How to use the command xplr (with examples)
xplr is a terminal-based file system explorer that allows users to navigate and interact with files and directories in a more efficient and intuitive manner. With xplr, users can quickly open directories, focus on specific files or directories, and even select specific files or directories when opening a directory.
Use case 1: Open a directory
Code:
xplr path/to/directory
Motivation: The first use case allows users to open a specific directory in xplr. This is useful when you want to explore the contents of a directory in a more visual and interactive manner.
Explanation: The path/to/directory argument specifies the path to the directory that you want to open in xplr. Replace path/to/directory with the actual path to the directory you want to explore.
Example output: When running the command xplr /home/user/documents, xplr will open the /home/user/documents directory and display its contents in the terminal-based file system explorer.
Use case 2: Focus on a file
Code:
xplr path/to/file
Motivation: Sometimes, you may want to focus on a specific file and perform actions on it, such as opening it with a specific program or modifying its contents. This use case allows you to quickly focus on a file in xplr.
Explanation: The path/to/file argument specifies the path to the file that you want to focus on in xplr. Replace path/to/file with the actual path to the file you want to focus on.
Example output: Running the command xplr /home/user/documents/example.txt will open xplr and focus on the example.txt file in the /home/user/documents directory. You will be able to see the file’s details and perform actions on it.
Use case 3: Focus on a directory
Code:
xplr --force-focus path/to/directory
Motivation: By default, xplr focuses on the last focused file or directory when opening a new directory. However, there may be cases where you want to always focus on a specific directory when opening it in xplr. This use case allows you to force xplr to focus on a directory instead.
Explanation: The --force-focus flag in the command instructs xplr to focus on the directory specified by the path/to/directory argument. Replace path/to/directory with the actual path to the directory you want to focus on.
Example output: When running the command xplr --force-focus /home/user/documents, xplr will open the /home/user/documents directory and focus on it directly, instead of focusing on the last focused file or directory.
Use case 4: Open a directory with specific files or directories selected
Code:
xplr path/to/directory path/to/selected_file_or_directory1 path/to/selected_file_or_directory2
Motivation: Sometimes, you may want to open a directory in xplr with specific files or directories already selected. This can be useful when you want to perform actions on multiple files or directories at once.
Explanation: The path/to/directory argument specifies the path to the directory that you want to open in xplr. The path/to/selected_file_or_directory1 and path/to/selected_file_or_directory2 arguments specify the paths to the files or directories that you want to select within the opened directory.
Example output: Running the command xplr /home/user/documents /home/user/documents/example.txt /home/user/documents/directory will open xplr, open the /home/user/documents directory, and select the example.txt file and directory subdirectory within it.
Conclusion:
xplr is a powerful command-line tool that facilitates navigating and interacting with files and directories. Its various use cases provide users with flexibility and control when exploring and working with the file system. Whether you need to open a directory, focus on a specific file or directory, or even select specific files or directories, xplr simplifies these tasks and enhances your productivity.
