# External editors

Configure your preferred external editor by updating the `editor` option
in your [configuration file](./reference-config-file.md#editor)

!!! note
    To save and log any entry edits, save and close the file.

If your editor is not in your operating system's `PATH` environment variable,
then you will have to enter in the full path of your editor.

## Sublime Text

To use [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/), install the command line
tools for Sublime Text and configure your `jrnl.yaml` like this:

```yaml
editor: "subl -w"
```

Note the `-w` flag to make sure `jrnl` waits for Sublime Text to close the
file before writing into the journal.

## Visual Studio Code

[Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com) also requires a flag
that tells the process to wait until the file is closed before exiting:

```yaml
editor: "code --wait"
```

On Windows, `code` is not added to the path by default, so you'll need to
enter the full path to your `code.exe` file, or add it to the `PATH` variable.

## MacVim

Also similar to Sublime Text, MacVim must be started with a flag that tells
the the process to wait until the file is closed before passing control
back to journal. In the case of MacVim, this is `-f`:

```yaml
editor: "mvim -f"
```

## iA Writer

On OS X, you can use the fabulous [iA
Writer](http://www.iawriter.com/mac) to write entries. Configure your
`jrnl.yaml` like this:

```yaml
editor: "open -b pro.writer.mac -Wn"
```

What does this do? `open -b ...` opens a file using the application
identified by the bundle identifier (a unique string for every app out
there). `-Wn` tells the application to wait until it's closed before
passing back control, and to use a new instance of the application.

If the `pro.writer.mac` bundle identifier is not found on your system,
you can find the right string to use by inspecting iA Writer's
`Info.plist` file in your shell:

```sh
grep -A 1 CFBundleIdentifier /Applications/iA\ Writer.app/Contents/Info.plist
```

## Notepad++ on Windows

To set [Notepad++](http://notepad-plus-plus.org/) as your editor, edit
the `jrnl` config file (`jrnl.yaml`) like this:

```yaml
editor: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Notepad++\\notepad++.exe -multiInst -nosession"
```

The double backslashes are needed so `jrnl` can read the file path
correctly. The `-multiInst -nosession` options will cause `jrnl` to open
its own Notepad++ window.


## emacs

To use `emacs` as your editor, edit the `jrnl` config file (`jrnl.yaml`) like this:

```yaml
editor: emacsclient -a "" -c
```

When you're done editing the message, save and `C-x #` to close the buffer and stop the emacsclient process.

## Other editors

If you're using another editor and would like to share, feel free to [contribute documentation](./contributing.md#editing-documentation) on it.