Prevent Notepad++ from auto-populating "Find what"?

Question

How do I prevent Notepad++ "Find what" edit box located in the Search window (Ctrl+F) from populating this field with a context value?

Answer 1

I'd use an AutoHotkey script which sends 2 commands: Ctrl-F then down, so it will show last search string in the edit box. For example using Alt-F as hotkey:

#If winActive("ahk_exe notepad++.exe")
!f::
    send ^{f}
    send {down}
    send {up}   ; avoid going 2 steps back
return

The extra up command here is needed to avoid going 2 steps back in the list if the cursor is on a blank line and does not paste the string. So it will always show the last searched string in the box.

Answer 2

Open the Notepad++ installation folder. Open config.xml file with any other text editor except Notepad++ itself. Backup that file before any type of editing otherwise all settings will be gone. Find this type of section:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252" ?>
<NotepadPlus>
<FindHistory nbMaxFindHistoryPath="10" nbMaxFindHistoryFilter="10" nbMaxFindHistoryFind="10" nbMaxFindHistoryReplace="10" matchWord="no" />
<History nbMaxFile="2" inSubMenu="no" customLength="-1">
</History>

Specifically, here we need to focus on <FindHistory/> tag in that file. According to Notepad++ docs:

• nbMaxFindHistoryPath: Maximal number of search folders being remembered
• nbMaxFindHistoryFilter: Maximum number of filter strings remembered
• nbMaxFindHistoryFind: Maximum number of search patterns being remembered
• nbMaxFindHistoryReplace: Maximum number of replace patterns being remembered

If you do not want to save any search history edit those values to Zero. You can set all four of those to zero or as per your need. Optionally you may remove old/previous find history by deleting <Filter/> and <Replace/> tags. Close any Notepad++ window before modifying those values.

Further Readings

• Configuration Files in Notepad++
• Editing Configuration Files in Notepad++