Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Discussion related to "Everything" 1.5 Alpha.
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hellen_dorandt89
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2022 5:52 pm

Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by hellen_dorandt89 »

I am always using Directory Opus and Everything in tandem, much to my surprise I find many users on here that do the same.

Amongst other things I was getting really frustrated with windows awfull habit of allowing you to add ratings, tags, description to some files and not others so I set out to work on this Project:


A plug-in to bridge allot of gaps between Everything, Directory Opus and Powershell. Some of these gaps are:
  • A MetaData system that is universal to every file in the file system, that is part of the file, that can be be accessed in Everything, Directory Opus, Powershell.
  • Query selected Everything objects in Powershell and Directory Opus
  • Send selected objects\current directories of Directory Opus to Everything or Powershell and vise versa
  • etc etc
I've made some decent progress, the black window is Everything, the white one is Directory Opus. Calling the below line with my command bar:

Code: Select all

Set-Metadata -Path ".\My image 1.psd" -Notes "Vannician Summer"
Image

Below is another example, this time prefixig "Italian, " to the Notes column:

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sm -path ".\My image 1.psd" -pNotes "Italian, "
Image



In this example I can query the state of an Opus window, which allows me create the same opus view in everything using a hotkey, Open a folder with the exact selection:
Image

Notice I can restore the previous everything state (including active selection) neat feature of everything history.

but in trying to do the same in reverse (send same everything view and active selection to Opus) I am starting to run into limitations querying the state of an everything window. The way I am able to get Opus to send everything is its open folder and selection is through its tool DopusRT:

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dopusrt.exe /info test.txt,list
Which returns:

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<?xml version="1.0"?[quote][/quote]
<results command="list" result="1"[quote][/quote]
	<items display_path="C:\Temp" lister="0x2b0962" path="C:\Temp" tab="0x81d64"[quote][/quote]
		<item id="1" name="ESDUMP 1.efu" path="C:\Temp\ESDUMP 1.efu" sel="0" type="0" /[quote][/quote]
		<item id="2" name="ESDUMP 2.efu" path="C:\Temp\ESDUMP 2.efu" sel="1" type="0" /[quote][/quote]
		<item id="3" name="ESDUMP 3.efu" path="C:\Temp\ESDUMP 3.efu" sel="0" type="0" /[quote][/quote]
		<item id="4" name="My Image 1.psd" path="C:\Temp\My Image 1.psd" sel="0" type="0" /[quote][/quote]
		<item id="5" name="My Image 2.psd" path="C:\Temp\My Image 2.psd" sel="1" type="0" /[quote][/quote]
		<item id="6" name="My Image 3.psd" path="C:\Temp\My Image 3.psd" sel="0" type="0" /[quote][/quote]
		<item id="7" name="New Folder" path="C:\Temp\New Folder" sel="0" type="1" /[quote][/quote]
	</items[quote][/quote]
</results[quote][/quote]
Using this I can get the open folder, selected files etc etc

With the above information I can do many things, for example make a selection in Opus, call my command bar and then apply MetaData to selected files or all files in view:
Image

Everything has its own share of versatile list generation means:
Image

But from the tests I performed, they are not available for use in the Everything64.exe command line tool.
further more, this does not include a key/ property for selected files among un selected files.

Finally, Directory Opus provides means to set an icon for any file. This new icon is then used in details view for that file:
Image

The above is not system wide but in Opus only, which is fine I never touch explorer or even Save As/Open... dialogs...But this change is not in sync with Everything either.


With that said I would like to kindly ask for two features from Mr Void.

Feature 1

Image

a means to generate the above file lists (especially xml and json) based on the current state of an everything GUI window, using the Everything64.exe cli tool, with the following options:
  • to specify a column/Property for selected files among unselected files
  • to specify what everything GUI columns/properties should be included in the file list.
  • to specify how many rows the file list should have
The tests I performed using Everything's File Export. The file generated would inlcude in it all the columns/properties that were open at the time of export (I index many properties).
It would extremely usefull to be able to specify what columns to inlcude in the command line tool.

Because at any given time there could be millions of files in view, there should be an option to specify how many rows a file list should have. This would help performance allot.

Feature 2

A means to specify an icon for a file or folder via command line. This icon would then be used in details view for that file. This would allow me to call Everything64 command line at the same time I am changing a files icon in Directory Opus. Or even call it when a Everything window is active.

This would mean that Directory Opus and Search Everything are in sync at all times.


Looking at the forum, Void had implented this solution for attaching tags to files in Everything Properties - :

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C:\Photos\picture1.jpg,beach;sunny
C:\Photos\picture2.jpg,rain;flower
It would be so nice if one can also specify an icon file for both files and folders in there as well!

Other than that, I would just like to thank you for working on this amazing tool.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS:
Maybe the information I want is accessible in the everything SDK but am really not that much of an advanced programmer...yet. So I can only work with:
  • Powershell
  • Autohotkey
  • Filelists manupalation
Never the less I am confident I can still complete this plug-in and release it. If I am able to find a way to generate Filelists for Everything. :?
therube
Posts: 5003
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by therube »

(I'll just make mention of the ES - the command line interface to Everything, which may [or may not ?] be able to do things a bit different from Everything.exe itself?)
void
Developer
Posts: 16897
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by void »

Updating ES and the SDK for Everything 1.5 is on my TODO list.

Everything 1.5.0.1321a adds the ability to set a custom icon or thumbnail with your property_user_values.

Set the Icon or Thumbnail property to the desired filename.
hellen_dorandt89
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2022 5:52 pm

Re: Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by hellen_dorandt89 »

This is great news, thank you so much for implementing this.

I am trying to change the deitals view icon for a sample file, I tried following your instructions as best I can:
I created a file, C:\Temp\icon.csv, with the content:

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Filename,icon
C:\Temp\ESDUMP 3.efu,C:\Temp\Sample.ico
And I ammended this key property_user_values in my everything 1.5 ini file to:

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property_user_values=C:\Temp\icon.csv
The ESDUMP 3.efu still has its default everything icon though, am I doing it wrong?
void
Developer
Posts: 16897
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by void »

Please make sure Everything is not running when setting the property_user_values value in your Everything.ini.

Please make sure Everything is not running when changing your C:\Temp\icon.csv

Please exit Everything and check your Everything.ini and C:\Temp\icon.csv have the correct values.
Restart Everything.


Please try escaping the filename and icon filename with double quotes:

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Filename,icon
"C:\Temp\ESDUMP 3.efu","C:\Temp\Sample.ico"
Please make sure C:\Temp\ESDUMP 3.efu exists.
Please make sure C:\Temp\Sample.ico exists.

Does the issue persist?
hellen_dorandt89
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2022 5:52 pm

Re: Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by hellen_dorandt89 »

Does the issue persist?
No. Using your example its working now!
I think it was the double quotes, my apologies!
I also succesfully changed a files thumbnail.

I really like using this amazing tool, also your support is really great. I've switched from one of donations, to a small monthly donation via paypal now. Thanks!
void
Developer
Posts: 16897
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Feature Request: Improved File list export and stand in Icons for files in details views

Post by void »

The double quotes shouldn't be required, unless you have a , in your filename or icon filename.

Thank you for your support and donations.

Your donations will help support the future development of "Everything".
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