Copy File / Folder Path in `Context Menu`

[johnathanz]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

when attaching a file to a website / SaaS requiring file upload, the Open Dialog will need a file path.

Right now to get the file or folder path, we'd have to:

1. Search for the file / folder path
2. Ctrl+O to bring up Context Menu
3. Choose the option to Open the folder containing the file
4. In File Explorer, Copy and path
5. Go to the Open Dialog and paste the folder path

Describe the solution you'd like

We can reduce step (3) and (4) down to a single step if there's an option in the Context Menu to Copy path to Clipboard.

For files, this could copy the file path

For folders, this could copy the folder path

Describe alternatives you've considered

Alternate solution in my original Problem state above

Additional context

This is how Alfred currently works on the Mac.

[onesounds]

I think it's a good function. Which shortcut key does Alfred use?

[johnathanz]

This is what I see in Alfred when I invoke the Context Menu.

The Context Menu actions are maintained in settings, and can be toggled on / off

[onesounds]

OK, I understand what you mean. it doesn't exist in context menu. (I thought there was this in flow.)
Additionally, what do you think about using this function ctrl+c? I think it'll be more convenient. (if you want real 'copy', we can add more 'ctrl+shit+c' things.)

[taooceros]

@johnathanz Are you using everything or explorer plugin?
I can add copy parent path directly to context menu so no need to copy that from explorer window. I think it's useful and a good workround for current situation.

[johnathanz]

Hi @taooceros I'm using Explorer. Which seems to work ok for finding files.

I can't install Everything on this computer.

How are you adding the copy parent path using FL, would you mind sharing a screenshot please?

[johnathanz]

@onesounds I think ctrl+c once in the context menu sounds good.

There is currently no shortcut key in Alfred, only the ctrl+ keys (similar to the alt+ keys in FL, and searching context menu command (e.g. type copy once context menu is up, which FL supports as well)

[taooceros]

How are you adding the copy parent path using FL, would you mind sharing a screenshot please?

Sure, if you want, you can add that feature easily.

Flow.Launcher/Plugins/Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Explorer/ContextMenu.cs

Lines 35 to 221 in 8cb7cbb

	public List<Result> LoadContextMenus(Result selectedResult)
	{
	var contextMenus = new List<Result>();
	if (selectedResult.ContextData is SearchResult record)
	{
	if (record.Type == ResultType.File)
	contextMenus.Add(CreateOpenWithEditorResult(record));
	if (record.Type == ResultType.Folder && record.WindowsIndexed)
	contextMenus.Add(CreateAddToIndexSearchExclusionListResult(record));
	contextMenus.Add(CreateOpenContainingFolderResult(record));
	contextMenus.Add(CreateOpenWindowsIndexingOptions());
	if (record.ShowIndexState)
	contextMenus.Add(new Result {Title = "From index search: " + (record.WindowsIndexed ? "Yes" : "No"),
	SubTitle = "Location: " + record.FullPath,
	Score = 501, IcoPath = Constants.IndexImagePath});
	var icoPath = (record.Type == ResultType.File) ? Constants.FileImagePath : Constants.FolderImagePath;
	var fileOrFolder = (record.Type == ResultType.File) ? "file" : "folder";
	if (!Settings.QuickAccessLinks.Any(x => x.Path == record.FullPath))
	{
	contextMenus.Add(new Result
	{
	Title = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_add_to_quickaccess_title"),
	SubTitle = string.Format(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_add_to_quickaccess_subtitle"), fileOrFolder),
	Action = (context) =>
	{
	Settings.QuickAccessLinks.Add(new AccessLink { Path = record.FullPath, Type = record.Type });
	Context.API.ShowMsg(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_addfilefoldersuccess"),
	string.Format(
	Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_addfilefoldersuccess_detail"),
	fileOrFolder),
	Constants.ExplorerIconImageFullPath);
	ViewModel.Save();
	return true;
	},
	SubTitleToolTip = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_contextmenu_titletooltip"),
	TitleToolTip = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_contextmenu_titletooltip"),
	IcoPath = Constants.QuickAccessImagePath
	});
	}
	else
	{
	contextMenus.Add(new Result
	{
	Title = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_remove_from_quickaccess_title"),
	SubTitle = string.Format(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_remove_from_quickaccess_subtitle"), fileOrFolder),
	Action = (context) =>
	{
	Settings.QuickAccessLinks.Remove(Settings.QuickAccessLinks.FirstOrDefault(x => x.Path == record.FullPath));
	Context.API.ShowMsg(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_removefilefoldersuccess"),
	string.Format(
	Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_removefilefoldersuccess_detail"),
	fileOrFolder),
	Constants.ExplorerIconImageFullPath);
	ViewModel.Save();
	return true;
	},
	SubTitleToolTip = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_contextmenu_remove_titletooltip"),
	TitleToolTip = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_contextmenu_remove_titletooltip"),
	IcoPath = Constants.RemoveQuickAccessImagePath
	});
	}
	contextMenus.Add(new Result
	{
	Title = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_copypath"),
	SubTitle = $"Copy the current {fileOrFolder} path to clipboard",
	Action = (context) =>
	{
	try
	{
	Clipboard.SetText(record.FullPath);
	return true;
	}
	catch (Exception e)
	{
	var message = "Fail to set text in clipboard";
	LogException(message, e);
	Context.API.ShowMsg(message);
	return false;
	}
	},
	IcoPath = Constants.CopyImagePath
	});
	contextMenus.Add(new Result
	{
	Title = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_copyfilefolder") + $" {fileOrFolder}",
	SubTitle = $"Copy the {fileOrFolder} to clipboard",
	Action = (context) =>
	{
	try
	{
	Clipboard.SetFileDropList(new System.Collections.Specialized.StringCollection { record.FullPath });
	return true;
	}
	catch (Exception e)
	{
	var message = $"Fail to set {fileOrFolder} in clipboard";
	LogException(message, e);
	Context.API.ShowMsg(message);
	return false;
	}
	},
	IcoPath = icoPath
	});
	if (record.Type == ResultType.File || record.Type == ResultType.Folder)
	contextMenus.Add(new Result
	{
	Title = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_deletefilefolder") + $" {fileOrFolder}",
	SubTitle = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_deletefilefolder_subtitle") + $" {fileOrFolder}",
	Action = (context) =>
	{
	try
	{
	if (MessageBox.Show(
	string.Format(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_deletefilefolderconfirm"),fileOrFolder),
	string.Empty,
	MessageBoxButton.YesNo,
	MessageBoxIcon.Warning)
	== DialogResult.No)
	return false;
	if (record.Type == ResultType.File)
	File.Delete(record.FullPath);
	else
	Directory.Delete(record.FullPath, true);
	Task.Run(() =>
	{
	Context.API.ShowMsg(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_deletefilefoldersuccess"),
	string.Format(Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_deletefilefoldersuccess_detail"), fileOrFolder),
	Constants.ExplorerIconImageFullPath);
	});
	}
	catch (Exception e)
	{
	var message = $"Fail to delete {fileOrFolder} at {record.FullPath}";
	LogException(message, e);
	Context.API.ShowMsgError(message);
	return false;
	}
	return true;
	},
	IcoPath = Constants.DeleteFileFolderImagePath
	});
	if (record.Type == ResultType.File && CanRunAsDifferentUser(record.FullPath))
	contextMenus.Add(new Result
	{
	Title = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_runasdifferentuser"),
	SubTitle = Context.API.GetTranslation("plugin_explorer_runasdifferentuser_subtitle"),
	Action = (context) =>
	{
	try
	{
	Task.Run(() => ShellCommand.RunAsDifferentUser(record.FullPath.SetProcessStartInfo()));
	}
	catch (FileNotFoundException e)
	{
	var name = "Plugin: Folder";
	var message = $"File not found: {e.Message}";
	Context.API.ShowMsgError(name, message);
	}
	return true;
	},
	IcoPath = Constants.DifferentUserIconImagePath
	});
	}
	return contextMenus;
	}

Just add one more result for copying the parent path here.

[taooceros]

I haven't began it, so fell free to create a pull request for that.

[taooceros]

ctrl + c will need a while to be implemented, and I don't think it would be used to copy parent path in explorer plugin. Most likely, I think it would be used to copy the file or the directory?

[johnathanz]

May be leave out the ctrl+c as that's not a intuitive thing for users?

Based on current FL design, users know to use arrow key + enter and alt+ shortcuts to execute commands in the context menu

May be better user experience to only add the "copy file path" to the other list of context menu commands.

Building less, slower and with more intention will give us better understanding of how everyone uses FL.

I think how FL is focused only on file search and there's no clutter like Fluent Search, which I think is too bloated and difficult to use out of the box (without heavy customisation). That and it didn't index my files properly :p

Anyways, just my 2c to keep things simple. I think this functionality will be useful to everyone without adding more shortcuts. What do you guys think?

[onesounds]

Of course. I totally agree with you. My question was as an additional function. 🤣 I'm sorry I didn't explain it well.

[johnathanz]

all good. Thanks for jumping on this so fast @onesounds!

Let me know if you guys need testing of any kind - would love to help with the dev, but not much of a frontend dev 😢