Another application has updated file - Reload it

General questions about using TextPad

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terrypin
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:50 am

Another application has updated file - Reload it

Post by terrypin »

I confess I've never fully understood this message. Is it asking me if I want to reload the file (in TextPad) which that other (unidentified) program has changed (and saved), because the file is not now the one I'm seeing in TextPad?

My confusion arises particularly when I use a macro writing program (Macro Express Pro). For example, I'm just completing what should be a very simple macro to:

1. Open Results.txt
2. Delete its existing contents
3. Write two lines of new text
4. Save the file

During it I get that message. The 'other application' is presumably Macro Express Pro, because it has edited the TextPad file. But it has at that point not yet saved (updated) the new file. Yet if I answer Yes, TextPad displays an incorrect result which includes the previous text that should have been deleted, and that continues to accumulate.

I suspect this might need further clarification, but meanwhile any insights that might help clear this ****** block would be appreciated please.

P.S: Why on earth has 'm e n t a l' been replaced with asterisks?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK
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AmigoJack
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Post by AmigoJack »

TextPad reacts to file modifications, unbound to how much was modified.

If the dialog box with that message is presented, then a modification has manifested already - it neither excludes that the new file content is identical to the one before, nor can it recognize how much "done" the modification is.

The very point is: your program has done something already. Period. Until you react to the TextPad's dialog box with "yes, please reload" far more file modifications might have occurred. Or not. Only you yourself can decide if it makes sense to reload the file or not.

Truncating a file (setting its size to 0) is a modification. Adding one byte is a modification. Replacing one byte is a modification. Removing all but 10 bytes is a modification.
terrypin
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:50 am

Post by terrypin »

Thanks, understood. I'll experiment further with that additional info.
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