B4J Question How to open a new window showing the directory?

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

Hi,
What command to use in Windows to open a new window showing the directory and the searched files in it?
Something like a solution in a thread:

What Command To Use On Windows To Open A New Window Showing Directory

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

Obtained with:

B4X:

Sub Button1_Click
    OpenSearch("D:\Documents\AnywhereSoftware\AdditionalLibs\B4X","sl")
End Sub

Private Sub OpenSearch(Path As String,SearchTerm As String)
 
    Dim FileExtns As String
    FileExtns = "&crumb="

    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.b4xlib?"
    Dim DisplayName As String = $"&displayname=b4xlib"$
    Dim SU As StringUtils
    Path = SU.EncodeUrl(Path,"UTF8")
    Dim SearchTerm As String = $"&crumb=System.Generic.String%3A${SU.EncodeUrl(SearchTerm,"UTF8")}"$
    fx.ShowExternalDocument($"search-ms:${DisplayName}${SearchTerm}${FileExtns}&crumb=location:${Path}"$)
End Sub

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

You need to search for "search-ms" and "crumb" in relation to the Windows File explorer.

Here is some code that I ripped out of an app and got working stand alone. I can't really remember exactly how it all fit's together (I wrote it a good few years ago) but I know it works. It may point you in the right direction.

B4X:

Sub Button1_Click
    OpenSearch("D:\","test")
End Sub

Private Sub OpenSearch(Path As String,SearchTerm As String)
   
    Dim FileExtns As String
    FileExtns = "&crumb="

    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.b4?"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "%20OR%20"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.bas"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "%20OR%20"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.css"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "%20OR%20"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.txt"
   
    Dim DisplayName As String = $"&displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20Search"$
    Dim SU As StringUtils
    Path = SU.EncodeUrl(Path,"UTF8")
    Dim SearchTerm As String = $"&crumb=System.Generic.String%3A${SU.EncodeUrl(SearchTerm,"UTF8")}"$
    fx.ShowExternalDocument($"search-ms:${DisplayName}${SearchTerm}${FileExtns}&crumb=location:${Path}"$)
End Sub

Magma · Oct 26, 2022

Just for showing folder with all files... use jshell

Shell cmd command with args..ex show files of c:\windows

explorer.exe "c:\windows"

If need help how to do in b4j tell.. but it is easy..

DonManfred · Oct 26, 2022

Magma said:
Just for showing folder with all files... use jshell

Solution for this in #1 (see link). No need for shell...

The TO asked to show a folder and select all files searched. This is another usecase.

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

Hi everyone,
I have included a test project, but under no circumstances can I open a Windows window with File Explorer along with the B4X Library (.b4xlib) files ("SEARCH" as a result).

Rather, an attempt is made to open the searched file for editing, and all I expect is to open a view window with the searched files (.b4xlib) that are not associated with any program on the system. Hence the problem.

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:

You need to search for "search-ms" and "crumb" in relation to the Windows File explorer.

Here is some code that I ripped out of an app and got working stand alone. I can't really remember exactly how it all fit's together (I wrote it a good few years ago) but I know it works. It may point you in the right direction.

B4X:

Sub Button1_Click
    OpenSearch("D:\","test")
End Sub

Private Sub OpenSearch(Path As String,SearchTerm As String)
  
    Dim FileExtns As String
    FileExtns = "&crumb="

    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.b4?"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "%20OR%20"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.bas"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "%20OR%20"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.css"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "%20OR%20"
    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.txt"
  
    Dim DisplayName As String = $"&displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20Search"$
    Dim SU As StringUtils
    Path = SU.EncodeUrl(Path,"UTF8")
    Dim SearchTerm As String = $"&crumb=System.Generic.String%3A${SU.EncodeUrl(SearchTerm,"UTF8")}"$
    fx.ShowExternalDocument($"search-ms:${DisplayName}${SearchTerm}${FileExtns}&crumb=location:${Path}"$)
End Sub

Hi, @stevel05

Interesting direction, but I will check if an example will work for me - when handling files like .b4xlib?
Because these are the types of files that I care about.

Thanks to everyone for the attention and help for a moment.

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

That's a different question really. If I understand what you are asking is to show the contents of a zipped file in Windows explorer.

As you say, Windows would need to know about b4xlib files. Does it work as you want it with with zip files?

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:
Does it work as you want it with with zip files?

It appears to I tested it myself:

B4X:

fx.ShowExternalDocument("D:\Documents\AnywhereSoftware\B4j\UserAppsForHelp\T201016\shell.zip")

So one option could be to rename the b4xlib to a .zip file, open it, then change it back again when you've finished.

Or if you are only looking at it and not changing anything, you could copy the b4xlib to a zip file, then delete the copied file when you are done.

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:
That's a different question really. If I understand what you are asking is to show the contents of a zipped file in Windows explorer.

As you say, Windows would need to know about b4xlib files. Does it work as you want it with with zip files?

Yes, my point is to show ONLY the displayed LIST of files in Windows Explorer.

Indeed, Windows has no information about files of this type and by default it wants me to open the file for editing with the expected program.

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

If it is just for your use on your PC you may be able to associate the b4xlib type with windows explorer.

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:
It appears to I tested it myself:

B4X:

fx.ShowExternalDocument("D:\Documents\AnywhereSoftware\B4j\UserAppsForHelp\T201016\shell.zip")

So one option could be to rename the b4xlib to a .zip file, open it, then change it back again when you've finished.

Or if you are only looking at it and not changing anything, you could copy the b4xlib to a zip file, then delete the copied file when you are done.

I just want a list of collections, I don't want to open or edit files.

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

Just the content of the directory?

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

Obtained with:

B4X:

fx.ShowExternalDocument("D:\Documents\AnywhereSoftware\AdditionalLibs\B4X")

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:
If it is just for your use on your PC you may be able to associate the b4xlib type with windows explorer.

Exactly, I haven't tried to associate the b4xlib type with Windows Explorer yet. OK, something is dawning ?

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

But you want to search it right?

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:
Just the content of the directory?

YES

stevel05 · Oct 26, 2022

Obtained with:

B4X:

Sub Button1_Click
    OpenSearch("D:\Documents\AnywhereSoftware\AdditionalLibs\B4X","sl")
End Sub

Private Sub OpenSearch(Path As String,SearchTerm As String)
 
    Dim FileExtns As String
    FileExtns = "&crumb="

    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.b4xlib?"
    Dim DisplayName As String = $"&displayname=b4xlib"$
    Dim SU As StringUtils
    Path = SU.EncodeUrl(Path,"UTF8")
    Dim SearchTerm As String = $"&crumb=System.Generic.String%3A${SU.EncodeUrl(SearchTerm,"UTF8")}"$
    fx.ShowExternalDocument($"search-ms:${DisplayName}${SearchTerm}${FileExtns}&crumb=location:${Path}"$)
End Sub

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:
But you want to search it right?

YES. From this list, I only want to have a few selected files, if they exist of course. So the search result in the Windows window, i.e. in the File Explorer

T201016 · Oct 26, 2022

stevel05 said:

View attachment 135300

Obtained with:

B4X:

Sub Button1_Click
    OpenSearch("D:\Documents\AnywhereSoftware\AdditionalLibs\B4X","sl")
End Sub

Private Sub OpenSearch(Path As String,SearchTerm As String)
   
    Dim FileExtns As String
    FileExtns = "&crumb="

    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.b4xlib?"
    Dim DisplayName As String = $"&displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20Search"$
    Dim SU As StringUtils
    Path = SU.EncodeUrl(Path,"UTF8")
    Dim SearchTerm As String = $"&crumb=System.Generic.String%3A${SU.EncodeUrl(SearchTerm,"UTF8")}"$
    fx.ShowExternalDocument($"search-ms:${DisplayName}${SearchTerm}${FileExtns}&crumb=location:${Path}"$)
End Sub

OK.
That was what I meant.
Thank you very much for your help. Now I can implement it boldly in the project.

T201016 · Oct 27, 2022

... a small fix to thread #17
this change improves the "+" sign in the folder path.

Correction: fix from SU.EncodeUrl to SU.DecodeUrl:

'Show the b4xlib archive file
Private Sub btnShowLib_Click
    Dim FileName As String = tflibTarget.Text
    OpenSearch(lblB4xLibDeploy.Text,FileName)
End Sub

'Open search results in the Libs folder
Private Sub OpenSearch(Path As String, SearchTerm As String)
    
    Dim FileExtns As String
    FileExtns = "&crumb="

    FileExtns = FileExtns & "fileextension%3A.b4xlib?"
    Dim DisplayName As String = $"DisplayName=Wyniki%20wyszukiwania%20w%20folderze%20Libraries"$
    Dim SU As StringUtils
    
    Path = SU.DecodeUrl(Path,"UTF8")
    Dim SearchTerm As String = $"&crumb=System.Generic.String%3A${SU.DecodeUrl(SearchTerm,"UTF8")}"$
    fx.ShowExternalDocument($"search-ms:${DisplayName}${SearchTerm}&crumb=location:${Path}"$)
    
End Sub

B4J Question How to open a new window showing the directory?

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