Open from path - changes the current file browser directory

[anoopkatti]

Description

When you open a file with 'File' -> 'Open from path', it changes the directory in the file browser to the directory of the file that is opened.

'Open from path' allows one to open any file on the file system. However,

1. It doesn't necessarily mean that I want to switch my current file browser directory to this one.
2. More importantly, if the target directory has 100s of 1000s of files and I wish to open only one of those file from its path, then changing the browser directory to this directory will just crash jupyter.

This behaviour did not exist in jupyterlab version 0.35.6. I am observing this behaviour in 1.1.4.

Reproduce

1. Go to 'File'
2. Click on 'Open from path'
3. Enter the path to a file and press enter

Expected behavior

When I open a file from 'Open from path', I expect that the file opens and the file browser doesn't change the directory.

Context

• Operating System and version:
• Browser and version:
• JupyterLab version:

Troubleshoot Output

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Command Line Output

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Browser Output

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[jasongrout]

Thanks for bringing this up. It seems pretty natural as well to expect the filebrowser to open to the relevant directory so that the file is highlighted. If you type a directory in the dialog, that is even explicitly indicating the filebrowser should open the directory.

So how do we address both expectations? What is a natural way to discern the user expectation? A system-wide setting? A checkbox in the open dialog? It would be useful to have a user survey to understand what percentage have each expectation.

[jasongrout]

Your second point is compelling. Of course, we really should fix jlab to handle 1000s of files if it isn't. Does it really crash?