Set Notepad as Git editor

Duration: 2 minutes
Based on: Commit without editor

1. Set-Up

Open PowerShell window

1.2 Restore state from backup copy

Copy the code, right-click in PowerShell window to paste it and press Enter to execute

cd ~/Documents/git-workouts

Copy-Item bak-1.3 current -Recurse -Force

cd current

2. Set Notepad as Git editor

Type in PowerShell prompt and press Enter to execute

git config core.editor "notepad"

Additional Info

After this configuration change, the Notepad editor will open instead of Vim when running the git commit command without -m parameter.

For instructions on setting other editors as the default in Git, visit the page.

3. Use new configuration

3.1 Create about.md file

Type in PowerShell prompt and press Enter to execute

New-Item about.md

3.2 Stage file

Type in PowerShell prompt and press Enter to execute

git add about.md

3.3 Commit changes

Type in PowerShell prompt and press Enter to execute

git commit

The Notepad editor window is opened to write a message for the commit

Additional Info

Ignore the text automatically added by Git.
Any lines starting with # will not be included in the commit message.

3.4 Edit commit message in Notepad

Type in the Notepad window

Add empty about.md

Press Ctrl+S to save changes
Press Ctrl+W to close the window

3.5 View commit history of the repository

Type in PowerShell prompt and press Enter to execute

git log

5. Wrap-Up

5.1 Make backup copy

Copy the code, right-click in PowerShell window to paste it and press Enter to execute

cd ..

Copy-Item current bak-1.4 -Recurse -Force

Remove-Item current -Recurse -Force

5.2 Close the PowerShell window