrl-K and Ctrl-Q both need selected characters to work. – John Slavick

10 Answers

137
votes

CTRL+Q Block comment/uncomment.

See Keyboard And Mouse Shortcuts - Notepad++ Wiki.

25
votes

Try the following shortcut:

Ctrl+K.

21
votes

This link was exactly what I was searching for .

Let me summarize the answers for others' benefit (for python and notepad++)

1) Ctrl+K on multiple lines (i.e. selected region) allows you to block comment.

Also note that pressing the combination multiple times allows you to add multiple "#"s (sometimes I use that while testing to differentiate from other comments)

2) Ctrl+Shift+K (on the commented region) allows you to perform block uncomment

3) Ctrl+Shift+K on an uncommented selected region does not comment it

4) Ctrl+Q allows you to block comment/uncomment in a toggled mode (meaning, you cannot add multiple '#'s like in 1) )

Hope this helps another wandering soul.

Question - how would you develop a hack of keyboard combinations to comment/uncomment if there were no shortcuts? Just curious. I've no clue hence asking.

12
votes

Yes in Notepad++ you can do that!

Some hotkeys regarding comments:

  • Ctrl+Q Toggle block comment
  • Ctrl+K Block comment
  • Ctrl+Shift+K Block uncomment
  • Ctrl+Shift+Q Stream comment

Source: shortcutworld.com from the Comment / uncomment section.

On the link you will find many other useful shortcuts too.

9
votes

for .sql files Ctrl+K or Ctrl+Q does not work.

to insert comments in .sql files in Notepad++ try Ctrl+Shift+Q

(there is no shortcut to uncomment the code block though. I have tried that on v5.8.2 )

1
votes

In your n++ editor, you can go to Setting > Shortcut mapper and find all shortcut information as well as you can edit them :)

1
votes

Two ways for block commenting:

  1. Ctrl+Shift+Q

or

  1. Select the block
  2. Alt + Right click
  3. Choose block comment.
1
votes

Use shortcut: Ctrl+Q. You can customize in Settings

1
votes

To add a comment under any code on NOTEPAD++ first we have to save and define the programming or scripting file type. Like, save the file as xml, html etc. Once the file is saved in proper format you will be able to add a comment directly using the shortcut ctrl+Q

0
votes

Without having selected a language type for your file there are no styles defined. Comment and block comment are language specific style preferences. If that's a PITA...

To select for multi-line editing you can use

shift + alt + down arrow