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How do I soft wrap text documents by default?

user461128
user461128
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I use a lot of plain-text (or markdown-formatted) documents on my computer and on my server for storing basic information. When I open those documents in Firefox, though, the lines aren't soft-wrapped. Is there a way to set Firefox to soft wrap simple text files by default?

Update: To clarify: I can see the text files fine, and don't want to open them in a different program. I keep a lot of book notes on my web domain in plain text files, and I'd like to be able to navigate to those files within my browser and read them within my browser. But when I go to domain.com/whatever.txt, Firefox does not soft wrap the lines, so I get paragraphs sitting entirely on one line. I'd like to know if there's anyway to soft wrap the file within Firefox, preferably by default.

I use a lot of plain-text (or markdown-formatted) documents on my computer and on my server for storing basic information. When I open those documents in Firefox, though, the lines aren't soft-wrapped. Is there a way to set Firefox to soft wrap simple text files by default? '''Update:''' To clarify: I can see the text files fine, and don't want to open them in a different program. I keep a lot of book notes on my web domain in plain text files, and I'd like to be able to navigate to those files ''within my browser'' and read them ''within my browser.'' But when I go to domain.com/whatever.txt, Firefox does not soft wrap the lines, so I get paragraphs sitting entirely on one line. I'd like to know if there's anyway to soft wrap the file within Firefox, preferably by default.

Modified by user461128

All Replies (5)

cor-el
cor-el
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Use View > Page Source to view the file or add the view-source: protocol in front of the link in the location bar.

David McRitchie
David McRitchie
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On documents on my computer I use an external editor, Notepad, so that comes up with View > Page Source and it's keyboard shortcut. While it is wrapped it is not a proportional font. But if I want to see the same list I can use a keyword shortcut. if it's on the web then Ctrl+U works just find with the normal list.

Name: source: View Source for when Notepad Edit is invoked by Ctrl+U for LOCAL files

Location: javascript:location="view-source:"+location
Keyword: source:
Description: view source -- same as in IE (it is a chrome shortcut)
http://www.squarefree.com/2003/08/09/chrome-urls-in-mozilla-and-mozilla-firefox/ (same as viewsource: )
David McRitchie
David McRitchie
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If you want to edit those files you could use notepad++ It's nice but I don't like using it because it is tabbed and I'm afraid I'm going to edit it and then re-edit it with an earlier version later.

Notepad++ | 5.9.2

http://notepad-plus-plus.org/
cor-el
cor-el
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@dmcritchie:
The OP is on a Mac according to the user agent, so programs for Windows are of no use.

David McRitchie
David McRitchie
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This extension will wrap PRE statements and it will wrap .txt files as well.

Can be toggled from the View menu with WORD wrap within PRE ("Ctrl+Shift+M")

So if it is wanted on all the time it can be left on.