Exploring BBEdit's Dock Options on macOS

Deep dive into BBEdit options

BBEdit provides users with a variety of options directly accessible from the macOS Dock. These options enhance productivity by offering quick access to frequently used features. Let's dive into each of these Dock options and explore how they can make your BBEdit experience even better.

Show Notes

The "Show Notes" option opens BBEdit's default Notebook. This is a convenient way to access your notes instantly. If you've created additional notebooks, you'll need to open them manually through the application.

The default notebook is stored at:

/Users/cryan/Library/Mobile Documents/iCloud~com~barebones~bbedit/Documents/Application Support/Notes.bbnotebookd

Pro Tip: Back up your notebook periodically to ensure your important notes are secure and easily retrievable. Regular backups help keep your notebook relevant and organized for daily use.

Show Scratchpad

BBEdit's Scratchpad is a versatile space to store temporary data, such as code snippets or useful information you may need later. Think of it as your personal digital sticky note that's always available when you're working in BBEdit. Whether it's for jotting down ideas or saving small chunks of reusable code, the Scratchpad is an invaluable tool.

Show Unix Worksheet

The Unix Worksheet is another standout feature in BBEdit. It provides a space to write and execute Unix commands, making it perfect for developers and system administrators who frequently work with the command line. Store and access your favorite commands quickly without having to leave BBEdit.

New Text Document

The "New Text Document" option allows you to create a blank text document in an existing BBEdit window. This feature is useful when you want to stay organized and keep your new document within your current workspace.

New Text Window

Need to separate a new document from your current BBEdit workspace? Use the "New Text Window" option to open a blank text document in a brand-new window. This is particularly helpful if you're working on multiple projects and need a clean slate in a separate environment.

New Note

The "New Note" option lets you quickly create a new entry in the default Notebook. Over time, your Notebook may become cluttered, so it's a good idea to clean it up regularly to keep it manageable and ensure it remains an effective tool for note-taking.

Final Thoughts

The BBEdit Dock options on macOS offer a seamless way to interact with the application's powerful features. Whether you're managing notes, experimenting with Unix commands, or creating new text documents, these options save time and streamline your workflow. Take advantage of these features to maximize your productivity and make the most of BBEdit's capabilities.

What are your favorite BBEdit Dock options? Let us know in the comments below!

Mastering BBEdit Search Commands: A Complete Guide for Power Users

Unlock the full potential of BBEdit's Search Menu with detailed explanations of every command, from basic Find to advanced Multi-File Search and Pattern Playground.

BBEdit Search Menu has lots of useful commands. Here's an explanation of each Search Menu command in BBEdit:

Find...

Opens the Find dialog box, allowing you to search for specific text or patterns in the current document. This dialog provides options for case sensitivity, searching with regular expressions, and more.

Shortcut: Command F

Multi-File Search...

Enables searching across multiple files in a directory, project, or even open documents. You can configure the search scope and filters for file types or names.

Shortcut: Shift Command F

Search in Document's Folder

Automatically searches for a term in all files within the same folder as the active document. Ideal for quickly scanning related files.

Search in Project

Performs a search across all files in the current project. Useful for finding references or occurrences of terms in a cohesive codebase or project.

Live Search

Provides instant, interactive search as you type, highlighting matches in the current document. It's lightweight and fast, great for quick searches.

Shortcut: Option Command F

Pattern Playground

A tool for experimenting with regular expressions. You can test patterns and preview how they match text, making it a valuable resource for learning and debugging regex.

Find Next

Finds and selects the next occurrence of the current search term in the document.

Shortcut: Command G

Find First

Finds the first occurrence of the search term from the top of the document.

Shortcut: Control Command G

Find All

Finds all occurrences of the search term and lists them in a results window, allowing quick navigation to matches.

Shortcut: Option Command G

Find & Select All

Finds all occurrences of the search term and selects them in the document.

Shortcut: Control Option Command G

Extract

Extracts all occurrences of the search term into a new document for further analysis or processing.

Find Selected Text

Uses the currently selected text in the document as the search term.

Search for "BBEdit" in Every Open Text Document

Searches for the specified term (e.g., "BBEdit") in all open text documents in BBEdit.

Find References to Selected Symbol

Searches for references to a selected symbol (e.g., a variable, function, or class) in the code.

Use Selection for Find

Takes the selected text in the document and sets it as the current search term.

Shortcut: Command E

Use Selection for Replace

Uses the selected text as the replace term for the next or all replace operations.

Shortcut: Option Command E

Replace

Replaces the current match with the specified replacement term.

Shortcut: Command =

Replace All

Replaces all occurrences of the search term with the replacement term in the current document.

Shortcut: Option Command =

Replace All in Selection

Replaces all occurrences of the search term with the replacement term, limited to the current text selection.

Shortcut: Control Command =

Replace to End

Replaces all matches from the current cursor position to the end of the document.

Shortcut: Shift Command =

Replace & Find Next

Performs a replacement for the current match and automatically searches for the next occurrence.

First Occurrence of Selected Text

Jumps to the first occurrence of the currently selected text in the document.

Shortcut: Control G

Next Occurrence of Selected Text

Moves to the next occurrence of the selected text.

Shortcut: Control Control G

Previous Occurrence of Selected Text

Moves to the previous occurrence of the selected text.

Find Differences...

Opens the Find Differences tool for comparing two files or folders to identify changes or differences between them.

Find Differences

Compares the current document with another file or version to find differences.

Find Definition

Locates the definition of a symbol (e.g., function, variable, or class) in the project or workspace.

Find Symbol in Workspace...

Searches for a symbol across the entire workspace, making it easier to locate definitions or references.

Find in Documentation...

Searches for the selected term in the associated documentation (if configured), useful for looking up references or API details.

These commands provide a powerful and flexible set of tools for navigating and manipulating text efficiently within BBEdit, especially for programming, web development, or other text-heavy workflows.

Master BBEdit’s Unix Worksheet: Advanced Commands for Effortless Productivity

Discover powerful Unix commands to streamline text processing, file management, and data analysis directly within BBEdit's Unix Worksheet.

In BBEdit's Unix Worksheet, you have a powerful terminal-like environment that integrates seamlessly with your text editing workflow. While BBEdit's core functionality is incredible on its own, leveraging Unix commands directly from the Worksheet can significantly enhance productivity.

This post builds upon my earlier introduction to the Unix Worksheet. Below, I'll outline some advanced commands that are worth having at your fingertips for a variety of tasks.

Essential Advanced Commands

1. Search and Replace in Files

Need to perform a global search and replace across multiple files? Here's a Unix command to do it quickly:

find /path/to/directory -type f -name "*.txt" -exec sed -i '' 's/search_term/replace_term/g' {} +

• Usage: Replace search_term and replace_term with your desired text.
  
• Pro Tip: Change *.txt to match specific file extensions or * for all files.

2. Extract Unique Lines from a File

Clean up duplicate lines in your text files with this one-liner:

sort input.txt | uniq > output.txt

• Use Case: Quickly sanitize log files or datasets for unique entries.
  
• Tip: Add -c to uniq to count duplicate occurrences.

3. Count Word Frequency

For quick text analysis, this command counts word occurrences in a file:

tr -c '[:alnum:]' '[n*]' < input.txt | sort | uniq -c | sort -nr

• What It Does: Breaks text into words, sorts them, and outputs a frequency count in descending order.
  
• Advanced Tip: Use grep beforehand to focus on specific patterns before running this analysis.

4. Bulk Rename Files

When working with directories full of misnamed files, use this batch renaming command:

for file in *.txt; do mv "$file" "${file%.txt}_new.txt"; done

• Explanation: This appends _new to the filename while preserving the original extension.

5. Find and Delete Empty Files

If you're cleaning up directories and want to remove useless files:

find /path/to/directory -type f -empty -delete

• Why It's Useful: Keeps your workspace tidy by removing zero-byte files.

6. Check Disk Usage by Directory

Quickly see which directories are taking up the most space:

du -sh /path/to/directory/*

• Output: Displays the disk usage of each subdirectory in a human-readable format.

7. Generate a Word Count Summary

Want a summary of lines, words, and characters in a file? Use:

wc -lwc input.txt

• Details: Outputs the line count, word count, and character count, respectively.

8. Preview File Contents Without Opening

For a quick peek at the beginning or end of a file, these commands are helpful:

head -n 20 input.txt  # Shows the first 20 lines
tail -n 20 input.txt  # Shows the last 20 lines

Pro Tips for Using the Unix Worksheet

1. Create a Command Repository: Save frequently used commands in a text file for easy copy-pasting.
   

2. Test in Small Batches: When working with large datasets, run commands on smaller test files first.
   

3. Explore Aliases: Use shell aliases to simplify complex commands. For example, add this to your .bash_profile:

   alias clean_empty_files="find . -type f -empty -delete"

4. Backup Before Applying: For destructive actions (like delete), create backups of your files. Use cp to duplicate your directories beforehand.

BBEdit's Unix Worksheet isn't just a tool for developers; it's a Swiss Army knife for text processing and data management. These advanced commands can save time, prevent errors, and add a level of sophistication to your workflow.

Do you have a favorite Unix Worksheet command? Share it in the comments below!

Read my earlier post about BBEdit's Unix Worksheet.

Exploring the New Text Factory Layout in BBEdit 15

New UI Shows all the Powerful tools in Text Factory

If you're a BBEdit user, you likely already know about the Text Factory - a powerful tool for streamlining repetitive text editing tasks. Whether you're cleaning up code, reformatting data, or parsing files for specific characters or patterns, Text Factory can handle it all. With the release of BBEdit 15, BareBones Software has made significant enhancements to Text Factory, making it even more useful and user-friendly.

What is Text Factory?

BBEdit's Text Factory allows you to combine multiple text actions into a single workflow, saving time and ensuring consistency. Instead of performing each text transformation manually, you can define a sequence of actions and apply them all at once to one or more files. This feature is invaluable for tasks such as:

• Removing extra spaces or unwanted text.
• Formatting text to meet specific requirements.
• Cleaning up data copied from external sources like websites.

If your work involves running multiple transformations on text files, Text Factory is your best friend.

What's New in BBEdit 15's Text Factory?

In BBEdit 15, BareBones has given the Text Factory a significant facelift, improving usability and adding functionality to make it a more powerful tool.

1. Enhanced Layout and Descriptions
   The new Text Factory interface is more intuitive, with detailed descriptions of each action. This change reduces the learning curve for new users and makes it easier for seasoned users to select the right action quickly.

2. Expanded Action Items
   Text Factory now offers 38 action items to choose from, covering a wide range of text manipulation needs. From search-and-replace to more complex text transformations, the expanded options ensure that you have all the tools you need in one place.

3. New Text Transform: Normalize Spaces
   One of the standout additions in BBEdit 15 is the Normalize Spaces transform. Available in the Text menu, scripting interface, or Text Factory, this action converts printable nonbreaking spaces into standard ASCII space characters.

   Why is this important? When you copy text from web pages, it often contains nonbreaking spaces that can cause issues in formatting or processing. The Normalize Spaces transform cleans up these inconsistencies, ensuring your text behaves as expected in various contexts.

Old Text Factory Look

New Text Factory Look

Why Use Text Factory?

If you regularly work with files that need multiple transformations, Text Factory can save you hours of manual effort. Here's why BBEdit 15's revamped Text Factory stands out:

• Efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks to focus on higher-value work.
  
• Consistency: Apply the same transformations every time, reducing errors.
  
• Powerful Actions: With 38 actions to choose from, you're well-equipped for any text-processing challenge.
  
• User-Friendly Interface: The enhanced layout and descriptions in BBEdit 15 make Text Factory easier to navigate and use.

Conclusion

BBEdit 15's updated Text Factory is a must-try feature for anyone who deals with complex text transformations. With a polished interface, more action items, and the handy Normalize Spaces transform, it's a clear demonstration of how BareBones Software continues to innovate and listen to its user base.

If you haven't explored Text Factory yet, now is the perfect time. Give it a try and see how it can simplify your workflow.

Have you used the new Text Factory in BBEdit 15? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

How to Use the Reflow Document Feature in BBEdit

A Comprehensive Guide

BBEdit is a powerful text editor known for its flexibility and precision, particularly when working with HTML, XML, and other markup-heavy documents. Among its many features, the Reflow Document command stands out as a tool for improving document readability and structure by reformatting tags and content. Whether you're tidying up a single file or processing multiple files programmatically, this feature can save time and reduce errors.

In this blog post, you'll learn what the Reflow Document command is, the options it offers, and how to use it effectively in your workflow.

What Is the Reflow Document Command?

The Reflow Document command in BBEdit allows you to reformat the structure of an active document. It's particularly useful for improving the readability and maintainability of HTML, XML, and similar documents by adjusting indentation, wrapping text, and ensuring consistent formatting.

You can access this command in multiple ways:

• Via the Markup menu. (Markup > Tidy > Reflow Document)
• As part of a Text Factory action (for batch processing).
• Through an AppleScript to process multiple documents programmatically.

When invoked, BBEdit presents a configuration sheet where you can select from various formatting options tailored to your document's needs.

Reflow Document Options: A Breakdown

The configuration sheet includes several options, each designed to handle specific formatting tasks. Let's take a closer look at each:

1. Input is XML

If your document is XML rather than HTML, this option ensures that BBEdit uses the Tidy XML parser. Unlike the error-correcting HTML parser, the XML parser enforces stricter formatting rules, making it ideal for XML-based workflows.

2. Indent Block-Level Tags

This option determines whether block-level tags (such as <div>, <p>, or <section>) should be indented for better readability. Indented block-level tags can make it easier to understand the hierarchy and nesting of elements in your document.

3. Indent Attributes

When enabled, this option places each attribute on a new line. This is particularly useful for documents with complex tag attributes, as it improves clarity and simplifies attribute management during editing.

4. Wrap ASP Elements

This option wraps text contained within ASP pseudo-elements, which are denoted by <% ... %>. This is useful for developers working with ASP-based server-side scripting.

5. Wrap Attributes

With this option, BBEdit wraps long attribute values across multiple lines. This makes attributes easier to edit, especially when they contain lengthy data like URLs, inline styles, or embedded JSON.

6. Wrap JSTE Elements

This controls wrapping for text within JSTE pseudo-elements (<# ... #>), often used in templating systems. Wrapping ensures that the content is neatly formatted and easier to manage.

7. Wrap PHP Elements

If your document includes PHP code (e.g., <?php ... ?>), this option ensures that text within these pseudo-elements is wrapped appropriately, maintaining clarity and structure.

8. Wrap Script Literals

Script attributes containing long string literals (e.g., onclick="...") can be challenging to read. Enabling this option wraps these string literals, inserting a backslash () before line breaks for valid script syntax.

9. Wrap Sections

For documents containing CDATA or similar sections (<![ ... ]>), this option wraps the text inside these tags, making it easier to read and navigate through the content.

How to Use the Reflow Document Command

Here's a simple step-by-step guide to applying the Reflow Document command:

1. Open the Document: Open the file you wish to reformat in BBEdit.
   
2. Access the Command: Navigate to Markup > Tidy > Reflow Document.
   
3. Configure the Options: Select the desired formatting options from the configuration sheet that appears.
   
4. Apply Changes: Click OK to apply the reformatting to your document.

If you're working with multiple documents: - Use Text Factory to automate the process across multiple files.
- Alternatively, integrate the command into an AppleScript for custom workflows.

When to Use Reflow Document

The Reflow Document feature is best suited for scenarios where: - You need to clean up messy or inconsistent HTML or XML files.
- You're preparing code for collaborative development or deployment.
- You want to enforce formatting standards for a project.

For developers, this command ensures that your code is not only functional but also readable and maintainable?a critical aspect of efficient programming.

Wrapping Up

BBEdit's Reflow Document command is a versatile tool for streamlining the formatting of your markup documents. By leveraging its extensive configuration options, you can tailor the reformatting process to suit your needs, whether you're working with HTML, XML, or embedded scripting languages like PHP and ASP.

Start experimenting with the Reflow Document command today and see how it can enhance your coding workflow!

BBEdit is a powerful text editor known for its flexibility and precision, particularly when working with HTML, XML, and other markup-heavy documents. Among its many features, the Reflow Document command stands out as a tool for improving document readability and structure by reformatting tags and content. Whether you're tidying up a single file or processing multiple files programmatically, this feature can save time and reduce errors.

In this blog post, you'll learn what the Reflow Document command is, the options it offers, and how to use it effectively in your workflow.

What Is the Reflow Document Command?

The Reflow Document command in BBEdit allows you to reformat the structure of an active document. It's particularly useful for improving the readability and maintainability of HTML, XML, and similar documents by adjusting indentation, wrapping text, and ensuring consistent formatting.

You can access this command in multiple ways:

• Via the Markup menu. (Markup > Tidy > Reflow Document)
• As part of a Text Factory action (for batch processing).
• Through an AppleScript to process multiple documents programmatically.

When invoked, BBEdit presents a configuration sheet where you can select from various formatting options tailored to your document's needs.

Reflow Document Options: A Breakdown

The configuration sheet includes several options, each designed to handle specific formatting tasks. Let's take a closer look at each:

1. Input is XML

If your document is XML rather than HTML, this option ensures that BBEdit uses the Tidy XML parser. Unlike the error-correcting HTML parser, the XML parser enforces stricter formatting rules, making it ideal for XML-based workflows.

2. Indent Block-Level Tags

This option determines whether block-level tags (such as