Selecting a file in Windows Explorer is slow Topic is solved

[hilbert]

Hi,

Need to select a file in Windows Explorer. The following approach works but is slow. Takes at least 2-3 seconds for the window to appear (tried on several machines).

Code: Select all

Run Format("explorer.exe /select, `"{1}`"", path)

Are there better performing alternatives to achieve the same?

[byzod]

It might be unrelated but I have the slow startup issue with xnview, find the solution after 7 years: add xnview.exe to exception of windows defender

How fast do your ahk runs the first time? If it's slow, you might want to try add autohotkey.exe to exception of your antivirus software

[mikeyww]

You can run File Explorer earlier, and then just activate the window when you need it.

[hilbert]

You can run File Explorer earlier, and then just activate the window when you need it.

Thanks for answer. I don't have prior knowledge of which file to be selected, so can't run explorer earlier.
Or perhaps what you mean is to somehow issue 'please select this file in a new window' command to an already running explorer process? Because, as you probably aware, each "Run explorer.exe ..." creates a new explorer.exe process, which is likely to be the cause of latency.

[neogna2]

You can use COM to select one or more files in an existing File Explorer window.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/shellfolderview-selectitem
Search the forums with keyword "selectitem" to find existing code.

[mikeyww]

Code: Select all

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
nav

F3::nav(A_ScriptDir)

nav(dir := '') {
 Static winTitle := 'ahk_class CabinetWClass'
 If !WinExist(winTitle)
  Run 'explorer'
 If WinWait(winTitle,, 5) {
  If dir {
   WinActivate
   For window in ComObject('Shell.Application').Windows
    (WinActive('A') = window.Hwnd) && window.Navigate(dir)
  } Else WinMinimize
 } Else MsgBox 'An error occurred while waiting for the window.', 'Error', 48
}