Updated QuickSwitch [AutoHotkey]

[Raf]

Have you ever wanted to integrate XYplorer into your system? Quickly Switch to the tabs open in XYplorer when you select files? Use the full potential of Rapid Access Folders and reduce the amount of information displayed?

I really wanted to add all this. I present to you a modification of the famous QuickSwitch with extended support for XYplorer:

https://github.com/JoyHak/QuickSwitch/releases


About
QuickSwitch allows you to switch file dialogs (like Save As or Open) to any folder opened in supported file managers (File Explorer, Directory Opus, Total Commander, XYPlorer).

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It has two modes:

1. Menu mode: displays a list of opened folders. Selecting one switches the file dialog to that folder. The menu won't appear if no folders are open.

2. AutoSwitch mode: the file dialog automatically opens the last active folder in the file manager when you Alt-Tab between them. If the file manager was active before opening the dialog, it opens that folder immediately. You can still use Ctr+Q to access the menu if needed.

AutoSwitch can be disabled using the Never option. There's also Never here option to disable QuickSwitch for specific dialogs, like web browsers, which manage their own folders.

The latest versions include the following features:

• Added application auto-startup at Windows log-on.
• The menu will display the paths from all open folders starting from the current one.
• The path can be displayed in a shortened form.
• Improved settings interface and additional customization options and features.
• Added minimalistic display of errors about incorrectly entered settings.

Installation

1. Download the latest version.

Subscribe to releases so you don't miss critical updates!

2. Run .exe for your CPU architecture and check it's existence in the tray.

3. Open different folders in a supported file manager.

E.g., open C:\ in Explorer.

4. Open any application and try to open\save a file using it.

E.g., open Notepad then File - Open.... Or try downloading any file.

5. Press Ctrl+Q and look at the paths in the menu that opens. All folders opened in supported file managers will be displayed here.

6. Explore the available options in the menu, open the settings and experiment with them. Choose a convenient style and logic of the menu!
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To-Do

• auto-check for update (lib and setting)
• AutoSwitch on clipboard change
• drag and drop any file field
• Xyplorer history
• Pin favourite paths
• Explorer:
  • QTTabBar tabs
  • Win11 support
  • MRU

Need help with:

• Autohotkey v2 port
• File managers:
  • get paths from all tabs
  • add new file managers

  XYplorer receives a command using DllCall and sends the XYdata directly to RAM, from where Autohotkey reads it

[Raf]

The script has been successfully finalised and compiled!

[Horst]

This script isn't ready for use.
1. It assumes that Autohotkey is installed under program files
My path is c:\Tools\Autohotkey
I changed the source and compiled it for AHK version 1
using the actual installed Autohotkey versions.
It compiled successfully but produces error message using it.
After this, it displays its selection screen in unreadable colors for my dark mode settings.
Also, it's a bad idea to make the file name version specific as this invalidates any start-up link.

No such problems with the official latest Quick Switch version.

Screenshot - 05.02.2025 , 14_46_55.png (7.26 KiB) Viewed 4142 times

Screenshot - 05.02.2025 , 14_47_08.png (7.57 KiB) Viewed 4142 times

[Raf]

It assumes that Autohotkey is installed under program files
My path is c:\Tools\Autohotkey

This is written in the Readme: https://github.com/JoyHak/QuickSwitch?t ... #compiling

It is better to use the AHK script to run it, as it automatically detects the AHK directory bc it is defined in the system registry.

After this, it displays its selection screen in unreadable colors for my dark mode settings.

Send a screenshot please. I plan to change the default colors to the system colors.

Also, it's a bad idea to make the file name version specific as this invalidates any start-up link.

I didn't understand the problem.

No such problems with the official latest Quick Switch version.

I forgot to add a variable. Added to To-do for correction. There will be a release tomorrow with additional improvements including dialog boxes.

[Horst]

It assumes that Autohotkey is installed under program files
My path is c:\Tools\Autohotkey

This is written in the Readme: https://github.com/JoyHak/QuickSwitch?t ... #compiling

It is better to use the AHK script to run it, as it automatically detects the AHK directory bc it is defined in the system registry.

After this, it displays its selection screen in unreadable colors for my dark mode settings.

Send a screenshot please. I plan to change the default colors to the system colors.

Also, it's a bad idea to make the file name version specific as this invalidates any start-up link.

I didn't understand the problem.

No such problems with the official latest Quick Switch version.

I forgot to add a variable. Added to To-do for correction. There will be a release tomorrow with additional improvements including dialog boxes.

My Autohotkey path is known by the system, using the official installer.
That doesn't help with your script when I use Compile script or Compile script (GUI)
on the context menu of the AHK source.
I always compile any AHK scripts for myself.

Your description says that file names must include the version
for which I don't see any technical reason.

I will check with your new version and also send a screenshot after testing it.

[Raf]

I always compile any AHK scripts for myself.

Understood. I cannot simplify this process due to limitations in the capabilities of the Ahk2Exe-Base directive.

Your description says that file names must include the version
for which I don't see any technical reason.

This is done to simplify my development and compilation. The version is specified once only in the file name. The file name is then used as a universal variable in the compilation directives because it is the only suitable variable due to the limitations of the ahk2exe directives.

But it will be removed from the configuration name and .lnk file.

I will check with your new version and also send a screenshot after testing it.

Cool, I'm still working on various improvements!

[Raf]

I will check with your new version and also send a screenshot after testing it.

I have pushed a new release in which I fixed annoyances and improved the settings GUI. Please test it in TotalCommander

Changelog
Features

• New settings interface:
  • Tabs for menu settings, app and shortcut display options.
  • Vertical alignment of the input fields. Now if you use large or monospaced font the settings items will adjust to your preference.
  • Clear font quality and readable hotkeys input fields.
• Default colors: in Menu settings leave the color fields blank to use system colors. I recommend the BigSur or CakeOS themes from Niivu.
• Log with errors (including custom ones when entering wrong values in settings): you can read .log if something doesn't work. It is located next to the script.

Refactored
- Function names renamed to clear and desriptive names for improved stack trace in the log.
- “Folder” has been replaced with “Dir”.
- Removed version from INI and AutoStartup link name to simplify updates.
- Comments have been improved. Removed direct references to specific lines, names, and files to avoid obsolescence of comments over the course of development.
- Improved code readability.
- Added readme to \Libs about each included script.
- Initialized missing variables.
- Changed encoding of all files from ansi to utf-8

Fixed
- Work in SysTreeView and SysListView file dialogs.
- Error in known dialogs.
- Incorrect check for no available paths.
- Error when requesting TotalCommander.
- AutoSwitch option was enabled in Menu at first startup but it didn't work.

[Raf]

Just a reminder: QuickSwitch works great in Xyplorer. Maybe even faster than in Explorer

[Horst]

Much better now
I compiled it myself, of course
Tested successful in combination with Total Commander, XYplorer and Explorer.

There are 2 problems left:
I always run XY in dual-pane mode, but Quick Switch only shows the active one.
It shows the dirs from all running file managers, but not its icons on the list of dirs.
So you don't know which selection is on which file manager.

[Raf]

Much better now
I compiled it myself, of course
Tested successful in combination with Total Commander, XYplorer and Explorer.

There are 2 problems left:
I always run XY in dual-pane mode, but Quick Switch only shows the active one.
It shows the dirs from all running file managers, but not its icons on the list of dirs.
So you don't know which selection is on which file manager.

I intentionally removed the icons for minimalism. The main task is to open the desired path by selecting it in the list, and the icons enlarged the menu...

I don't know about the two panels yet. GetXYpaths sends the script to XY and requests the contents of the built-in variable. Perhaps I can change the script and request it from different panels.

[Horst]

I don't see any large icon problem with the original Quick Switch.

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[Raf]

The display of paths from all XYplorer panels and paths from all TotalCommander and DirectoryOpus tabs are scheduled for v1.3

Icons, as well as an improved style for displaying paths from different panels, are planned for v1.4. The icons need more productive code, the old one I deleted a few months ago...

Stay in touch :>

[Raf]

There are 2 problems left:
I always run XY in dual-pane mode, but Quick Switch only shows the active one.
It shows the dirs from all running file managers, but not its icons on the list of dirs.
So you don't know which selection is on which file manager.

Added XYplorer dual-pane support. Also you can see all tabs from all file managers: https://github.com/JoyHak/QuickSwitch/releases

[xy123]

Any plans for supporting the worst of them all and that is "Browse for Folder" dialog?

If not supporting them maybe you can integrate this code to replace them:
https://github.com/skygate2012/ReplaceBrowseForFolder

In this picture you can see the oldest type which can't be even resized.

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[Horst]

There are 2 problems left:
I always run XY in dual-pane mode, but Quick Switch only shows the active one.
It shows the dirs from all running file managers, but not its icons on the list of dirs.
So you don't know which selection is on which file manager.

Added XYplorer dual-pane support. Also you can see all tabs from all file managers: https://github.com/JoyHak/QuickSwitch/releases

The new version 1.3 works for XY and shows the paths from both panes and tabs.
For Total Commander, it doesn't work, as reported on GitHub.