Notepad++ plugin
File Tools
Tidy YAML, JSON and CSV directly from Notepad++, convert effortlessly between the three, and preview Parquet files without opening anything else.
Goal
Data files are rarely in exactly the shape you need: YAML with tabs where spaces belong, single-line JSON you need to actually read, a CSV export you need in a different shape. The File Tools plugin adds tidying, validation and conversion for YAML, JSON and CSV to Notepad++, plus a read-only Parquet preview via DuckDB.
Every format submenu carries the full conversion set from that format, so YAML, JSON, CSV and Parquet can all reach each other — without you having to figure out which intermediate step is needed. The plugin is written entirely in C++ and runs as a single DLL: no background process, no network traffic, no telemetry.
Particularly handy for Kubernetes manifests, CI/CD configuration, dbt .yml files, Docker Compose and Ansible playbooks — all indentation-sensitive YAML where one wrong tab gets you a cryptic error. Source fully open (MIT license) on GitHub.
What to expect
YAML reindent / tidy
Normalize a block-style YAML document: tabs to spaces, a consistent indent step, no trailing whitespace, at most one blank line. Block scalars, unclosed flow collections and quoted text are left untouched.
Read more →Full conversion matrix
Every format submenu (YAML, JSON, CSV, Parquet) carries conversions to every other format. YAML routes through JSON; to/from Parquet goes via duckdb.exe.
Read more →JSON and CSV tools
JSON: pretty-print, minify, sort keys, escape/unescape. CSV: align columns, compact, convert delimiter, sort by column, transpose, add/remove quotes.
Read more →Format on Save
Have every file tidy up automatically on save — handy for keeping YAML consistent without having to think about it.
Read more →Fully configurable with profiles
Indentation, JSON style and CSV quoting can all be tuned individually, with saved profiles (export/import as JSON) to switch quickly between projects.
Read more →Parquet preview via DuckDB
View a .parquet file directly in a new tab (read-only), or write YAML/JSON/CSV out as .parquet — without installing Python or a separate tool.
Read more →See it in action
Messy YAML with tabs and inconsistent indentation, normalized in one keystroke.
Before
app:
name: orders-service
settings:
retries: 3
timeout: 30
env: productionAfter
app:
name: orders-service
settings:
retries: 3
timeout: 30
env: production
Usage
1. Installation
Not yet in Notepad++'s Plugins Admin — manual install:
Copy the plugin DLL and help.txt to the Notepad++ plugin folder (64-bit Notepad++ required). The two files must be in the same folder:
C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\
FileTools\
FileTools.dll
help.txt2. Activate plugin
Restart Notepad++. The plugin appears automatically under Plugins → Datamodder File Tools.
3. Get started
Open a YAML, JSON or CSV file. Press Ctrl+Alt+Y to reindent, or go to the YAML/JSON/CSV/Parquet submenu via the menu:
Plugins → Datamodder File Tools → YAML / JSON / CSV / Parquet
Every setting, with a before/after example
Five tabs — YAML, JSON, CSV, Parquet and Behavior & profiles — each with a real code example, so you never have to guess what a switch does.
Frequently asked questions
Is this plugin really free?
Yes, completely — MIT license, source open on GitHub, no ads, no 'pro' version behind a paywall.
Does the plugin send data over the internet?
No. Everything runs locally in a single C++ DLL; Parquet conversions go through the locally installed duckdb.exe process, even without an internet connection.
What is this useful for?
Kubernetes manifests, CI/CD configuration, dbt .yml files, Docker Compose and Ansible playbooks — in short, any indentation-sensitive YAML where one wrong tab gets you a cryptic error.
Which Notepad++ version do I need?
64-bit Notepad++ 8.3 or later. 32-bit is not supported.
Can I share settings with colleagues?
Yes — save your configuration as a profile and export it as a JSON file; a colleague imports it with one click.
Is the plugin still actively maintained?
Yes, regular new releases with bug fixes and features — see the commits and releases on GitHub.
Found a bug, or have an idea for an improvement?
Report it directly as an issue on GitHub — it gets read and followed up on. Prefer not to use GitHub? Send us a message through the contact form instead, and we'll pass it along.