Example

Dependency

The following programs are required by the pre command:

1. chafa - print image in terminal(the kernel)
2. eza - preview directory
3. bat - preview text/source files
4. pdftoppm - preview pdf files
5. ddjvu - preview djvu files
6. magick - preview fonts
7. ffmpegthumbnailer - preview videos
8. archivemount/fuse-zip - preview tar(.gz) or zip files
9. gnome-epub-thumbnailer - preview EPub or MOBI books

To make chafa work, your terminal must support the sixel protocol, and your shell must be Zsh.

Usage

Add this script to your PATH.

basic

Provide a filename as an argument like this:

$ pre test.pdf
$ pre test.mp4
$ pre test.png
$ pre times.ttf
$ pre test.epub

play with fzf

Add the following script to your .zshrc:

function ipre() {
    local cmd file
    if [[ -n "$IPRE_LS" ]]; then
        cmd=(${=IPRE_LS})
    else
        cmd=(
            fd --hidden --follow
            -E .git
            -E target
            -E .cargo
            -E build
            -E .npm
            -E node_modules
            -E .cache
            -E dist
            -E out
            -E lsp-bridge
            # other ignore dir
            -E .java
            -E .gradle
            -E .nuget
            -E .steam
            -E .android
            -E .ipython
            -E .vscode
            -E .vscode-oss
            -E .oh-my-zsh
            -E .emacs-tmp
            -E .pub-cache
            -E .proxyman
            . # search all patterns
            )
    fi
    if [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; then
        cmd+=("$@")
    fi
    # file select and preview
    cmd_str=$(printf '%q ' "${cmd[@]}")
    # merge with fzf
    FZF_STATE_FILE="$HOME/.cache/pre_thumbs/fzf_state"
    echo "file" > "$FZF_STATE_FILE"
    file=$(
        "${cmd[@]}" | fzf \
        --multi \
        --prompt "ipre > " \
        --preview 'pre {}' \
        --height=50% --reverse \
        --preview-window=right:60% \
        --bind 'resize:refresh-preview' \
        --bind 'focus,load:transform-header:file --brief {}' \
        --bind "\`:reload(\
               if grep -qxF 'file' '$FZF_STATE_FILE'; then \
                   echo 'directory' > '$FZF_STATE_FILE' && \
                   $cmd_str --type f $dir; \
               elif grep -qxF 'directory' '$FZF_STATE_FILE'; then \
                   echo 'all' > '$FZF_STATE_FILE' && \
                   $cmd_str --type d $dir; \
               else \
                   echo 'file' > '$FZF_STATE_FILE' && \
                   $cmd_str $dir; \
               fi)" \
        --bind 'alt-a:select-all' \
        --bind 'alt-a:+execute-silent(echo {+} | wl-copy)' \
        --bind 'alt-y:execute-silent(echo {} | wl-copy)' \
        --bind "alt-r:execute-silent(rm -f {})+reload($cmd_str)" \
        --bind "alt-left:reload($cmd_str $dir)" \
        --bind "alt-right:reload(\
               if [[ -d '{}' ]]; then \
                  $cmd_str {}; \
               else \
                  $cmd_str \$(dirname {}); \
               fi)"
        )
    # post action for selection:
    [[ -z "$file" ]] && return
    if [[ -d "$file" ]]; then
        cd "$file"
        exit 0
    fi
    case "${file:l}" in
        *.png|*.jpg|*.jpeg|*.gif|*.webp|*.bmp|*.tiff)
            nohup imv "$file" &>/dev/null &
            ;;
        *.pdf|*.djvu|*.epub|*.mobi)
            nohup zathura "$file" &>/dev/null &
            ;;
        *.tar|*.tar.gz|*.tgz|*.tar.xz|*.txz|*.tar.bz2|*.tbz2)
            return
            ;;
        *.zip)
            return
            ;;
        # for text files to open:
        *)
            ${EDITOR:-nvim} "$file"
            ;;
    esac
}

To use this function, install the following:

1. fd/fzf - the kernel
2. imv - open image
3. zathura - open pdf
4. nvim - the text editor

Using examples:

ipre                  # search current directory
ipre <dir>            # search dir
ipre <dir_1> ... <dir_n>  # search all of these directories together 

Notes:

• set IPRE_LS to change the default search method;
• set EDITOR to change the default text file opener command;
• you may need to replace wl-copy with your own clipboard program;

Config

Configure this program by environment variables.

• set EZA_ARG to change the default argument of eza;
• set FONT_TEXT to change the sample text in font-preview.

WARNING

• if pdf-preview does NOT work, clean the folder ~/.cache/pre_thumbs.
• before clear the cache folder ~/.cache/pre_thumbs, run umount ~/.cache/pre_thumbs/mnt first !!!