Efficient way to open files using AB

[tiago]

I am in love with AutoCompletePathABarFiles(1).
But I'd like to be able to cut some steps as I'd like it to be able to OPEN an autocomplete'd, clicked file instead of going to it. Why? Now and then I need to open and check samples of files on both ends, 1st and latest created document, and the tree takes a long time (2-4 seconds) to show ~3000 folders. Time increases exponentially as the number of subfolders grow.

What I currently do:
1. Navigate to target file using AutoCompletePathABarFiles;
2. Press backspace so the caret allows me to enter 'open' before the file address;
3. Quote the file address both sides;
4. Press ';' so AB knows that's a command;
5. Press enter and wait for the document to open.

What I'd like to be able to do:
1. Navigate to target file using AutoCompletePathABarFiles;
2. Press enter and wait for the document to open.

I could not think on a way to use script in this situation but there must be someone else out there with a reasonable solution for this.

A tweak is probably the way to go, but that's up to Don.

[TheQwerty]

How about an alias?

Just enter the following into the address bar:

Code: Select all

@aliasName=::Open("<@0>");

After pressing enter you'll now be able to auto-complete your file and then just adding "@aliasName " before the path will open it.

You can even name your alias "@" so you can just prepend "@@ " to the path.


That said maybe the File > Open... dialog should make use of AutoCompletePathABarFiles then you'd only need to train yourself to use that dialog instead of the address bar.

That said why not just use Win+R to pull up Window's Run?

EDIT: Other thought maybe Ctrl+Enter in the address bar could be used to open files?

[tiago]

That said maybe the File > Open... dialog should make use of AutoCompletePathABarFiles then you'd only need to train yourself to use that dialog instead of the address bar.

Currently no support available to this, right?

EDIT: Other thought maybe Ctrl+Enter in the address bar could be used to open files?

Totally agree.

That said why not just use Win+R to pull up Window's Run?

Longer pathnames make the actual file names obfuscated by Win+R at the far right end, that's why I refuse to use it. Have to scroll each and every file to guess which one is the one I need.

I do not use aliases at all but will have to make an exception here. I still have to go home, type a shift+@ combo, type two other keys ('r ') then press enter. That's still shorter than quoting, semicolon, typing a command and enter. So thanks!

[TheQwerty]

Longer pathnames make the actual file names obfuscated by Win+R at the far right end, that's why I refuse to use it. Have to scroll each and every file to guess which one is the one I need.

Fair enough.

That said maybe the File > Open... dialog should make use of AutoCompletePathABarFiles then you'd only need to train yourself to use that dialog instead of the address bar.

Currently no support available to this, right?

That's correct - currently it doesn't auto-complete anything but the MRU list, which I'd consider a bug. You could auto-complete in the AB and then copy and paste to the dialog; not sure if that saves any more keystrokes though.


Don, any reason the File > Open... dialog doesn't auto-complete paths, let alone files?

[admin]

Don, any reason the File > Open... dialog doesn't auto-complete paths, let alone files?

Probably because I have not built it in. (Currently no time to do so.)