New Module : Windows Path interactive

Description of the new feature / enhancement

Hello

I want to create a new module with this 4 firsts features :

Open a file or its parent folder from a string path
Past the file/folder path from files copied in the clipboard
Past a file or folder inside the windows explorer if a string path are present in the clipboard
In the explorer, send Ctrl+V with some text or bitmap inside the clipboard will create a file and fill it with the clipboard content

Scenario when this would be used?

Open a file or its parent folder from a string path

Imagine this log file :

Error : C:\fold\file name1.ext has not the right syntax
Error : //server/dir1/dir 2/random File Name.ext is missing and i don't add quote to delimit spaced path (deal with it)

I select the first line* (from 'Error' to 'syntax'), and I send "Win + Enter" :
- PowerToy copy the selected txt
- PowerToy found the windows path inside the txt (I already write a Regex for that : https://regex101.com/r/zWGLMP )*
- If path exist :
- PowerToy open the file with his default software
- else if path does not exist :
- PowerToy warn the user that the path does not exist, and offer to open in explorer the first valid parent directory

* It can parse the second line too, spaced path is not a problem

We can add some variation :

If PowerToy found more than one path, he ask user in a right click menu style wich one he want to open, or if he want to open all.
If user do Win+Alt+Enter, PowerToy open the parent path in explorer rather than open it in default software

Open a file or its parent folder from a windows control

We can do the same with all windows control who hook a Ctrl+C. Imagine a software who run a MessageBox who say "look at this log file : C:\a random\path\what\I'm\too\lazy\to find\log.txt". You just have to send Win+Enter, and PowerToy can get the path with Ctrl+C, parse the path and open it !

Past the file/folder path from files copied in the clipboard

Imagine you edit an .ini or .cfg file. You want to set a path to paramFile :

[ParamSection]
paramFile = //randomServer/random/path/that/i m/tired/to/get/inputFile.ext

So, to simply add the path, there is already Maj+RightClick from the explorer who offer to copy the path, and past it inside the .ini file with your favorite editor... But I want more ergonomic way : I want, when I have a file or a dir copied in my clipboard, past the path when I send Ctrl+V ! We just have to add an exception for the explorer and dialog box like "Save As" or "Open..."

Copy a file or folder inside the windows explorer if a string path are present in the clipboard

Imagine, you have build something in Visual Studio, and at the success, the compilator write in the console

Build success in "C:/path/too/long/to/your/project/and more to binary/software.exe".

Now, you want to send the exe to a friend. You just copy the message, and send Ctrl+V in your OneDrive explorer to share your .exe.

In the explorer, send Ctrl+V with some text or bitmap inside the clipboard will create a file and fill it with the clipboard content

If want to quickly save some txt, copy it, and past in the explorer with Ctrl+Maj+V to save the clipboard content in a new file.
- Maj is needed to mark the difference when a windows path is present in the clipboard
If you have some screenshoot in your clipboard, you just have to send Ctrl+Maj+V in your explorer to create a file with the clipboard content (bitmap, png, jpg...).

Supporting information

Hello

I already made a proof of concept of this 4 feature with an AutoHotkey project. You can try it here : https://gitlab.com/nitrateag/windowsexplorertools

I recently discover PowerToy and I want to contribute with adding this 4 main feature who I use every day ! I'm thinking of redo this job in C#.

I hope that my contribution will interest you !

microsoft / PowerToys