microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys
CmdPal: Run should support autocompleting env vars
- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 139k
- Forks
- 8.6k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
### Description of the new feature / enhancement
I have two features that I used a lot in PowerToys Run that don't work the same in CmdPal:
1. Show environment variables in file search results
2. Ability to enter tool shortcut after you've started typing
### Scenario when this would be used?
# Show environment variables in file search results:
## PowerToys Run Behaviour:
1. Attempting to open `%userprofile%`
2. Type `%user` in CmdPal
3. `%userprofile%` is the top result, press enter to open the folder
## CmdPal Behaviour:
Currently, you have to type out the entire `%userprofile%` in order for this to display in CmdPal, and even then it's the second option.
Second request that was a dupe of #38877
# Ability to enter tool shortcut after you've started typing
## PowerToys Run Behaviour:
1. Type `display` in the search box
2. Realise you only wanted to search in settings
3. Navigate back to the start of the line and type `$`
4. Only results from settings are displayed
## CmdPal Behaviour:
After adding the `$` at the start of the search query, only web and file fallback results are displayed
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start with CmdPal's search behavior and the file-search results described in the issue. Reproduce typing `%user` and adding `$` after an existing query, then trace the relevant autocomplete and shortcut handling; done means environment variables appear as top results and shortcut-scoped results remain available in both cases.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- c
- Domain
- desktop, search
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100