filer_opendir needs a switch to emulate Ctrl

The filer_opendir command allows a generous list of switches such as -fi for full information, and -sn for sort by name, and even X and Y coordinates and width and height for the window that opens.

One further switch would be welcome: -noboot.

This would suppress filer_booting of stuff in the target directory. In the desktop, this is achieved by holding down Ctrl while doubleclicking the target directory, but there seems no way of doing so from the commandline or from an obeyfile.

Typical situation where -noboot would be useful is when using an obeyfile to open the Apps or Utilities directory of another machine on the network. This is something I find myself doing frequently, now that I have several Ro machines on the network. It would be good to avoid willynilly booting all the applications in these distant directories because it not only slows down the operation but, perhaps dangerously, sets all sorts of unwanted system variables on the machine I’m sitting at.

Hi Jim! Interesting and valid point.

I’m also slightly unsure about what the Filer does if something in the directory is found to change – it would be a shame if it later booted something that got copied into such an open directory. The ‘noboot’ option (however initiated) ought to stick for as long as the directory is open.

Personally, I would like to see this issue additionally dealt with by having the ability (in configure) to choose which directories are booted on opening.

A wildcard system, with useful selections already available as choices.

e.g. system Apps directory, local drive, CDFS, specific directory, drive or filesystem.

In some situations, booting folders from the network is wanted, however, anyone with a RO5 system browsing the drive of a 26 bit system, has problems when they forget to press control.