Tuesday, November 15, 2011

How to tail a file in Windows using Notepad++

Q: Notepad++ is great for viewing log files but the prompt that file has been updated gets old.  How can we configure it to automatically reload when the log file has been updated?

UPDATE: They have added this feature to the toolbar in Notepad++ (open the file then click the EYE in the toolbar)
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/notepad-6.9.2-released.html

Or use Baretail - which supports highlighting - https://www.baremetalsoft.com/baretail/

A: Install the Document Monitor Plugin.
  1. Open Notepad++ (Available here)
  2. Click Plugins / Click Plugin Manager / Click Show Plugin Manager
  3. Click the checkbox next to "Document Monitor" (Figure 1) then click Install (let it restart Notepad++ when prompted.
  4. With Notepad++ open, open the log file to be monitored
  5. Click Plugins, click Document Monitor, click "Start to Monitor"
  6. The file will automatically be reloaded when it is updated.
Figure 1: Install Document Monitor plugin

There is also a great application called Baretail for this.
at 4:00 PM

9 comments:

  1. GautamAugust 8, 2012 at 2:26 AM

    I am not sure why you don't even have one comment..This was very helpful for me..I had this plugin in my notepad but never used. Keep up the good work and the efforts. Thanks. Gautam http://www.swaratechsystems.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. PawankumarSeptember 20, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    Hi,

    I totally agree with Gautam, the information is really very helpful. I struggled with reload problems in NPP forever.

    Thanks for sharing Jeff!

    ReplyDelete
  3. BerndJanuary 10, 2013 at 4:42 AM

    Thanxxx much from Germany, Jeff. It is exactly what i am looking for

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lobart78January 25, 2013 at 1:50 AM

    Thanks very helpful & simple. Had it installed in 1 min

    ReplyDelete
  5. meowsqueakFebruary 11, 2013 at 5:38 PM

    Great, works well. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Apurva SinghFebruary 26, 2013 at 11:30 PM

    Thanks. V useful. Wonder why Windows doesn't have it inbuilt.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UndrlineJune 25, 2021 at 11:07 AM

    Document Monitor is only available for the 32 bit version. Any way to do this on the 64 bit version of NPP?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff KykerJune 25, 2021 at 1:06 PM

      I ONLY use BareTail now. With its highlighting feature it meets all my requirements.

      Or use Baretail - which supports highlighting - https://www.baremetalsoft.com/baretail/

      Delete
  8. LukeAugust 10, 2022 at 12:27 PM

    In 2022 you can just hit view and then click Monitoring (tail -f) at the very bottom

    ReplyDelete

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