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Can someone explain how to use Notepad++ to validate an xml file against an xsd. There are no options in the "XML Tools" plugin dropdown that provides for specifying an XSD file. The XML plugin is installed properly in the plugins subdir and the 3 DLLs are copied to the Notepad++ EXE subdirectory. Other XML "validation" features work but there is no way to validate against an XSD.

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  • i've seen several references (and screenshots) of specifying an XSD to validate an XML file - using Notepad++. for example michigan.gov/documents/cepi/…
    – user2174533
    Commented Mar 15, 2013 at 15:37
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    Have u looked at when-others-then-null.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/… It seems it contains what you need.
    – Shmil The Cat
    Commented Mar 15, 2013 at 15:41
  • Using the exact XML & XSD from this example worked and i realized what i was doing wrong. I didn't realize that the {xsi:schemaLocation="foobar.com/invoice invoice.xsd"} was actually reading the XSD from my hard drive from the same subdir as the XML file and validating. Thanks.....
    – user2174533
    Commented Mar 15, 2013 at 16:34
  • @Shmil The Cat: How to against a dtd.
    – Farhan stands with Palestine
    Commented Mar 18, 2015 at 13:57
  • @ShirgillAnsari - For DTD validation the XML must contain the DOCTYPE specifying the DTD in the same directory as the XML. like: <!DOCTYPE XML_ROOT_NODE SYSTEM "thisXMLusesThis.dtd"> then the tool can figure it out.
    – Jesse Chisholm
    Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 22:16

2 Answers 2

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  1. In Notepad++ go to Plugins > Plugin manager > Show Plugin Manager then find Xml Tools plugin. Tick the box and click Install

    enter image description here

  2. Open XML document you want to validate and click Ctrl+Shift+Alt+M (Or use Menu if this is your preference Plugins > XML Tools > Validate Now).
    Following dialog will open: enter image description here

  3. Click on .... Point to XSD file and I am pretty sure you'll be able to handle things from here.

Hope this saves you some time.

EDIT: Plugin manager was not included in some versions of Notepad++ because many users didn't like commercials that it used to show. If you want to keep an older version, however still want plugin manager, you can get it on github, and install it by extracting the archive and copying contents to plugins and updates folder.
In version 7.7.1 plugin manager is back under a different guise... Plugin Admin so now you can simply update notepad++ and have it back.

enter image description here

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  • 2
    Plugin manager is added back now in the latest releases of Notepad++, it is now called as Plugins Admin...
    – Saikat
    Commented Jul 30, 2019 at 8:18
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    @Šaikat Thanks for update mate, added to the question.
    – Matas Vaitkevicius
    Commented Jul 30, 2019 at 9:20
  • This is magnificent and a decent solution. This should be added as a solution.
    – Alper
    Commented Jan 21, 2021 at 12:01
  • Thank you. Is there a way to check validation errors one by one? Right now I have to fix one, save it and re-run the XSD again :(
    – Ziya
    Commented Apr 29, 2021 at 19:43
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    Notepad++ v8.4.7 (64-bit) here. No plug-in manager, or plug-ins admin. This worked: 1) Download XML tools: github.com/morbac/xmltools/releases 2) Create an "XMLTools" folder (no spaces) in the appropriate 32 or 64 bit program files folder, e.g.: C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\XMLTools (I needed $#%&*@#$ admin permissions to do that.) 3) Place the XMLTools.dll in the XMLTools folder. 4) Import the XMLTools.dll plugin: Settings>Import>Import plugin(s)... 5) Close Notepad++ (if it was running). Re-open Notepad++. 6) Navigate to the XML tools plug-in: Plugins>XML Tools
    – 504more
    Commented Jan 20, 2023 at 21:51
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First, open your notepad++. Go to Plugins -> XML Tools. Uncheck the Enable auto-validation.

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