Notepad isn't much of a text editor. It has no search-and-replace function and can cope only with pathetically small files (around 54KB). Though a number of good shareware replacements are available, you needn't look that far. Just use the MS-DOS Editor (Edit.com), a DOS-based text editor that outshines Notepad and is built into your system.

The 2.x version of Edit.com that comes with Windows 95 lets you open as many as nine files at once, display files in split-screen format, and even see complete long file names in dialogue boxes.

Caption: Edit.com leaves Notepad in the dust with features like search and replace, file size limits and other enhancements

For handy access to the DOS Editor, do this: In the Windows 3.x Program Manager, choose FileûNew, select Program Item, and click OK. Type a Description and, in the Command Line box, type c:\dos\edit.com (your path may differ); you don't need to supply the complete path if Edit.com is in a directory specified in autoexec.bat's Set Path line. For Working Directory, type the path to the directory you want to see when you choose FileûOpen in the Editor.

In Windows 9x and NT 4.0, right-click the Start button and choose Open. Find the folder for the menu in which you want your editor to appear, right-click an empty area, and then choose NewûShortcut. In the Command Line, type edit.com, and click Next. You can change the default name of the icon if you like. When you are done, click Finish.

Edit.com is not perfect. It lacks Notepad's word-wrap feature, and it won't print page numbers. Consequently, I recommend using it only for some system files (such as .ini or .bat files) ù .txt files should remain associated with Notepad or a shareware replacement. To make the association permanent, do the following: In Windows 3.x, start File Manager and select an .ini file. Choose FileûAssociate. In the Associate With box, type c:\dos\edit.com (your path may differ) and click OK. In Windows 9x and NT 4.0, press <Shift> as you right-click the name of an .ini file, and choose Open With. Now click Other, and locate Edit.com (in the Windows\Command folder in Win 9x, or in the System32 folder in NT). Then click Open. Back in the Open With dialogue box, check the Always use this program to open this type of file box and click OK.

Does that procedure seem too cumbersome? If you're using Windows 95, 98, or NT, download the free Notepad+ from our cover CD or from RogSoft (www.xs4all.nl/~theroge).