Unscramble PHP file

When I try to open a php file with NotePad it is mostly "TOTALLY UNREADABLE".
What can I do so that I can read the contents and edit it?
Is NotePad the best to use because I note this often happens?
Thanks

What exactly do you see when you open the file? Could you post a little sample of the file?

My guess is all formatting is removed which can easily be fixed by using an actual editor rather than nodepad. If that doesnt work there are plenty of websites out on the web that will format php code.

Hi Bogey and Spoof
Attached please find a sample of a file that illustrates my point, however, might I suggest you OPEN the file ONLY with NotePad to see the effect I receive.
Then perhaps as Spoof suggests - try an Editor (interested to know if it improves)
If a "whole new world opens" then obviously I need to buy a PHP Editor.

Actually I was waiting to find a good PHP Code Generator (not too expensive) that might also help me connect and select data from a MySql 5.0 DataBase - do you have any suggestions.
Thanks

Unable to attach a php file so tried to copy below

if(!extension_loaded('ionCube Loader')){$__oc=strtolower(substr(php_uname(),0,3));$__ln='ioncube_loader_'.$__oc.'_'.substr(phpversion(),0,3).(($__oc=='win')?'.dll':'.so');@dl($__ln);if(function_exists('_il_exec')){return _il_exec();}$__ln='/ioncube/'.$__ln;$__oid=$__id=realpath(ini_get('extension_dir'));$__here=dirname(__FILE__);if(strlen($__id)>1&&$__id[1]==':'){$__id=str_replace('\\','/',substr($__id,2));$__here=str_replace('\\','/',substr($__here,2));}$__rd=str_repeat('/..',substr_count($__id,'/')).$__here.'/';$__i=strlen($__rd);while($__i--){if($__rd[$__i]=='/'){$__lp=substr($__rd,0,$__i).$__ln;if(file_exists($__oid.$__lp)){$__ln=$__lp;break;}}}@dl($__ln);}else{die('The file '.__FILE__." is corrupted.\n");}if(function_exists('_il_exec')){return _il_exec();}echo('Site error: the file <b>'.__FILE__.'</b> requires the ionCube PHP Loader '.basename($__ln).' to be installed by the site administrator.');exit(199);
?>
4+oV54o4CEirMedCr4YboFoLoZJ7fCh4wDwm1UDfYxH3gvORAgQ9OLY36eM1hmAY6Rzpt8RDvm6l
AKbWqtTFuTcBqLP1N7hkS+3lHG/npI8dH/gCi5QHmWUWXKudYqDWQESBN4fQJtaOB53cLNcs+Xid
CRC5uNdo46OcXtrVDlw0Z51xttF3gqBvxy4WyTsqDUxVUi7KDCgWbNko1uV3Fn0ec+69SlIC1K4m
E8yDGeizGB6XrdqjqiJQbbBtAbWbr74xYwwYYov3nz1/PLSqfSQpriHmZtmVQA3IIGHDWqXmYHnT
86TMg95A8Pfq630hfh82m4Muh6EYrgGU0zLr/TkAMiYwdHWusRkWzTTJu/hmHrFMDw/7YTxiJiwS
ME2D8W33PnWKpO2J9I79e8RN1aoFm6ur/yxJZ5JYpp3uo82GdtUtpa7W0zq18q5pCJbW+EoauHab
vMGDXbSaOWas7XDcp+rbfg7lbccR2yQAnEJInl62TQrE0Pr12FHTvpWSDHCeGcpKROUwyQA8vdK2


The above is an accurate sample (prior to my sending this reply).

You can try Notepad++. It's free, has syntax highlighting and other fun stuff.

The above PHP is encoded with IonCube, take a look at their website: http://www.ioncube.com/

As far as decoding it... well its encoded for a reason. You might want to check the license for the software that the file comes from.

OK I do understand and agree with your comments
(sadly I pick on an ioncube file to attach as a sample - mainly because it showed the style of layout etc).

The same happens whenever I write the source (and I use no compiler).