POC

Author: yaira2

src/Files.App/Views/Layouts/BaseGroupableLayoutPage.cs

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ protected override void UnhookEvents()
 			ItemManipulationModel.RefreshItemsThumbnailInvoked -= ItemManipulationModel_RefreshItemsThumbnail;
 		}
 
-		protected override void Page_CharacterReceived(UIElement sender, CharacterReceivedRoutedEventArgs args)
+		protected override void Page_PreviewKeyDown(object sender, KeyRoutedEventArgs e)
 		{
 			if (ParentShellPageInstance is null ||
 				ParentShellPageInstance.CurrentPageType != this.GetType() ||
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ focusedElement is PasswordBox ||
 				DependencyObjectHelpers.FindParent<ContentDialog>(focusedElement) is not null)
 				return;
 
-			base.Page_CharacterReceived(sender, args);
+			base.Page_PreviewKeyDown(sender, e);
 		}
 
 		// Virtual methods

src/Files.App/Views/Layouts/BaseLayoutPage.cs

@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ protected override async void OnNavigatedTo(NavigationEventArgs e)
 			base.OnNavigatedTo(e);
 
 			// Add item jumping handler
-			CharacterReceived += Page_CharacterReceived;
+			PreviewKeyDown += Page_PreviewKeyDown; ;
 
 			navigationArguments = (NavigationArguments)e.Parameter;
 			ParentShellPageInstance = navigationArguments.AssociatedTabInstance;
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ protected override void OnNavigatingFrom(NavigatingCancelEventArgs e)
 			base.OnNavigatingFrom(e);
 
 			// Remove item jumping handler
-			CharacterReceived -= Page_CharacterReceived;
+			PreviewKeyDown -= Page_PreviewKeyDown;
 			FolderSettings!.LayoutModeChangeRequested -= BaseFolderSettings_LayoutModeChangeRequested;
 			FolderSettings.GroupOptionPreferenceUpdated -= FolderSettings_GroupOptionPreferenceUpdated;
 			FolderSettings.GroupDirectionPreferenceUpdated -= FolderSettings_GroupDirectionPreferenceUpdated;
@@ -996,12 +996,33 @@ private void RemoveOverflow(CommandBarFlyout contextMenuFlyout)
 				overflowSeparator.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
 		}
 
-		protected virtual void Page_CharacterReceived(UIElement sender, CharacterReceivedRoutedEventArgs args)
+		protected virtual void Page_PreviewKeyDown(object sender, KeyRoutedEventArgs e)
 		{
-			if (ParentShellPageInstance!.IsCurrentInstance)
+			// Get the virtual key
+			var key = e.Key;
+
+			// Convert to character if it's a printable key
+			string keyString = key.ToString();
+
+			// Basic filtering: check if it's a letter
+			if (key >= VirtualKey.A && key <= VirtualKey.Z)
+			{
+				char letter = (char)('A' + (key - VirtualKey.A));
+
+				if (ParentShellPageInstance!.IsCurrentInstance)
+				{
+					ParentShellPageInstance!.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter += letter.ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+					JumpString += letter.ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+				}
+			}
+			else if (key is VirtualKey.Space && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(ParentShellPageInstance!.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter))
+			{
+				ParentShellPageInstance!.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter += " ";
+			}
+			else if (key is VirtualKey.Back && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(ParentShellPageInstance!.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter))
 			{
-				char letter = args.Character;
-				JumpString += letter.ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+				ParentShellPageInstance.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter =
+					ParentShellPageInstance.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter.Substring(0, ParentShellPageInstance.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter.Length - 1);
 			}
 		}
 

src/Files.App/Views/MainPage.xaml.cs

@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ private async Task OnPreviewKeyDownAsync(KeyRoutedEventArgs e)
 					if (source?.FindAscendantOrSelf<TextBox>() is not null)
 						break;
 
+					// Prevent the back key from executing a command if the filter header is not empty
+					if (e.Key is VirtualKey.Back && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(SidebarAdaptiveViewModel.PaneHolder?.ActivePaneOrColumn!.ShellViewModel.FilesAndFoldersFilter))
+						break;
+
 					// Execute command for hotkey
 					var command = Commands[hotKey];