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Feature: Auto open the only sub-folder recursively #17782

@cute-omega

Description

@cute-omega

What feature or improvement do you think would benefit Files?

If you often access Java-like project, you must have met many deep sub-folders in folders (such as src/main/java/com/example/package/sub-package).
Many IDEs (including VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm...) and GitHub Web Preview have a function to automatically open the only sub-folders.
For example, when you open src, you won't just stay in src folder. Instead, you directly jump to src/main/java because:

  • main is the only sub-folder in src
  • java is the only sub-folder in main (Yes, this function is recursive.)
  • but there are multiple sub-folders or no sub-folders in java
    However, it is disappointing that no file manager (neither explorer.exe nor any 3rd-party software as I know) support this useful functionality.
    So why shouldn't we support it?

Requirements

  • This proposal will need a option in Settings to enable this function.
  • No other GUI change needed.
  • Some internal code need to be edited.

Files Version

4.0.11.0

Windows Version

10.0.26200.6584

Comments

Someone may ask: when enabling this function, how should I locate in middle sub-folder(such as src/main in src/main/java)?
Well, it doesn't matter.
First, it is clear that you access final leaf folders more often than middle folders.
Second, you can just click in Address Row to locate any ancestor folders of current directory. (unless it's so deep that some ancestor must be folded in Adderss Row) This is supported in explorer.exe from Windows Vista. Can't you still using Windows XP in 2025 when Windows 10 has been end of life? Even if so, I have never heard of any plan for Files to support Windows XP. (lol)
(Some content is translated by Google. There might be some mistake in my poor English.)

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