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Asked: 2024-09-24T05:06:09+05:30 In:

How can I prevent certain files from appearing in the Quick Open feature of Visual Studio Code while still keeping them visible in the Explorer panel?

anonymous user

Hey everyone, so I’ve been diving into Visual Studio Code lately, and I’ve hit a bit of a snag that I’m hoping you can help me with. I love how powerful VS Code is, especially the Quick Open feature (Ctrl + P is a lifesaver for jumping around files quickly!). However, I’ve got some files that I don’t want popping up in that Quick Open search. These are files that I use occasionally but don’t need cluttering up my quick access list.

Here’s the deal: the files I’m talking about are mostly configuration files and some documentation that I reference from time to time, but they’re not part of my regular coding workflow. I still want them to be accessible in the Explorer panel—because, you know, they might come in handy when I need them—but I’d rather they stay hidden when I’m trying to quickly navigate through the more important code files.

I’ve tried a few things like adding them to a `.gitignore` file or tweaking settings here and there, but nothing seems to work quite like I want it to. I know there’s a setting for excluding files from the Explorer, but I really want to keep them visible there.

Has anyone found a way to specifically prevent certain files from showing up in the Quick Open results while keeping them viewable in the Explorer view? Maybe there’s something I’m missing in the settings or a plugin that could help with this? I’d appreciate any tips or workarounds you might have.

It’s a little frustrating because I don’t want to accidentally open those files when I’m in the zone working on something else. I can’t imagine I’m the only one dealing with this kind of setup, so I’m eager to hear how others might have tackled this problem. Any insights would be super appreciated!

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    2 Answers

    1. anonymous user

      I totally get what you’re saying! The Quick Open feature in VS Code is super handy, but it can get cluttered, especially with files that you don’t need all the time. I’ve been in a similar situation with files I only reference occasionally.

      First off, while you can definitely change the settings to exclude files from showing in the Explorer, that’s obviously not what you want. Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to exclude specific files from the Quick Open results while keeping them visible in the Explorer at the moment.

      But here’s a workaround that might help! You can use a plugin called VSCode Exclude. It allows you to set up some patterns to exclude files from search results, including Quick Open. You might have to play around with the settings a bit, but it should help you filter out those pesky config or documentation files.

      Another thing to try is to rename those files with a prefix (like ‘zzz_’ or ‘ignore_’). This way, they will show up at the bottom of the Quick Open results, making it less likely that you’ll accidentally open them while you’re coding. It’s not ideal, but it can make a difference!

      If you haven’t already, you might also want to check out the settings for search.exclude and files.exclude in the settings.json file to see if there’s anything you can tweak that might help, even though it sounds like you want to keep them in the Explorer.

      Hope this helps a bit, and good luck with your coding! If you find a better solution, let us know!

    2. anonymous user

      To prevent certain files from appearing in the Quick Open search in Visual Studio Code while keeping them visible in the Explorer panel, you can use the files.exclude setting in the VS Code settings. However, since you want those files to remain accessible in the Explorer, while they should be hidden in the Quick Open function, you can use the search.exclude setting. This will allow you to exclude specific files from search results, which includes the Quick Open functionality. To do this, open your settings (File > Preferences > Settings), search for search.exclude, and add the files or patterns you want to hide from the Quick Open search. For example, you can add patterns like "**/*.config" or "**/*.md" for documentation files.

      If that doesn’t completely solve your issues, consider using a dedicated extension that offers enhanced filtering capabilities for the Quick Open feature. Extensions like “Hide Files” or “File Utils” allow for more granular control over which files are shown or hidden in the Quick Open command. You may need to experiment with different settings and extensions until you find a setup that best fits your workflow. This way, you can streamline your navigation and avoid the accidental opening of less relevant files while still keeping them accessible when needed.

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