JSON and JavaScript

Tools > JSON and JavaScript covers what the JSTool plugin does for Notepad++, built in.

Like every text tool, these work on the selection, or on each selection when there are several, or on the whole document when nothing is selected. Each use is one undo step. When a tool finds a mistake, a notice at the bottom of the window gives the line and column, the caret moves there, and Go to takes you back to it later.

Format and minify

Formatting indents with a tab or with spaces, as set for the editor in Preferences.

Both commands try strict JSON first. If the text isn't JSON (it has comments, single quotes, trailing commas or code), they treat it as JavaScript and say so in the notice. The JavaScript formatter understands modern syntax: template strings, regular expression literals, arrow functions, classes, switch and case, and comments, which it keeps.

Checking and sorting

• Validate JSON checks that the text is valid JSON and points at the first mistake if it isn't.
• Sort JSON Keys puts the keys of every object in alphabetical order, all the way down, and formats the result.

The JSON tree

JSON Tree (Ctrl+Alt+J) opens a panel on the right showing the current document as a tree of objects, arrays and values.

• The tree updates as you type and opens at the caret's position.
• Click a node to jump to it in the text.
• Type in Filter keys and values to show only the nodes whose key or value contains some text, with their parents.
• The ⊞ and ⊟ buttons at the top expand and collapse everything; right-click a node for Expand All Inside.
• Right-click a node to Copy Path (a path such as $.items[2].name), Copy Key or Copy Value.

If the document isn't valid JSON, the panel says where the problem is, with a Go to Error button. Very large documents are too big to show as a tree; the panel says so rather than freezing.