FileBrowser

FileBrowser is mini File System browser for Scriptable which can be used to:

• browse the local file system¹
• browse iCloud folders¹
• browse bookmarked folders.

FileBrowser can be also used as a file picker for local directories.

¹Files and folders accessible through the sandbox. Jailbroken devices will be able to browse the whole file system.

Example Usage:

const {FileBrowser} = importModule('file-browser')
const path = FileManager.local().documentsDirectory()
const browser = new FileBrowser(path)
const file = await browser.present()

Download

DOWNLOAD using Import-Script or copy the code from file-browser.js and save in Scriptable.

Methods

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new FileBrowser

Construct a new FileBrowser.

new FileBrowser(path, options)

Parameters

path : the directory to browse

options : a JSON value indicating the additional options to change the behaviour of the browser

• canBrowseParent: Boolean: allow browsing above the initial path. Useful for exploring outside the known directories. Default false.
• precheckAccess: Boolean: while listing directory contents, check each sub-directory is accessible or not. Inaccessible directories will be colored in red. Default true.
• fullscreen: Boolean: open the file browser in fullscreen. Default true.

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+browse(path, options)

A static method with the same parametes as the constructor. This allows the caller to open the file browser by simply calling FileBrowser.browse(). If the path parameter is null, a list of predefined locations to choose from will be presented. Use this to explore the file system or just run the script itself.

browse(): Promise<FileInfo>

-present

Launches the file browser returns a JSON value containing information about the selected file.

In version 1.1 a pickFile alias was introduced because technically, FileBrowser is a file picker. So, so it makes more sense to say FileBrowser.picFile().

present(): Promise<FileInfo>

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-previewFile

Deprecated. use FileBrowser.view() instead. Will be obsoleted on the next major version.

opens a QuickLook on the file. path is the path to the file. FileBrowser will try to auto-detect images and present the image itself. Any other file will be treated as a text file. If it is unable to read the file contents, it will show <eof>.

previewFile(path:String)

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+pickScriptableDirectory

Presents a list of built-in directories that Scriptable has access to. Choosing any of them will return the path to that directory.

pickScriptableDirectory(): String

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+view

Opens a QuickLook on the file. path is the path to the file. FileBrowser will try to auto-detect the file type and present with the suitable viewer. If it is unable to read the file contents, it will show <unable to read contents>.

view(path:String)

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+viewImage

QuickLook on an image file.

viewImage(path:String)

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+viewText

Reads a file as text and presents via Quick Look.

viewText(path:String)

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+viewJSON

Reads a file as text and parses as JSON. It is presented using Quick Look which allowed navigating around the structure.

viewJSON(path:String)

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+viewPath

Passes the file path to the built-in QuickLook.present().

viewPath(path:String)

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+viewOctet

Reads the file as Data bytes and converts bytes into a string and present via Quick Look.

viewOctet(path:String)

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+addViewer

Reads the file as Data bytes and converts bytes into a string and present via Quick Look. It accepts a JSON or a class which contains the mimetype and view keys.

addViewer(viewer = {mimetype:String, view:Promise<function(path:String)>})

Parameters

mimetype : the mime type of the file that will be handled by the viewer. Example image/jpeg

view : a function that accepts a path to the file and presents it for viewing.

Properties

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-canBrowseParent

Allow browsing above the inital path. Useful for exploring outside the known directories.

canBrowseParent: Boolean

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-fullscreen

Open the file browser in full screen.

fullscreen: Boolean

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-path

The initial path to use when the FileBrowser is presented. By default, navigating to the parent directory of this folder is not allowed. Pass the canBrowseParent option to override.

path: String

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-precheckAccess

Test and colorized inaccessible sub-directories.

precheckAccess: Boolean

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-pwd

The current directory being displayed.

pwd: String

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+viewers

An array of key-value pairs representing the default file viewers

viewers: {}

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Examples

Browse a bookmarked path

const path = FileManager.bookmarkedPath('Shortcuts')
const browser = new FileBrowser(path)
const file = await browser.present()

Open a specific folder

const {FileBrowser} = importModule('file-browser')
const path = '/Developer'
const browser = new FileBrowser(path)
const file = await browser.present()

Disable access precheck

const {FileBrowser} = importModule('file-browser')
const path = '/Developer'
const browser = new FileBrowser(path, {precheckAccess:false})
const file = await browser.present()

FileInfo Class

A class to identify and provide metadata about a file.

const file = new FileInfo(filePath: String)
/*
metadata sample
{
    "isDir"     : false,
    "type"      : "file",
    "nameOnDisk": "AccessibilityDefinitions.plist,
    "pathOnDisk": "/System/Library/Accessibility/AccessibilityDefinitions.plist",
    "parent"    : "/System/Library/Accessibility/",
    "name"      : "AccessibilityDefinitions.plist",
    "basename"  : "AccessibilityDefinitions",
    "path"      : "/System/Library/Accessibility/AccessibilityDefinitions.plist",
    "size"      : 584,
    "isOnCloud" : false,
    "modified"  : "2020-01-01T08:00:00.000Z",
    "isImage"   : false,
    "mimetype"  : "application/xml",
    "canAccess" : true,
    "itemCount" : 0,
    "uti"       : "com.apple.property-list",
    "extension" : "plist",
    "isCloudAlias": false
}
*/