Feature request: paste files in location text box

Help & Support
1

When browsing with explorer, it is simple to transfer a folder path to dopus - copy on explorer's breadcrumbs control, past on DOpus location control.

However, it is impossible to do so on a file, which would be useful when there are many files in a folder. So, I would like this - copy on file, file is now in clipboard and I can make a copy of it somewhere. But, I would also like for its path to be pasted into DOpus location control if tried (currently nothing happens as it obviously looks only for text on clipboard). I would be ok if it works only for one file (or first if it is a multiselection). Optionally, if there are more files in clipboard, DOpus might go to the folder and select those files, but, I don't need this right now.

2

In Explorer, shift + right-click the file and choose Copy As Path to copy its path to the clipboard. You can then paste that into the location field in Opus, and Opus will take you to the folder containing the file, select the file and scroll it into view.

3

Well i'll be damned. It's there. Tnx!

P.S. I know that I won't get it, but, I would still prefer my way - it's more logical and straightforward.

4

Well, maybe not totally straightforward... because when you copy a file to the clipboard, there's not just a text string representation of it's path in there. However, perhaps GPsoft could natively do something similar to what I'll suggest to you here as a way to do what you want:

I've attached a zip file with two files inside. One is the raw text for an autohotkey script, and the other is a compiled executable of that script. I would suggest you include the EXE in your Opus config. If you type /dopusdata in the location field in Opus and hit enter, in the folder it takes you to - if you don't already have a "Scripts" folder; create one and copy the EXE there. The "Scripts" folder is a special folder that Opus will include if you do a configuration backup, but really - you can put the EXE anywhere you want. Point being...:

You can then create an Opus hotkey (say Ctrl+P or whatever else you think makes sense)... that then runs: "<path_to_exe>\cliptext.exe"

What this will do is use AutoHotkeys clipboard = %clipboard% function to convert the actual "file" you copied to the clipboard in Windows Explorer (or Opus, doesn't matter) into a text string of the files path. The rest of the compiled script then just sends that text data to Opus and then exits. NOTE: the text won't paste into the location field... it'll actually type itself out into the file display and the FAYT field, where you can then hit Enter. Point being, you'll get the end result you're asking for.

Is this more natural and useful to you?

@Jon/Leo: maybe this is a bit of an edge case, but I wonder if you could treat the clipboards "file" content similarly to what this AutoHotkey function is doing - IF - there is non-text data in the clipboard - AND - input focus is on the location field? This way, people who want something similar can just use <Ctrl+V> in the location field and get this result? It's not as though you can actually paste a "file" into that field anyway...
cliptext.zip (242 KB)

5

Well, maybe not totally straightforward... because when you copy a file to the clipboard, there's not just a text string representation of it's path in there. [/quote]

straightforward from the user's perspective. i know how files are not represented in clipboard as text, but, it can be obtained.

[quote="steje"]However, perhaps GPsoft could natively do something similar to what I'll suggest to you here as a way to do what you want:

I've attached a zip file with two files inside. One is the raw text for an autohotkey script, and the other is a compiled executable of that script. I would suggest you include the EXE in your Opus config. If you type /dopusdata in the location field in Opus and hit enter, in the folder it takes you to - if you don't already have a "Scripts" folder; create one and copy the EXE there. The "Scripts" folder is a special folder that Opus will include if you do a configuration backup, but really - you can put the EXE anywhere you want. Point being...:

You can then create an Opus hotkey (say Ctrl+P or whatever else you think makes sense)... that then runs: "<path_to_exe>\cliptext.exe"

What this will do is use AutoHotkeys clipboard = %clipboard% function to convert the actual "file" you copied to the clipboard in Windows Explorer (or Opus, doesn't matter) into a text string of the files path. The rest of the compiled script then just sends that text data to Opus and then exits. NOTE: the text won't paste into the location field... it'll actually type itself out into the file display and the FAYT field, where you can then hit Enter. Point being, you'll get the end result you're asking for.

Is this more natural and useful to you?

@Jon/Leo: maybe this is a bit of an edge case, but I wonder if you could treat the clipboards "file" content similarly to what this AutoHotkey function is doing - IF - there is non-text data in the clipboard - AND - input focus is on the location field? This way, people who want something similar can just use <Ctrl+V> in the location field and get this result? It's not as though you can actually paste a "file" into that field anyway...[/quote]

it's nice to see there are still hackers out there; hell, i was one myself, but, as the time goes by, i more and more admire simplicity. i don't want such workarounds. i want things to work out of the box, without the need of reading tons of manuals/faqs.

6

Wow... ok, fair enough. But as for "out of the box"... well, Opus is as highly customizable as it is specifically so people can do interesting and useful things with it to meet their needs and wants. This is just an example of using yet another tool and integrating it into Opus to do something useful. And once you set something like this up (particularly if you use it from the Scripts folder like I mentioned), you won't have to either do it again, read a faq, or manual, or really even think about it ever again - and it's very very simple. In light of you having said:

I figured you'd appreciate a means of getting something very close to the behavior you wanted. But by all means... feel free to wait for it to be added into "the box" :unamused:

7

Hi Steje,
This is a very useful script! Thanks for posting.

  • Avi
8

[quote="gmit"]Well i'll be damned. It's there. Tnx!

P.S. I know that I won't get it, but, I would still prefer my way - it's more logical and straightforward.[/quote]

We'll add the ability to do this in the future, since it seems useful & was easy enough to add. (Not sure how many people will discover it, since no other text field on Windows lets you paste a file copied from Explorer and get the path, but it'll still be useful to those who know.)

9

Great! This is a wonderful "power feature". And exactly the type of thing that convinces other people of how well-thought-out Directory Opus is compared to other products.

10

By the way: I showed this planned feature to my son, and he smiled from ear to ear. It just makes so much sense! And it is brilliant in its simplicity.