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NetBeans uses uppercase character when it stores unicode ascii into .properties file. It's defined and hardcoded. properties/src/org/netbeans/modules/properties/PropertiesEncoding.java private static final byte[] hexadecimalChars = {'0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9','A','B','C','D','E','F'}; However, I understand using lowercase characters is common and widely used. JDK's native2ascii is using lowercase characters to represent unicode ascii and some other tool (OmegaT) is using lowercase too. Please use lowercase at generating .properties files. I noticed it's very hard to get actual diffs when I use version control. Actual (native) characters are not updated but I got many differences from entire file due to the lowercase -> uppercase conversion.
This request is in contrast with the request to keep using uppercase letters (issue #117416) I fixed in the October. I do not know what to do with it at the moment. Let me know if you have any idea.
How about adding a configuration option for lowercase/uppercase?
Yes, it is doable. But not for NB 6.1 as it would require a UI change. NB 6.1 is mostly a bugfix release and UI changes are generally accepted unless they are necessary for fixing of serious issues.
In the meantime I created a simple plugin which can at least convert the \uxxXX unicode chars in an existing property file to lower-/upper-case. Not nice but it does its job. http://plugins.netbeans.org/plugin/51298/?show=true