Edit vBulletin template with a code editor

[IT_Smart]

Hello guys
A question about edit templates, is there a way to edit vBulletin templates from an external code editor, like NotePad++ or SublimeText?
But I'm not talking about copy and paste all the code of the template and paste it back into the vBulletin editor, but edit directly the code...

Context: We work with a VBulletin 4.2.3 and edit templates is really a PITA, no color coding, no indentation, you have to be, super-ultra careful when editing code.

This question was published in 2009
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=84525
In this post is mentioned other text editor, but my question is, how can you access a template that is _inside the database and is not a simple file like template.php, how could you achieve that?

I did not want to add to the same thread because is very old, and I think, man, in 11 years things must have changed, so maybe there is a way now.

Please guys could you tell me if you guys were able to edit code with another editor?
I know that the vBulletin version we use is old, is 4.2.3 version when the new version in 5... btw, is the code editor improved?
Thank you all

[Dr.CustUmz]

There was a way way back then and there is a way now, I do this when creating templates myself for the same reasons, all my templates are files, and all I have to do is save the file and refresh the page. I do this my own way, and only really work with vB3 I have never released my product for this. But would be willing to give it vB4 compatibility for a fee.

There is also VDE but I haven't been able to get that working 100% myself. The reason I made my own product for this.

[TheLastSuperman]

Perhaps, you can use something like this https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=257072 in a "workaround" manner, edit the templates in the generated file then upload again after modifying in your own text editor.

[Dr.CustUmz]

why do that when you can just dump your files and write a plugin that reads straight from your files (not for use in a live site of coarse) but great for a dev environment.

[x iJailBreak x]

why do that when you can just dump your files and write a plugin that reads straight from your files (not for use in a live site of coarse) but great for a dev environment.

To be fair, I'd argue to an extent that it'd even be worthwhile having this on a live site to minimize hits to the database. With some work, it'd probably end up being much faster.