07-07-2009, 01:08 PM

I'm looking for a text editor that provides great macro support. I often export raw data files from a database that need cleaning up. I used to use an ollllllld Windoesn't program called "Programmer's File Editor" (PFE) as its macro recording and looping ability was second to none. The LOOPING functionality is the single most important feature of my next text editor as the actions I must perform to clean up a file need to occur sometimes thousands of times. PFE could scrub a 100K line file in a couple of minutes with a few short commands such as *Loop, *EndLoop, EditRepeatLastFind, etc. I typically focused in on a consistent item such as a page break, record ID, and the like, and I use the "Find" feature in conjunction with the "EditRepeatLastFind" switch in my macro. This commanded the macro to keep performing the above actions on every one of the "last find" until the end.

So given my above macro requirements, what do you guys recommend? Right now I'm playing with two, EditRocket and TextMate. So far I've not determined how to use either in the above fashion. I also played with BBEdit and Tex Edit Plus. Again, the key is with the macro looping, that's been the failing point of all of these editors so far.

Thanks in advance!!

07-07-2009, 01:23 PM

I can't help you with a text editor because I don't think I've ever used a macro in my life but have you ever considered looking into writing a script to provide this kind of functionality? It seems like you could be well served by a script to do something like this.

Could you provide an example from a document that you need to go through?

07-07-2009, 05:34 PM

BBEdit/Textwrangler have excellent AppleScript support.

Though the programmer in me says that, if you have to loop your Find commands that much, you probably need a better regex.

07-08-2009, 02:16 PM

Take a look at Tex-Edit Plus by Tom Bender. Considerable programming support and responsive developer.