File browser: making OS file operations more convenient (W10-centric)/ "Explore Here"
There's a discussion about what the Blender file dialog should and shouldn't do over here ( blenderartists.org/search ) somewhere, and one of the concerns mentioned is that some tasks are better left to the OS's file utilities. Fair enough.
I'm on Windows10,, so that would be File Explorer (or whatever its name is this week). Substitute your os's utilities as appropriate.
To ease the task of switching from the Blender file dialog, I propose a facility I've seen in several programs (eg "Agent Ransack") where you can select a file and rclick to get a "Explore Here" option. This launches File Explorer, open to that directory.
It just makes things a lot nicer than having to hunt down the volume/folder/subfolder yourself.
6 Comments
agreed. I might feel differently if Blender's file browser was doing something inherently blender-centric that is not possible in a native file browser (like previewing animations or something ridiculous like that) but it's not. The obvious exception would be scene/asset linking and appending, where you're browsing not to a file, but to a specific piece of data within a file.
* @testure * , yes, linking/appending is their go-to argument, and fwiw I think they are right. Also, slowing down the Deleting possibilities to protect users from themselves. (Even though ONE CLICK will delete entire Scenes with no checking, thaaaaaaaanks , Blender devs.)
So, that's cool, but easing the users' journey to their native file utility would be nice and convenient. And is apparently not difficult, given the other programs that have managed to implement it.
Like this? projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/104531
click the path at the top of the file window in blender
ctrl+c
windows-key + r
ctrl+v
enter
* @thinsoldier * , if only I had a machine and processes that could automate such drudgery for me.
Yes please, would save so much time copying and pasting to and from the address bars.