Window Switcher: Show Parent Path for Finder Folders

[jordikt]

I've been using Witch for quite some time now to switch between windows of the same application (and also of all open applications). I've tried quite a few apps of this type and this is the one that has worked best for me.

I've been testing the BTT Window Switcher today and it's pretty good.

However, there's one thing that I've always missed in all the applications of this type that I've used.

@Andreas_Hegenberg maybe you could add the functionality that I always miss. Maybe it's a weird niche thing, but maybe not that much, I'm not sure.

This "problem" only affects Finder, when several opened folders have the same name.

For example, I have many folders with the name "[+]" inside many other folders with different names ([+] is an own code that tells me that I have quite a few things mixed up inside that folder.

So, I often have these folders:

What I would love to see is:

Scripts / [+]
XCode / [+]
Pictures / [+]

So I was wondering if you could add some regex rule, like "if you find the string [+] show the parent directory".

[Andreas_Hegenberg]

6.806 tries to show more details about the path when possible

[jordikt]

Thanks a lot Andreas! I find very handy this change!

I am using the Vertical Window List option, is the one I like more.

For improving readability, some suggestions:

• Remove the last "/"
• Remove the ".../" at the beginning
• Add an space before and after the "/" that separates the parent of the child

I found a bug: it seems that the list is not updating correctly when the list is shown (also the preview is not updating).

Please see the following video of the behaviour:

I send you the exported trigger_named "WindowSwitcher_ActiveApp" that I am using to see the window switcher of the active app in the video, if you want to replicate it like I'm doing in my system:

WindowSwitcher_ActiveApp.bttpreset (2.3 KB)

In the video you will see that the list is frozen with the path "Test Folders / Icons" and the preview is frozen at the folder "MidiScripts". The list is updated instantly when I press the shortcut again to move to the next folder of the list. The issue only occurs at the first press of the shortcut, when the list is shown for the first time.

I'm running BTT 6.806 and macOS 15.7.9

[jordikt]

@Andreas_Hegenberg what do you think of adding a smart rule under the hood like "if there are two or more opened folders in finder with the same name, show the parent of these specific folders"?

So. instead of showing always the path of the parent folder for all opened folders, the window switcher would only show the parent path for the folders with identical names. The rest of folders with different names are shown without the parent path.

So, if there are 5 windows, and 2 of them are called "Icons", the "Icons" folders would be shown with the path and the other 3 folders would be shown without the path.

I think this approach will be easier to read for users.

What do you think? Do you think it's a good idea?

[Andreas_Hegenberg]

I think the path is almost always at least somewhat helpful, I probably won't add extra logic to sometimes show and sometimes don't show it

[jordikt]

Running 6.810 now

Confirmed that the "not updating issue" is fixed.

Confirmed also that the removal of initial and final "/" + the adding of spaces is also implemented.

Agree that the path is always useful.

I find that is perfect now for readability, and it looks great!

Thanks a lot!

[jordikt]

Three details to comment:

1.-The HD folder (usually Macintosh HD) is shown as "/" -> I think it would make sense to show the name instead the "/" when this folder is opened. The child folders of the HD folder are shown without the "/", so I think this change would be necessary only when the HD folder is opened.

2.-The users folder is shown as "~" -> I think it is good to show the users folder as "~" if it is the parent folder, but in the case that the users folder is opened, it would better to see the name of the folder instead of a single "~".

3.-All the "special" macos folders (System, Library, Users, etc.) are shown in english instead of the language used in Finder. It would be possible to show them like Finder does? I mean to show i.e. "Sistema" instead of "System".