How to remove version number from a list of programs in Notepad++

Question

I want to remove/delete version number from my programs list in notepad++. How can I do it?

Example:

program 1   5.6.3
program 2   3.2.2
program 3   14.2.9

I want it like this:

Program 1
Program 2
Program 3

Answer 1

I want to remove/delete version number from my programs

• Menu "Search" > "Replace" (or Ctrl + H)

• Set "Find what" to (program \d).*

• Set "Replace with" to \1

• Enable "Regular expression"

• Disable ". matches newline"

• Click "Replace All"

Before:

program 1   5.6.3
program 2   3.2.2
program 3   14.2.9

After:

program 1
program 2
program 3

---

Further reading

• FAQ Desk: Where to find REGEX documentation ? | Notepad++ Community
• Notepad++: A guide to using regular expressions and extended search mode
• Regular Expressions Tutorial
• RegExr: Learn, Build, & Test RegEx
• regex101: Online regex tester and debugger

Answer 2

For a small number of versions the fastest way is the column selection mode:

Press and hold the Alt key.

Then select the version block by moving the mouse to the x (see next section), press and hold the left mouse button, move the mouse to the y and release the left mouse button and the Alt key. Now press the Del key and the versions are gone.

           x 
program 1   5.6.3
program 2   3.2.2
program 3   14.2.9
                  y