files-community / files-community/Files

Bug: External image viewers receive wrong folder context/order when opening images from Files

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Description

### Description

In Windows File Explorer, when I open an image from a folder, external image viewers correctly understand the surrounding folder order. The viewer's filmstrip / bottom strip / previous-next navigation follows the expected order of the folder.

However, when I open the same image from Files, the order inside the image viewer becomes incorrect or seemingly random. The currently opened image may appear as if it is somewhere in the middle of the folder, even when it is actually the last image in the folder.

This is not limited to one specific image viewer. I can reproduce the issue with multiple external image viewers, including Google Picasa Photo Viewer and Fly Photos. Microsoft Photos / Photos Legacy behavior is related, but this report is not only about Microsoft Photos.

Changing the sort order inside Files does not fix the issue. Resetting Files settings or reinstalling Windows does not change the behavior either. This appears to be caused by how Files opens image files or passes folder context to external applications.

### Steps To Reproduce

1. Create a folder with multiple images, for example:
2. Open the folder in Windows File Explorer.
3. Open `010.jpg` with an external image viewer, for example Google Picasa Photo Viewer or Fly Photos.
4. Check the viewer's filmstrip / bottom strip / previous-next navigation order.
5. Open the same folder in Files.
6. Open the same `010.jpg` with the same external image viewer.
7. Check the viewer's filmstrip / bottom strip / previous-next navigation order again.
8. Compare the behavior with Windows File Explorer.

Result: when launched from Windows File Explorer, the viewer uses the expected folder order. When launched from Files, the viewer order is wrong, unstable, or different from the folder order.

### Files Version

4.1.3.0

### Windows Version

10.0.26200.8655

### User ID

36af0b00-62d5-40bd-a647-7f15e36ed7e7

### Log File

Not applicable.

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