MIME stands for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. This protocol was initially designed to allow the transmission of non-textual data through email. Over the years, its use evolved, allowing more complex applications. A MIME format includes a content type and a subtype, identifying what kind of data is contained in the document.
Notepad++ features an integrated MIME Tools plugin, which many users often overlook. In this blog post, we’ll go in-depth on the concept of MIME and how to maximize the use of MIME tools in Notepad++.
MIME Tools in Notepad++
MIME Tools is an in-built plugin in Notepad++. This powerful feature supports Base64 encoding/decoding, Quoted-Printable encoding/decoding, URL encoding/decoding, and much more. This makes the handling of various data types easier and faster.
Features,
- Base64 Encoding and Decoding
- Quoted-Printable Encoding and Decoding
- URL Encoding and Decoding
- Easy Access and User-friendly Interface
Plugin Source – GitHub
As mentioned above this is an in-built plugin in Notepad++. If it is not there, you can easily add MIME Tools to Notepad++ using plugin admin or Manually.
Install MIME Tools in Notepad++
Open Notepad++. Go to Plugin -> Plugin Admin… Search and select MIME Tools plugin and click the install button.
Plugin admin quickly installs the plugin and it should be available under Plugin Menu.
Manully also you can easily get this plugin. Sometimes it is a better way to get a plugin as you get the latest version.
- Close Notepad++
- Visit the official GitHub page and download the MIME Tools plugin. The plugin is available for 64bit and 32 bit Notepad++.
- Extract the plugin file. The extracted folder contains a mimeTools.dll file along with readme and license file.
- Go to the directory where Notepad++ is installed on your computer. This is usually under C:\Program Files\Notepad++ or C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++ for 64-bit and 32-bit systems, respectively. Inside the Notepad++ directory, you should find a folder named “Plugins”. Create a folder mimeTools.
- Move mimeTools.dll and othe files to this folder.
- Open Notepad++.
The MIME Tools plugin gets nstalled and ready to use. You can confirm the installation by opening Notepad++ and checking the “Plugins” menu. If installed correctly, “MIME Tools” should be listed there.
Use MIME Tools in Notepad++
You can access the MIME Tools plugin by going to Plugins > MIME Tools. You’ll see a list of options like Base64 Encode, Base64 Decode, Quoted-Printable Encode, and so on.
Now, let’s go through some of the most common uses:
Base64 Encoding/Decoding
Base64 encoding converts binary data into ASCII text format while decoding reverses the process. This is especially useful when you need to ensure the safe transmission of data.
To encode in Base64, select the text you wish to encode, then navigate to Plugins > MIME Tools > Base64 Encode.
To decode Base64 text, select the encoded text, then navigate to Plugins > MIME Tools > Base64 Decode.
Quoted-Printable Encoding/Decoding
This type of encoding is beneficial when dealing with data that consists mostly of ASCII text.
To encode in Quoted-Printable, select the text you wish to encode, then go to Plugins > MIME Tools > Quoted-Printable Encode.
To decode, select the encoded text, then navigate to Plugins > MIME Tools > Quoted-Printable Decode.
URL Encoding/Decoding
URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a “%” followed by two hexadecimal digits. and decoding does the reverse.
To encode a URL, select the URL you wish to encode, then go to Plugins > MIME Tools > URL Encode.
To decode, select the encoded URL, then navigate to Plugins > MIME Tools > URL Decode.
Summary
In the vast digital universe, data transmission can be tricky. Different systems interpret data differently. MIME tools in Notepad++ offer a simple solution for transforming data into universally accepted formats. This promotes safer data transmission and ensures that your data is received in the intended format.
Moreover, it’s not just for developers or IT professionals. The simplicity of the Notepad++ MIME Tools makes it accessible even to beginners.
In conclusion, Notepad++ and its MIME Tools are like a Swiss Army knife for anyone who works
