Using Notepad++ to validate XML against an XSD

📝🔍🔀 Hey tech enthusiasts! 👋 Are you struggling to validate your XML file against an XSD using Notepad++? Don't worry, you're not alone! 😅 Many users face common issues with the "XML Tools" plugin's dropdown menu not providing an option to specify an XSD file. But fear not, as I've got your back! 🙌 In this blog post, I'll guide you through easy solutions to this problem and help you become a pro at validating XML files against XSDs using Notepad++. Let's dive in! 💪

🤔 The Problem: One frustrated user shared their experience, stating that despite having the XML plugin installed properly and the DLLs copied to the Notepad++ EXE subdirectory, they couldn't find any way to validate against an XSD. Sounds like a classic case of missing options, right? 😕

💡 The Solution: To solve this problem, we need to take a different approach since the "XML Tools" plugin doesn't provide an option to directly validate against an XSD. But fret not, for I have the perfect workaround for you! 🎉

1. Install the "XML Tools" Plugin: Make sure you have the "XML Tools" plugin installed properly. You can do this by navigating to the Plugin Manager in the Notepad++ menu and selecting the "XML Tools" plugin from the list. Once installed, you're ready for the next step!

2. Validation via Command Line: Notepad++ comes equipped with a powerful command-line interface (CLI) tool called NPPExec. We will leverage this feature to validate our XML files against XSDs. To begin, open your XML file in Notepad++ and then follow these steps:

   • Go to the Plugins menu, select NPPExec, and click "Execute..."

   • In the "Execute..." dialog, enter the following command:

     xmllint --noout --schema path/to/your/xsd/file.xsd path/to/your/xml/file.xml

   • Replace path/to/your/xsd/file.xsd with the actual path to your XSD file, and path/to/your/xml/file.xml with the path to your XML file.

   • Click "Save..." and give this command a meaningful name like "XML Validation."

3. Validate XML with a Single Click: Now, let's make XML validation a breeze! We'll bind the "XML Validation" command we created in the previous step to a keyboard shortcut or a toolbar button for quick access.

   • Go to the Plugins menu, select NPPExec, and click "Advanced Options..."

   • In the NPPExec Options dialog, switch to the "Menu Items" tab.

   • To create a keyboard shortcut, click "Add" under the "Associated script" section, enter a meaningful name like "XML Validation," and select the command you created earlier.

   • To add a toolbar button, find the desired toolbar icon on the left, enter a meaningful name, select the command, and click "Add" on the right.

   • Once you've created your shortcut or toolbar button, click "OK."

✨ The Call-to-Action: There you have it! 🎉 Now you can easily validate your XML files against XSDs using Notepad++ like a pro! By following this guide, you've learned how to work around the missing option in the "XML Tools" plugin and use the NPPExec CLI tool for efficient XML validation. Share this post with your fellow techies who might find it useful, and don't forget to leave a comment below if you have any questions or additional tips! Happy coding! 💻🌟