For aligned text and structured snippets
Column Mode Editor for Mac
Column Mode is useful when text behaves more like a grid than a paragraph. It helps with aligned lists, log snippets, CSV-like rows, configuration blocks, and repeated edits in the same character position.
How to make a column selection on Mac
On a Mac the Alt key is called Option. Hold Option, press the mouse button in the editor, and drag: the selection becomes a rectangle instead of following the lines. This works at any time, even when Column Mode is switched off.
To stay in column selection without holding a key, switch Column Mode on with its toolbar button. The button reads Column Mode: On, the app confirms with a message that says Option + drag, and the setting is remembered the next time you open the app.
The editor engine notePad++++ is built on, Monaco, also defines Cmd + Shift + Option + an arrow key to grow a column selection from the keyboard.
- Hold Option and drag: a one-off column selection with no setup.
- Toolbar Column Mode button: keeps column selection on until you turn it off.
- Type once: the text is inserted on every selected row at the same column.
- Copy a column block, then paste it into a column selection with the same number of rows to put each copied row on its matching row.
What Column Mode is useful for
Many text edits are not line-by-line. Sometimes you need to change a repeated prefix, align values, remove a fixed-width field, or edit several rows at the same horizontal position. Column Mode exists for those cases.
notePad++++ brings this workflow into a native Mac editor and pairs it with Regex Find & Replace, Workspace Search, and batch-safe processing tools.
- Add or remove text across several aligned rows.
- Edit fixed-width logs or configuration snippets.
- Clean CSV-like text before moving it into another tool.
- Make repeated row edits without writing a custom script.
Column Mode plus regex and pipelines
Column Mode is best for visual, position-based edits. Regex Find & Replace is better when the pattern matters more than the position. Script Pipelines help when the same cleanup must be repeated across a document or folder.
Using these together keeps text work flexible: make a quick column edit, run a regex cleanup, preview the diff, then apply or roll back if the result is not right.
Why this matters for Notepad++ users on Mac
Column editing is one of the features many Notepad++ users expect. On macOS, not every lightweight editor treats it as a first-class workflow.
notePad++++ keeps Column Mode close to other practical editing tools instead of hiding it inside a heavy IDE workflow.
Column Mode compared with other editing tools
| Workflow | Best tool inside notePad++++ |
|---|---|
| Repeated edit at the same position | Column Mode |
| Find a structured pattern and replace it | Regex Find & Replace |
| Clean many lines by rule | Script Pipelines |
| Review changes before applying | Diff View |
| Undo a batch mistake | Backup and rollback |
FAQ
What is the Column Mode shortcut on Mac?
Hold Option and drag with the mouse to select a column block. From the keyboard, Cmd + Shift + Option plus an arrow key extends a column selection. The toolbar Column Mode button keeps column selection on without holding a key.
Is Column Mode part of Pro?
No. In the app, column mode editing is part of the free edition. Check the App Store listing for the current split between free and Pro features.
Does notePad++++ support Column Mode?
Yes. Column Mode is one of the core features shown on the product page and is designed for aligned text, lists, logs, and CSV-like data.
Can Column Mode replace regex?
No. They solve different problems. Column Mode is position-based; Regex Find & Replace is pattern-based. notePad++++ supports both workflows.
Can I preview batch changes?
Yes. For batch workflows, notePad++++ emphasizes diff preview, backup, and rollback so you can inspect changes before applying them.