[Feature request] Smart Highlighting - Multiline Support:

Is there an existing issue (open or closed) for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Description of the Issue

Smart Highlighting is probably my fave function for how I work as I'm a very newb coder and a lot of my work is working off others', so having side-by-side setup and checking that I actually copied the syntax etc. correctly quickly, means SH has always been invaluable.

But I recently got into new stuff (yay for levelling up your brain) and I've started to require it for multiple lines. I know there are ways to do this but nothing as quick SH it's one of those little things that are just perfect in what they do!

So I'm requesting for it to become multiline if possible.

Also I did some googling to find out about it see if a plugin did it etc. and came across this convo an it made me laugh because the amount of people I've heard complain about wanting a feature or having a good idea etc. etc. and then just..not doing it, so shout out to PeterJones. And I'm as guilty of this more than most! But I recently got my ADHD treated and so now my life is filled with tasks being..actually done. It's very alien. Having your brain become useful at 41 makes it my mid-life crisis and gotta say...pretty good one!

(Sorry for the rambling. They're still figuring out dose)

Convo I Came Across (fun alliteration)

[PeterJones] [Dec 18, 2019, 10:42 PM]

@Joël-Sabourin-Poirier said in Smart Highlighting - Multiline Support:

If you would like to request a feature, see our FAQ about feature requests, and please understand that just requesting a feature, even in the official location, is not a guarantee that it will be implemented.

[PeterJones] [Mar 24, 2026, 2:06 PM]

@Phil-pascal said in Smart Highlighting - Multiline Support:

March 2026, by the fact there is still no smart highlighting over lines, would fully indicate there is no intention to add such a feature.

… or, at the least, that nobody asked for it. I pointed out how to make an official feature request 6 years ago, but if nobody followed those instructions and actually made an official feature request, then the developer never saw that anyone wanted that feature. Making the request doesn’t guarantee that it will be implemented; but if no one makes a request, that effectively guarantees that it won’t be implemented.

Describe the solution you'd like.

For Highlight to work across multiple lines. Also for things like when you select "blocks" of text using alt, all those sorts of things. Anything you highlight in 1 document, it'd be great if it did it on the second.

Maybe some sort of options for "ignoring" certain things that might interfere with it, but I think that just creeps into other compare options already out there

Debug Information

Notepad++ v8.8.1   (32-bit)
Build time : May  3 2025 - 18:37:15
Scintilla/Lexilla included : 5.5.6/5.4.4
Boost Regex included : 1_85
Path : C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line : 
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : OFF
Cloud Config : OFF
Periodic Backup : ON
Placeholders : OFF
Scintilla Rendering Mode : SC_TECHNOLOGY_DEFAULT (0)
Multi-instance Mode : monoInst
File Status Auto-Detection : cdEnabledNew (for current file/tab only) + cdGo2end
Dark Mode : OFF
OS Name : Windows 10 Enterprise (64-bit)
OS Version : 22H2
OS Build : 19045.7663
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins : 
    BetterMultiSelection (1.5)
    BigFiles (0.1.3)
    BracketsCheck (1.2.2)
    CodeAlignmentNpp (14.1.107)
    ComparePlus (1.2)
    Explorer (1.8.2.31)
    LocationNavigate (0.4.8.1)
    LuaScript (0.12)
    Merge files in one (1.2)
    mimeTools (3.1)
    MultiClipboard (2.1)
    NavigateTo (2.6.4)
    NppConverter (4.6)
    NppExport (0.4)
    NppFavorites (1.0.0.1)
    NppTaskList (2.5)
    NppToolBucket (1.10.6622.41336)
    NppXmlTreeviewPlugin (2)
    XMLTools (3.1.1.13)

Anything else?

Unfortunately my coding ability is solely based on looking at other people's works and copying it, then editing it until I get it working like I want i to. My SQL for instance is top notch...as long as the only thing you want is a Civ VI mod! So I'm unable to offer anything in the way of..intelligence I guess lol.