[Feature request] command-line `--reveal` option to select a file in its parent folder

[aronyomitra]

Feature request: Add command-line --reveal option to select a file in its parent folder

Summary

I would like Explorer++ to support a command-line option for revealing/selecting a file in its parent directory, similar to how Windows Explorer supports opening a folder with a specific file selected.

For example:

Explorer++.exe --reveal "C:\Users\Alice\Documents\example.txt"

Expected behavior:

• Explorer++ opens C:\Users\Alice\Documents
• example.txt is highlighted/selected in the file list
• The file itself is not opened/launched

Another example:

Explorer++.exe --reveal "C:\Programming\python\projects"

Expected behaviour:

• Explorer++ opens "C:\Programming\python"
• "projects" directory is highlighted/selected

Motivation

This would be useful when integrating Explorer++ with other tools, terminals, editors, file managers, launchers, and scripts.

Many applications have a “Reveal in file manager” or “Show in folder” action. Currently, Explorer++ can be launched with a directory path, but there does not seem to be a way to open the parent folder and select something.

This makes it harder to use Explorer++ as the default lightweight file manager for workflows where a program wants to reveal a specific file (yazi cough).

Possible syntax

Explorer++.exe --reveal "C:\path\to\file.txt"

Alternative names could also work, such as:

Explorer++.exe /select "C:\path\to\file.txt"
Explorer++.exe --select "C:\path\to\file.txt"
Explorer++.exe --show-item "C:\path\to\file.txt"

But --reveal feels clear because the intent is to reveal the item in its containing folder, not open the file.