Request: Focus file opened from shell, even if already-opened files have changed

igitur

So I have this use-case:

While I’m developing, I typically have many files open in Notepad++. These include log files and other files that might change externally.

I usually open new files by opening them from the shell, usually from Total Commander.

What currently happens when I want to open a new file is this:

I select the file in Total Commander.
I press F3 to active the shell open command.
Notepad++ is activated.
Notepad++ opens the selected file.
For each file that has changed (e.g. many log files!), Notepad+ asks whether I want to reload the file. I select yes or no, depending on my needs. I don’t want to change the Notepad++ behaviour here. But Notepad++ also focuses (selects the tab) of the file that has changed.
After looping through all the changed files, the last file for which Notepad++ asked me to reload is now focused.
The file that I opened from Total Commander is open, but the tab is unfocused and hidden between my 100s of open tabs.

My request is that after looping through all the changed files that Notepad++ it ultimately focuses the shell opened file.

thanks

igitur

Hmmm. So I’m quite new to the Notepad++ forums. What do I do to get my request noticed by the developers? I think I laid out my request quite well and the use case should be widely used enough to be relevant.

Thorsten Koch

I second this strongly!
I have the same use case as you and this behaviour is driving me crazy! (And it would also be fine to have two buttons named “Yes to all” and “No to all” when its asking if it should reload files.)

igitur

@Thorsten-Koch said:

I second this strongly!
I have the same use case as you and this behaviour is driving me crazy! (And it would also be fine to have two buttons named “Yes to all” and “No to all” when its asking if it should reload files.)

Ok, so how do we get this request noticed? Can’t we tag the developer?

chcg

Check if a similar issue exists at:
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues

For the reloading question on each file there exists e.g.:
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/2867

igitur

It’s somewhat related. My original post is not about the many ‘questions’, although I agree with that. My suggestion is that after all the ‘questions’ are completed, that Notepad++ focuses to the file that was opened from the shell. That is, after all, the intended action of opening a file from the shell.

Thorsten Koch

@igitur said:

Ok, so how do we get this request noticed? Can’t we tag the developer?

Thats a good question. Actually, I am also new here and came here just to report this behaviour…

glennfromiowa

So, I read the issue pointed out by @chcg, and added a comment focusing on this alternate, but related scenario.

@igitur said:

Ok, so how do we get this request noticed? Can’t we tag the developer?

I’m a veteran Notepad++ user, but also am rather new to looking at issues, etc. Having said that, I’m assuming the developer looks at the issues and probably notices ones that have been flagged or commented on. I’m not suggesting leaving a bunch of non-constructive comments (like please do this!), but it may help to give the issue a +1 using the Add your reaction icon in the upper right of the issue.

In fact, if you’ve got the programming skills and the time, you can request a fork and make the change yourself! You may find it’s an easy fix, or you may find there’s a reason this hasn’t been implemented yet. If not, then realize there are hundreds of issues out there, and don’t be too upset when it’s not fixed next week.