Open Files Externally

A VS Code extension that adds context menu items to open files with external applications. Configure multiple apps and associate them with specific file types.

Features

• Multiple Applications: Add multiple external applications to the context menu
• File Type Associations: Associate apps with specific file types (extensions or filenames)
• Cross-Platform: Full support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Flexible Configuration: Support for both app names and full executable paths
• Smart Selection: Automatic app selection when only one matches, or quick pick menu for multiple matches
• Easy Setup: Configuration via VS Code settings (UI or JSON)
• Command Palette: Commands available in Command Palette for quick access

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Quick Start
• Configuration
  • Configuration Format
  • Configuration Properties
  • Platform-Specific Notes
• Usage
• Examples
• Requirements
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ
• Known Issues
• Contributing
• Support
• License

Installation

Via VS Code Extensions Marketplace

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
3. Search for "Open Files Externally"
4. Click Install

Via Command Line (VS Code)

For Visual Studio Code (Microsoft Marketplace):

code --install-extension tarikkavaz.open-with-context-menu

Via Open VSX Registry

For VSCodium or other VS Code forks using Open VSX Registry:

codium --install-extension tarikkavaz.open-with-context-menu

Or using the ovsx CLI tool:

ovsx install tarikkavaz.open-with-context-menu

You can also install directly from the Open VSX Registry in the Extensions view.

Configuration

Configure apps and file type associations in VS Code settings:

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+, / Cmd+,)
2. Search for "Open Files Externally"
3. Click "Edit in settings.json" to configure apps

Configuration Format

{
  "openWithContextMenu.apps": [
    {
      "name": "Typora",
      "appName": "Typora",
      "fileTypes": [".md", ".markdown"]
    },
    {
      "name": "Preview",
      "appName": "Preview",
      "fileTypes": [".pdf", ".png", ".jpg"]
    }
  ]
}

Configuration Properties

• name (required): Display name shown in the context menu and quick pick
• appName (optional): Application name
  • macOS: App bundle name (e.g., "Typora", "Sublime Text")
  • Windows: Executable name without extension (e.g., "notepad", "code")
  • Linux: Executable name (e.g., "gedit", "code")
• appPath (optional): Full path to the application executable
  • Takes precedence over appName if provided
  • macOS: Path to .app bundle or executable (e.g., "/Applications/Typora.app")
  • Windows: Path to .exe file (e.g., "C:\Program Files\App\app.exe")
  • Linux: Path to executable (e.g., "/usr/bin/gedit")
• fileTypes (required): Array of file extensions (with dot) or filenames
  • Examples: [".md", ".txt", ".cursorrules"]
  • Can also match language IDs for editor context

Note: Either appName or appPath must be provided for each app configuration.

Platform-Specific Notes

macOS

• Use appName with the app bundle name (e.g., "Typora", "Sublime Text")
• Or use appPath pointing to the .app bundle or executable inside it
• Examples:
  • "appName": "Typora"
  • "appPath": "/Applications/Typora.app"
  • "appPath": "/Applications/Typora.app/Contents/MacOS/Typora"

Windows

• Use appName for common apps (e.g., "notepad", "code")
• Or use appPath with full path to .exe file
• Example: "appPath": "C:\\Program Files\\Typora\\Typora.exe"

Linux

• appName may work for some apps via xdg-open, but appPath is more reliable
• Use appPath with full path to executable
• Examples:
  • "appPath": "/usr/bin/gedit"
  • "appPath": "/usr/local/bin/code"

Usage

Context Menu

1. Right-click on a file in the Explorer or Editor
2. Select "Open Files Externally" from the context menu
3. If multiple apps are configured for the file type, a quick pick menu will appear
4. If only one app matches, it will open directly

Command Palette

1. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
2. Type "Open Files Externally"
3. Select "Open Files Externally"
4. Choose the application from the quick pick menu

Examples

Using appName (macOS)

{
  "openWithContextMenu.apps": [
    {
      "name": "Typora",
      "appName": "Typora",
      "fileTypes": [".md", ".markdown"]
    }
  ]
}

Using appPath

{
  "openWithContextMenu.apps": [
    {
      "name": "GIMP",
      "appName": "",
      "appPath": "/usr/bin/gimp",
      "fileTypes": [".png", ".jpg", ".jpeg", ".gif", ".bmp", ".xcf"]
    },
    {
      "name": "LibreOffice Writer",
      "appName": "",
      "appPath": "/usr/bin/libreoffice",
      "fileTypes": [".doc", ".docx", ".odt", ".rtf"]
    },
    {
      "name": "Okular",
      "appName": "",
      "appPath": "/usr/bin/okular",
      "fileTypes": [".pdf"]
    }
  ]
}

Multiple Apps for Same File Type

When multiple apps are configured for the same file type, a quick pick menu will appear:

{
  "openWithContextMenu.apps": [
    {
      "name": "Photoshop",
      "appName": "Photoshop",
      "fileTypes": [".psd"]
    },
    {
      "name": "Preview",
      "appName": "Preview",
      "fileTypes": [".psd"]
    }
  ]
}

Requirements

• VS Code 1.60.0 or higher

Troubleshooting

App Not Found

Problem: You get an error that the application cannot be found.

Solutions:

• On macOS: Verify the app name matches the bundle name exactly (check in /Applications folder)
• On Windows: Use the executable name without .exe extension, or use appPath with full path
• On Linux: Use appPath with the full path to the executable instead of appName
• Check that the application is installed and accessible from the command line

Context Menu Not Appearing

Problem: The "Open Files Externally" option doesn't appear in the context menu.

Solutions:

• Reload the VS Code window (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R or Ctrl+Shift+P → "Developer: Reload Window")
• Verify the extension is installed and enabled
• Check that you're right-clicking on a file (not a folder)
• Ensure you have at least one app configured in settings

Quick Pick Menu Not Showing Apps

Problem: No apps appear in the quick pick menu or you get "No apps configured" message.

Solutions:

• Verify your configuration syntax is correct (valid JSON)
• Check that fileTypes array includes the extension of the file you're trying to open (with the dot, e.g., .md)
• Ensure either appName or appPath is provided for each app
• Check the Output panel for extension errors (View → Output → select "Open Files Externally" from dropdown)

Path Issues on Windows

Problem: Paths with spaces or special characters don't work.

Solutions:

• Use double backslashes in JSON: "C:\\Program Files\\App\\app.exe"
• Or use forward slashes: "C:/Program Files/App/app.exe"
• Ensure the path is properly escaped in JSON

Menu Items Not Updating After Configuration Change

Problem: You changed the configuration but the menu doesn't reflect the changes.

Solutions:

• Reload the VS Code window (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R)
• Menu items are static, but commands work immediately - use Command Palette if needed

FAQ

Can I use this extension with any file type?

Yes! You can configure the extension to work with any file type by adding the file extension (with dot) to the fileTypes array.

How do I find the correct app name or path?

• macOS: The app name is usually the name of the .app bundle in /Applications. You can also right-click an app and select "Show Package Contents" to find the executable path.
• Windows: The app name is the executable name without .exe. You can find the path by right-clicking a shortcut and selecting "Properties" → "Target".
• Linux: Use which <app-name> to find the executable path, or check /usr/bin, /usr/local/bin, etc.

Can I configure different apps for the same file type?

Yes! If multiple apps are configured for the same file type, a quick pick menu will appear when you use the context menu, allowing you to choose which app to use.

Does the extension work with unsaved files?

No, the extension requires a file to be saved to disk before it can be opened with an external application.

Can I use environment variables in paths?

Not currently. You must use absolute paths or app names that are available in your system PATH.

How do I remove an app from the context menu?

Simply remove the app configuration from the openWithContextMenu.apps array in your settings.json file.

Known Issues

• Menu items are static and defined in package.json. After changing configuration, commands work immediately, but you may need to reload the window for menu visibility changes.
• On Linux, appName may not work reliably for all applications. Use appPath for best results.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:

1. Fork the repository and create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
2. Make your changes following the existing code style
3. Test your changes on multiple platforms if possible
4. Commit your changes with clear commit messages (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
5. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
6. Open a Pull Request

Development Setup

1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies: npm install
3. Open the folder in VS Code
4. Press F5 to open a new Extension Development Host window
5. Make changes and test in the development window

Reporting Bugs

Please use the GitHub Issues page to report bugs. Include:

• VS Code version
• Operating system
• Extension version
• Steps to reproduce
• Expected vs actual behavior

Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Repository: GitHub Repository
• VS Code Marketplace: Extension Page

If you find this extension helpful, please consider giving it a star on GitHub!

License

MIT