How to right mouse click File Open from current directory

Andy Klaj · Feb 22, 2019, 4:20 PM

Hi,

When I try to use the Right Mouse click File Open menu item i have to specify the directory.

For example if i have two files (File1.txt and File2.txt) in a directory and File1.txt has the following content then i can right mouse click the ‘/File2.txt’ and open it in a new tab
File1.txt:
…
./File2.txt
…

The problem is that witht he project that I am on does not include the director so the File1.txt content looks more like
File1.txt
…
File2.txt
…

When I try to right mouse click File Open the above it is not recognized as a possible file to open.

Can someone help me to allow for content liek ‘File2.txt’ to be recognized as a file in the current directory in Notepad++ ?

Bonus - I noticed that when i double click the ‘File2.txt’ only the ‘File2’ is highlighted. Does anyone know how to set Notepad ++ so that the entire filename ‘File2.txt’ is highlighted?

Thankyou

Andrew

guy038 · Feb 22, 2019, 7:42 PM

Hello, @ady-klaj, and All,

Assuming for instance, that you have a file, named Blablah.txt, in folder C:

And let’s suppose that you have this line in a file :

xxxxx C:\Blablah.txt xxxxx

I’ve added a second line of uppercase letters just to locate the present cursor position

xxxxx C:\Blablah.txt xxxxx
      ABCDEFGHIHKLMNO

Then :

If you right-click in the first line, on the context menu option Open File, with caret on positions C to K, it opens C:\Blablah.txt file in Notepad++
If you right-click, in the first line, on the context menu option Open File, with caret on positions A,B, L, M, N or O , you get the error message The file you’re trying to open doesn’t exist.

Now, if the filename ends the line, as below :

xxxxx C:\Blablah.txt
      ABCDEFGHIHKLMNO

Then, it’s a bit different :

If you right-click in the first line, on the context menu option Open File, with caret on positions C to O, it opens C:\Blablah.txt file in Notepad++
If you right-click, in the first line, on the context menu option Open File, with caret on positions A or B , you get the error message The file you’re trying to open doesn’t exist.

Now, a radical way to select a valid full pathname without bothering about caret location, would be :

Go to Settings < Preferences > Delimiter > Word character list
Select the option Add your character as part of word
Type in the 3 characters .\: in the field
Close the Preferences dialog

From now on, a right-click at any location of a valid pathname OR a double-click on any part of it, followed with the choice of the Open file option, should open this file in Notepad++

Best Regards,

guy038

Alan Kilborn · Feb 22, 2019, 7:40 PM

@Andy-Klaj said:

Can someone help me to allow for content liek ‘File2.txt’ to be recognized as a file in the current directory in Notepad++ ?

What is your definition of “the current directory in Notepad++”?

Alan Kilborn · Feb 22, 2019, 8:05 PM

@guy038 's posting hints that Open File is a not-real-smart feature. Many files these days have spaces in them, their names I mean of course. How is THAT going to work with this feature? Likely not too well.

PeterJones · Feb 22, 2019, 8:11 PM

Open File is a not-real-smart feature

Indeed. A little birdie once told me that there’s someone working on a PythonScript improvement of the open-file-under-cursor, which I beta tested. When I’m home, I’ll have to look through my test cases to see if the local-directory-file was covered; if it is, I may put in a request for accelerated release (and point that someone to this thread); if it’s not in there, I may add a feature request. (No, I do not have permission to publish it for that someone.)

guy038 · Feb 23, 2019, 8:31 PM

Hello, @ady-klaj, @alan-kilborn, @peterjones and All,

Really, I’m unforgivable ! I should have tested a file name or a folder name containing spaces, too ;-)) For instance :

xxxxx C:\Bla blah.txt xxxxx

In that case, it’s even worse ! Whatever the location of the caret, in the full pathname, it does not work :-((

Finally, the correct way, in all cases, is to select all the pathname C:\bla blah.txt and right-click on the Open File option

Actually, the context menu option should been named : Open Selected Pathname or File ;-))

Now, it would be hard to find a correct algorithm to get a pathname or file selected, only from current position of caret !

Indeed, let’s suppose the line, below, in a file, with rubbish xxxxx text and caret located between letters e and s of the test word

xxxxx Small test.txt xxxxx

And let’s suppose that a file name, with its extension, should contain word characters, dots or spaces ( very basic rule ! )

Well, even if you scan text rightwards and leftwards, how to decide if the file name is :

Small test.txt
xxxxx Small test.txt xxxxx

as you’ve included spaces as valid characters in filenames ?

So, all in all, the fact of selecting pathname/filename, before a right-click on the context menu option Open File, seems rather pertinent !

Cheers,

guy038

Alan Kilborn · Jan 28, 2024, 12:56 PM

@guy038 said:

I’m unforgivable ! I should have tested a file name or a folder name containing spaces, too

Bah, easy to forget filenames can have spaces, if you never use spaces yourself in your names.

Now, it would be hard to find a correct algorithm to get a pathname or file selected, only from current position of caret !

I think I’ve scripted a reasonable way.

Here’s a script called OpenFilenameAtCaret.py:

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from __future__ import print_function

#########################################
#
#  OpenFilenameAtCaret.py (OFAC)
#
#########################################

# references:
#  https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/17169/how-to-right-mouse-click-file-open-from-current-directory
#  https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/14579 "[Feature Request] Opening a file within Notepad++ and jump to line"
#  possibly relevant:
#   https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/16597/how-to-open-a-path-in-windows-explorer
#   https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/17836/i-can-not-understand-what-file-opens-this-option
#  maybe see https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/regular-expressions-cookbook/9781449327453/ch08s18.html
#  for newbie info on PythonScripts, see https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/23039/faq-desk-how-to-install-and-run-a-script-in-pythonscript

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from Npp import *
import os
from ctypes import (WinDLL)

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

def position_range_generator(pos1=None, pos2=None):
    if pos1 is None: pos1 = 0
    if pos2 is None: pos2 = editor.getLength()
    working_pos = pos1
    if pos1 == pos2:
        return
    elif pos1 < pos2:
        while working_pos < pos2:
            yield working_pos
            working_pos = editor.positionAfter(working_pos)
    else:
        while working_pos > pos2:
            yield working_pos
            working_pos = editor.positionBefore(working_pos)

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

def string_intersection(s1, s2):
    set1 = set(s1)
    set2 = set(s2)
    intersection = set1 & set2
    return ''.join(sorted(intersection))

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

def shift_held():
    VK_SHIFT = 0x10
    user32 = WinDLL('user32')
    return (user32.GetAsyncKeyState(VK_SHIFT) & 0x8000) != 0

def ctrl_held():
    VK_CONTROL = 0x11
    user32 = WinDLL('user32')
    return (user32.GetAsyncKeyState(VK_CONTROL) & 0x8000) != 0

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

def shell_open(arg, parameters=None):
    # https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shellapi/nf-shellapi-shellexecutew
    SW_SHOW = 5
    return ctypes.windll.Shell32.ShellExecuteW(None, 'open', arg, parameters, None, SW_SHOW) > 32

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

class OFAC(object):

    def __init__(self):

        rect_sel_mode = editor.getSelectionMode() in [ SELECTIONMODE.RECTANGLE, SELECTIONMODE.THIN ]
        if rect_sel_mode or editor.getSelections() > 1: return  # conditions not correct for running

        file_absolute_path = file_line_number = None

        (file_absolute_path, file_text_start_pos, file_text_end_pos) = self.abspath_to_file_at_caret()

        if file_absolute_path is not None:
            curr_line_end_pos = editor.getLineEndPosition(editor.lineFromPosition(editor.getCurrentPos()))
            line_number_match_pos_tup = editor.findText(FINDOPTION.REGEXP, file_text_end_pos, curr_line_end_pos, r'"?:\K\d+')
            if line_number_match_pos_tup is not None and line_number_match_pos_tup[0] - file_text_end_pos <= 2:
                file_line_number = int(editor.getTextRange(*line_number_match_pos_tup))

        if file_absolute_path is not None:
            select_path_in_source_text = shift_held() and not ctrl_held()
            open_containing_folder = shift_held() and ctrl_held()
            if select_path_in_source_text:
                if file_text_start_pos != file_text_end_pos:
                    editor.setSel(file_text_start_pos, file_text_end_pos)
            elif open_containing_folder:
                folder_absolute_path = os.path.dirname(file_absolute_path)
                if os.path.isdir(folder_absolute_path): shell_open('explorer', folder_absolute_path)
            else:
                if not isinstance(file_absolute_path, str):
                    file_absolute_path = file_absolute_path.encode('utf-8')  # python2
                notepad.open(file_absolute_path)
                if file_line_number is not None: editor.gotoLine(file_line_number - 1)

    def abspath_to_file_at_caret(self):

        # initialize return values:
        rv__existing_absolute_path = None
        rv__pos_span_2tup = (0, 0)

        curr_pos = editor.getCurrentPos()
        curr_line_nbr = editor.lineFromPosition(curr_pos)
        line_start_pos = editor.positionFromLine(curr_line_nbr)
        line_end_pos = editor.getLineEndPosition(curr_line_nbr)

        # get the current tab's directory for partial-path matching:
        curr_dirname = os.path.dirname(notepad.getCurrentFilename())

        illegal_filename_chars = '><"|?*\t'  # there may be more but these are the definites
        illegal_filename_chars_single_char_regex = r'[><|?*\t]'  # note: double-quote is NOT included

        # if text is selected, look at "exactly" what user has specified:
        if editor.getSelections() == 1 and not editor.getSelectionEmpty():

            test_name = editor.getSelText()
            test_name = test_name.strip(' ' + '"' + illegal_filename_chars)  # give user some leeway with possible "bad stuff" on either end of selection
            rv__existing_absolute_path = self.absolute_pathname_to_existing_file(test_name, curr_dirname)
            if rv__existing_absolute_path is not None:
                rv__pos_span_2tup = ( editor.getSelectionStart(), editor.getSelectionEnd() )

        else:

            # find any illegal filename chars to the left and right of caret on current line; otherwise use start and end of current line positions
            ft_tup = editor.findText(FINDOPTION.REGEXP, curr_pos, line_start_pos, illegal_filename_chars_single_char_regex)  # search backward toward start-of-line
            line_left_pos = ft_tup[1] if ft_tup else line_start_pos
            ft_tup = editor.findText(FINDOPTION.REGEXP, curr_pos, line_end_pos, illegal_filename_chars_single_char_regex)  # search forward toward end-of-line
            line_right_pos = ft_tup[0] if ft_tup else line_end_pos

            # quickest possible method (look to either side of the caret for first whitespace or double-quotes to delimit, or consider the entire line):
            if rv__existing_absolute_path is None:
                for delimiting_regex in ( r'\s', '"' ):
                    ft_tup_1 = editor.findText(FINDOPTION.REGEXP, curr_pos, line_left_pos, delimiting_regex)  # search backward toward start-of-line
                    ft_tup_2 = editor.findText(FINDOPTION.REGEXP, curr_pos, line_right_pos, delimiting_regex)  # search forward toward end-of-line
                    rv__pos_span_2tup = (
                        ft_tup_1[1] if ft_tup_1 is not None else line_left_pos,
                        ft_tup_2[0] if ft_tup_2 is not None else line_right_pos
                    )
                    if rv__pos_span_2tup[0] != rv__pos_span_2tup[1]:
                        rv__existing_absolute_path = self.absolute_pathname_to_existing_file(editor.getTextRange(*rv__pos_span_2tup), curr_dirname)
                        if rv__existing_absolute_path is not None: break

            # go on a l..o..n..g..e..r search:
            if rv__existing_absolute_path is None:
                for left_pos in position_range_generator(line_left_pos, curr_pos + 1):
                    for right_pos in position_range_generator(line_right_pos, curr_pos):
                        rv__pos_span_2tup = (left_pos, right_pos)
                        test_name = editor.getTextRange(*rv__pos_span_2tup)
                        if test_name[0] in ' ' + ':' + illegal_filename_chars:
                            break  # can't start with these characters; go get next potential starting char
                        if test_name[-1] in r' :\/': continue  # filenames don't reasonably end with space/colon/backslash/slash
                        if len(string_intersection(test_name, illegal_filename_chars)) > 0: continue
                        rv__existing_absolute_path = self.absolute_pathname_to_existing_file(test_name, curr_dirname)
                        if rv__existing_absolute_path is not None: break  # get out of inner for loop
                    if rv__existing_absolute_path is not None: break  # get out of outer for loop

        if rv__existing_absolute_path is None: rv__pos_span_2tup = (0, 0)

        return (rv__existing_absolute_path, rv__pos_span_2tup[0], rv__pos_span_2tup[1])

    def absolute_pathname_to_existing_file(self, file_or_path_name_to_test, dir_for_partial_path=''):
        retval = None  # return None if file not existing, otherwise return absolute path to it
        if isinstance(file_or_path_name_to_test, bytes):
            file_or_path_name_to_test = file_or_path_name_to_test.decode('utf-8')  # python2
        file_or_path_name_to_test = os.path.expandvars(file_or_path_name_to_test)
        if os.path.isfile(file_or_path_name_to_test):
            retval = os.path.abspath(file_or_path_name_to_test)
        else:
            if len(dir_for_partial_path) > 0:
                retval = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(dir_for_partial_path, file_or_path_name_to_test))
                if not os.path.isfile(retval): retval = None
        return retval

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if __name__ == '__main__': OFAC()

How it works is that you put the caret somewhere in the text of the filename/path you want to open, then run the script (more on a better method to run the script, below).

The script will pick out the file from the context of the caret and open it into a new Notepad++ tab (or, if the file had previously been open in a tab, it will make that tab active).

The script will work on a full pathname in the text, or a partial path (e.g. ..\fubar.c) using the currently active filetab’s folder as the base folder.

It can work with forward slashes in a path, e.g. c:/folder1/folder2/foo.txt and even doubled backslashes, e.g. D:\\folder3\\bar.py.

Additionally, if the filename in the text is followed by a colon (:) and then an integer value, e.g. foo.txt:27, then the integer will be considered a line number, and the caret will be placed at the start of that line when the new filetab becomes active. This subfeature originates with a request HERE for that functionality.

It’s in the comments of the script, but for emphasis: for newbie info on PythonScripts, see https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/23039/faq-desk-how-to-install-and-run-a-script-in-pythonscript

Now for a better way to run the script (than, presumably, running it from the menu):

So the default editor right-click context menu has this entry:

And that’s fine, but that is the Notepad++ version of the command, which, as discussed in this thread, a bit lame.

If we convert this entry into one that runs the script instead, we get improved functionality. As a bonus, we can also achieve some additional functionality:

holding Shift while running from the right-click context menu allows quickly selecting the filename text
holding Shift and Ctrl while running from the right-click context menu will open an Explorer window in the folder in which the file at the caret lives

The new context menu entry could look like this:

Notice that there is some reminder text there about adding in the Shift and Ctrl keys, in the form of +S= and +S+C=.

Here’s what to do to contextMenu.xml to achieve the above (for further detail, see the FAQ entry cited above):

comment out the existing Open File entry, i.e., make it look like this: 
add this line below it: <Item PluginEntryName="Python Script" PluginCommandItemName="OpenFilenameAtCaret" ItemNameAs="Open FILE under caret (+S=SELECT it; +S+C=Open its FOLDER)"/>

Alan Kilborn · Jan 28, 2024, 7:16 PM

I suppose I should have mentioned above that the script will work with filenames/paths that include spaces, whether or not the filename is wrapped in double-quotes (the typical way to refer to Windows names with embedded spaces.

Some additional examples of what will work (the I character is included to show a reasonable right-click/caret point):

I am some text with c:\folder with spaceIs\file with spaces.txt a filepath right in the middle of me
And of course wrapping in double quotes works "c:\foldeIr with spaces\file with spaces.txt" too
Even without spaces you can have other text directly adjoining the name |c:\teIst1\test2.txt|
Even other characters directly adjoining will work c:\test3\tIest4.txtzzzz (opens test4.txt – presuming test4.txtzzzz / test4.txtzzz / test4.txtzz / test4.txtz all don’t exist – if any did, they’d be opened before test4.txt )