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While they may not meet all your requirements like other paid software does, Notepad and WordPad can be useful in certain cases.
Notepad and WordPad, despite their similar names, serve different purposes. Notepad is a text editor, essentially for entering raw text, whereas WordPad is a word processor used for formatting and printing documents - similar to Microsoft Word but less advanced.
However, Notepad and WordPad aren't the sole programs for composing or processing text. The article below will provide you with some insights into the differences between Notepad and WordPad in Windows, as well as distinctions between a text editor and a word processor.
Text Editor: Nothing but Text Editing
Text editors are simply: programs focused primarily on text editing. These applications are designed for users who prefer to save pure content they are writing, offering little or no means to alter the format or visual style of the content.
If this seems unhelpful to you, perhaps you don't need a simple text editor... and it could be for various other reasons.
These programs avoid editing tags and visual formatting. The reason is that these programs need to preserve formatting and content as broadly as possible, a concept known as 'plain text.' Files saved in .txt format can be imported, read, and edited by many tools.
For instance, Windows programs often save internal configuration settings as a simple list in a .txt file. This way, the program can retrieve and modify specific settings as needed. If there's an issue and the program can't start, users can manually edit the file by manipulating the values.
Continuous activity logs about the program's actions and results are often saved in plain text format. This format makes .txt files and similar files smaller compared to the original document: a novel with 100,000 pages can be saved as a .txt file in just half a megabyte.
Programmers appreciate simple text editors. This is because simple text editors lack formatting, which is advantageous for writing in various programming languages. Some authors and typists also prefer simple text editors for the initial stages of a large project, later transitioning to a word processor to complete the project.
While text created by text editors is defined to have no complex formatting, some text editors include basic formatting tools (such as wrap text for easier reading, compatibility with cut, copy, and paste shortcuts, or the 'Find' function) that can be quite handy for users.
Word Processor: All Formats Suitable for Printing
A word processor is used as the primary tool for writing, not just for entering text. This implies that files created from a word processor are regularly read, edited, and completed with complex formatting and structure options.
Most of them are compatible with the proprietary formats of word processors, such as Microsoft Word's .doc extension, as well as other formats like .rtf Real Text Format.
Most of them are compatible with the proprietary formats of word processors, such as Microsoft Word's .doc extension, as well as other formats like .rtf Real Text Format.
A word processor can also read and edit file formats intended for plain text editors, such as .txt. Users can add content they want to plain text, but must be cautious when saving these texts.
Saving in the original format will destroy all the added formatting, making the word processor more complex. However, saving in a stronger file format will result in a larger file size and may not be compatible with the original plain text editor.
In summary, if opening a .txt file or any unformatted document, it's advisable to use Notepad to avoid the possibility of saving that file or document in an incompatible format.
Differences Between Notepad and WordPad in Windows
Microsoft's Notepad made its debut before Windows - initially integrated as a bundled application for Microsoft Mouse in 1983, running in the MS-DOS environment.
The text editor was integrated into the first release of Windows in 1985. Since then, Notepad has been inseparable from the Windows platform. Although Notepad isn't the most sophisticated text editor, its ubiquity has made it the most widely used.
About a decade later, Microsoft developed WordPad as a free program integrated into Windows 95, maintaining its status as a standard component of the evolving operating system.
WordPad replaced the Microsoft Write program, which was similarly integrated into Windows 1.0 and later versions. As a free and basic word processor, WordPad quickly became a heavyweight contender against Notepad and paid programs like Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect.
As a text editor, Notepad excels at small, simple tasks, such as grocery lists or direct annotations. Notepad is also suitable for programming various file types, although there are more advanced text editors available.
Similarly, while WordPad may not be as robust as other complex programs, its basic formatting tools make it a better choice for editing longer texts, such as a letter or tutorial file.
Notably, Microsoft retains many advanced word processing features like spell-check and advanced formatting in WordPad, perhaps to avoid devaluing Microsoft Word and Office. Despite that, some authors, writers, and poets appreciate the simplicity of WordPad's interface and .rtf files.
Alternative Applications for Text Editors and Word Processors
While Notepad and WordPad are free text editors and word processors integrated into the Windows operating system, it doesn't mean you have to stick with these programs. There are plenty of free programs you can choose to replace these two.
Notepad+ and its newer version, Notepad++, still maintain the simple interface of Notepad while adding useful new features like line display, a toolbar sequence, macros, and auto-completion mode (displaying command line keywords to help you quickly code).
Generally, programmers tend to prefer using Notepad++, but this program is also quite useful for writers, poets, and authors.
Pure text editors with advanced features for coding, such as Atom, SublimeText, and Emacs, offer more functionality and are all free.
Users looking for a simple note-taking solution can also utilize cross-platform synchronization tools like Evernote, Google Keep, and Microsoft's OneNote.
As a word processor, WordPad serves as a substitute for Microsoft Word. However, if you don't want to pay for Microsoft Office, there are many free word processors with features similar to Microsoft Word. One notable option is LibreOffice, although OpenOffice (LibreOffice developed from a branch of OpenOffice) is still available.
Online word processors like Google Docs are convenient for those who want to keep their files synchronized. Microsoft even provides a free online version of Word, though it can only be accessed through a browser. Other choices include AbiWord, Jarte, Kingsoft Writer.
Explore these programs and find your favorite among them - with so many choices, you're sure to discover the perfect program that meets your needs.
As mentioned earlier, Wordpad and Notepad only support users in taking notes on a computer. When it comes to text editing, use Word. However, using Word may lead to unforeseen issues, such as underlines in Word. To address this, learn how to remove underlines in Word, especially if you're using Word 2010.
After composing text in Word, users proceed to take the Word file for printing. Nowadays, duplex printing has become widespread everywhere, saving money when your printed document spans hundreds of pages.
It's not just about typing text in Word; you also need to know how to format your Word document to make it look beautiful and impressive. Adjusting spacing in Word is crucial because if words are too close in a line or a paragraph, it's challenging to read. Therefore, we all need to equip ourselves with good knowledge of how to adjust spacing in Word.
