How to Run C++ Files on Notepad

Source files contain plain, editable text.

Microsoft opens C++ source files with Microsoft Visual Studio or its freeware variant, Visual Studio Express. These editors offer a number of tools for coders including custom highlighting, a designer for forms, debugging and the ability to compile your code once you've written it. Any text editor can edit C++ code. To open C++ code files using Notepad rather than Visual Studio, change the program that Windows associates with C++ file extensions.

Instructions

1. Right-click a C++ source code file. These files most commonly have the file extension ".CPP," but may also take ".C," ".H" or ".HP."

2. Click "Properties" to open the file's Properties window. The window includes a "Microsoft Visual Studio" icon and lists "Microsoft Visual Studio" in the line marked "Open with:."

3. Click the button labeled "Change...," at the right of the "Open With:" line. A new "Open With" window will open.

4. Click the "Notepad" icon in the window's "Recommended Programs" pane.

5. Click "OK." Your computer will now open C++ files with Notepad.

References

• Windows Support: Change Which Programs Windows Uses by Default
• Salisbury University: Getting Started with Microsoft Visual C+

Resources

• Carnegie Mellon University: C Coding Standard
• University of California, Davis: Introduction to the Text Editing for Programmers