[solved] How to open a parallel path within a structure seeing the target path of its sister structure?

[beb]

Example input data:
the root folder of the first parallel/sister structure is:
"d:\structure"
the root folder of the second parallel/sister structure is:
"x:\cloud\backup\structure"
The child content of both sister structures is implied to be identical.
The differences in paths are put in red, the identical parts are blue.

Goal:
Being within the first structure (opened in the TotalCommander active pane), let's say under the active path:
"d:\structure\level\sublevel"
I switch to the other pane and the above path becomes the target.
Now I want a parallel folder within the sister structure to be opened (in the TotalCommander now active pane) regarding the target.
So, the new active pane path should become as follows:
"x:\cloud\backup\structure\level\sublevel"

My approach:
- the target path in TotalCommander is represented by the %T variable.
- I take %T, skip its 2 characters, and then extract everything else, which should fall into syntax: %T~2
so, while %T returns: "d:\structure\level\sublevel\",
the %T~2 should return: "\structure\level\sublevel\",
- Then I take the part of a sister path that differs: "x:\cloud\backup"
- Those two together ("x:\cloud\backup" and %T~2) should give the desired result: x:\cloud\backup\structure
The final command is:

Code: Select all

cd x:\cloud\backup%T~2

or could be (if you want):

Code: Select all

cd x:\cloud\backup\%T~3

But it just does not work as intended.
So what I miss here.
What's the actual syntax?

[beb]

I can make it in PowerShell, for instance, as simple as this:
user command:

Code: Select all

[em_tc_goToSister_ps1]
cmd=pwsh -c "%commander_path%\Plugins\app\PowerShell\tcGoToSister.ps1"
param=%T

tcGoToSister.ps1:

Code: Select all

& $env:commander_exe /o $args[0] ('x:\cloud\backup' + $args[0].substring(3))

or as a one-liner user command (without .ps1):

Code: Select all

[em_tc_goToSister]
cmd=pwsh -c
param=sv t -value %T;& $env:commander_exe /o $t ('x:\cloud\backup' + $t.substring(3))

But I'm still looking for a native way/command.

[white]

So what I miss here.
What's the actual syntax?

You are using parameter pseudo variables in the command field instead the parameter field. Move the parameter of the cd command to the parameter field.

It's only possible to use paramater variables in the command field when using them in paramaters of em_ commands while leaving the parameters field empty.

[beb]

2white
Thanks, I know that.
The actual construction is as follows:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd
"x:\cloud\backup\%T:~3"
%commander_exe%



-1

The essence of the issue remains the same: how to get the substring of %T.
If I know the length of %T (let's say it is 27 characters), I can put it that way and it would work:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd
"x:\cloud\backup\%T:~3,27"
%commander_exe%



-1

But what to do if the length itself is variable?
How to extract the ending part of %T starting from a given character to the very end?
Looks as though TotalCommander does not understand "%T:~3" syntax which is a part of the standard approach to retrieve specific characters from a string variable in cmd.

[white]

But what to do if the length itself is variable?

I had noticed that too. That's why I suggested in another case to simply use a high number:

...
and use (for example) %A:~-0,1024 in the parameter field of the em_pdflatex command

Take a high number of your choice
Or use -1 to cut off the backslash at the end.

[beb]

Lol, I did it.
As I figured out, in TotalCommander "%T:~3" returns only one character, the first one of the remainder of the ":~3" removal operation (the fourth one in absolute count), so it's useless here.
It turns out, since %T includes the backslash (\) at the end, "%T:~3,-1"
does the trick:
"~3" removes the first three chars of the target path (which is "d:\" in my example)
"-1" removes the terminal char of the target path (which is always "\" and has no special value).
Thus, regarding the given example, "%T:~3,-1" here returns the desired usable reminder: "structure\level\sublevel"
So, the nearly* final working result is as follows:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd
"x:\cloud\backup\%T:~3,-1"
%commander_exe%
go to sister structure


-1

or (if you want):

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd
"x:\cloud\backup%T:~2,-1"
%commander_exe%
go to sister structure


-1

* Note: They are "nearly final" because it works so far only if the path does not contain spaces.

Edit: strikethrough

[beb]

Or use -1 to cut off the backslash at the end.

Yes, it did the trick.
I saw it in the help "Example: %P:~0,-1 cuts off the backslash from the path." and tried.
Thank for your help and time.
There's still a step to go with those spaces, though.

[white]

* Note: They are "nearly final" because it works so far only if the path does not contain spaces.

What exactly is the problem if the path contains spaces?

[beb]

2white
The command cannot handle the spaced paths.
If the remainder of "%T" contains a spaced entry the command follows the resulting path within the sister destination only until it meets the first space, i.e.:
target path:
"d:\structure\level\sublevel\prespaced\spa ced\postspaced\"
"%T:~3,-1" result:
"structure\level\sublevel\prespaced\spa ced\postspaced"
sister path:
"x:\cloud\backup\structure\level\sublevel\prespaced\spa ced\postspaced"

The command reaches only the "prespaced" level:
"x:\cloud\backup\structure\level\sublevel\prespaced"
but cannot enter the "spa ced" entry and get to the actual destination ("postspaced").

Edit: strikethrough

[white]

The command reaches only the "prespaced" level:
"x:\cloud\backup\structure\level\sublevel\prespaced"
but cannot enter the "spa ced" entry and get to the actual destination ("postspaced").

That probably means the folder names are not the same. Perhaps one has 2 spaces?
BTW, when using the cd command, quotes can be left out as well (when not used in a list of multiple commands).

[beb]

2white
Oh, my bad.
It works -- there was a mistake on my side.
Sorry.
The command does work as intended.

[petermad]

2beb
Have you thought about using the cm_SyncChangeDir command once you are in "d:\structure" and "x:\cloud\backup\structure" - with this command activated both panels will update when you go down the levels under "d:\structure"

[white]

Have you thought about using the cm_SyncChangeDir command once you are in "d:\structure" and "x:\cloud\backup\structure" - with this command activated both panels will update when you go down the levels under "d:\structure"

Or combining it with the command "cm_SyncChangeDir 1" (and creating an em_ command for de cd thingy).

[beb]

2petermad,white
No. I had not. Yet. Until you've asked.


As you can see, I picked a straight-forward track and followed it to the end for today.
Of course, tomorrow comes the other day...

Currently, the solutions 1-4:

[1,2] Native TotalCommander's (the fastest one) [a button]:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd
"x:\cloud\backup\%T:~3,-1"
%commander_exe%



-1

and/or

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd
"x:\cloud\backup%T:~2,-1"
%commander_exe%



-1

[3] PowerShell .ps1 based [a user command]:

Code: Select all

[em_tc_goToSister_ps1]
cmd=pwsh -c "%commander_path%\Plugins\app\PowerShell\tcGoToSister.ps1"
param='"'%T'"'

Note the massively-quote-surrounded param='"'%T'"' as a workaround for the spaced paths.
Where tcGoToSister.ps1 is:

Code: Select all

& $env:commander_exe /o $args[0] ('x:\cloud\backup' + $args[0].substring(3))

[4] PowerShell one-liner based [a user command]:

Code: Select all

[em_tc_goToSister]
cmd=pwsh -c
param=sv t -value '%T';& $env:commander_exe /o $('"'+$t+'"') $('"'+'x:\cloud\backup' + $t.substring(3)+'"')

Note the single-quote-surrounded param= ... '%T' as a workaround for the spaced paths.