Can VSCode always open a default folder (for Ctrl + P searching) even if opening a file in different folder?

Question

Is it possible to have VSCode always have a particular folder ("Directory A") open, so the files inside can be searched using Ctrl + P?

It seems the standard behaviour is that my current "added folder" (ie "Directory A") get removed whenever I open a file from a different location ("Directory B").

Closing VSCode and re-opening it always returns me to the last used file (ie opening "Directory B" and NOT "Directory A").

How can I force VSCode to always have a certain folder open please?

NB, I've looked into "workspaces" but this doesn't help as whenever opening a file not in the workspace, it seems to close the workspace.

Answer 1

Add Directory A to your workspace using File > Add Folder to Workspace...

Then rather than opening Directory B when you launch VSCode, open the .vscode-workspace file for the workspace that contains both directories.

If there are multiple files in your workspace which match the filename you're searching for using CTRL+P, all the matching files will show up.

Answer 2

The solution, at least on linux, is to create a script with the following content (let's call the script code-standard-path ):

#!/bin/bash
code /path/to/standardDir-or-standardworkspace "$1"

Then from caja right click on a file : open with -> other application . Then select the command code-standard-path and check Remember this application for "..." files .

Now everytime you double-click on the specific file from whatever location, vscode will open in that predefined directory or workspace.

You can move a bit further and pass the standard path as first argument to the script (eg use code "$1" "$2" ). So on the open with menu you provide each time the script like this: code-standard-path /path/to/standardDir-or-standardworkspace .

This gives you the ability to open a differrent standard path depending on the file you open (eg for .c , .java , .html )

Answer 3

Had the same issue. But there is an easy fix:

On the menu bar go to file File > Preferences > Settings > Window and under Restore Windows select the option preserve .

This will ALWAYS reopen the last session, no matter if you start VS from shell, desktop shortcut or by opening a file.

Answer 4

1. Open settings File > Preferences > Settings Or by clicking (ctrl + comma)
2. Type "include" in search bar
3. Find "Search > Quick Open: Include History"
4. Uncheck the option