【tasks.json】 How to get the path of the currently selected folder in the side bar in VSCode

Question

"tasks": [
{
    "label": "Create_Folder_and_Markdown_File",
    "type": "shell",
    "command": "touch \"${workspaceFolder}/${input:promptFolderName}/${input:promptFolderName}.md\"",
    "presentation": {
        "echo": true,
        "reveal": "always",
        "focus": false,
        "panel": "shared",
        "showReuseMessage": true,
        "clear": true
    },
    "dependsOn": [
        "Create_Folder"
    ]
},
{
    "label": "Create_Folder",
    "type": "shell",
    "command": "mkdir \"${workspaceFolder}/${input:promptFolderName}\"",
    "presentation": {
        "echo": true,
        "reveal": "always",
        "focus": false,
        "panel": "shared",
        "showReuseMessage": true,
        "clear": true
    },
}
],
"inputs": [
    {
        "type": "promptString",
        "id": "promptFolderName",
        "description": "Enter the folder name:"
    }
],

In VSCode, I want to develop a task to create a certain folder with the name I type in the prompt, and then create a markdown file of the same name inside the folder.

Say I have selected 1 in the side bar. I want to create 1/mark, and then create 1/mark/mark.md. And I want to achieve this by typing in the prompt only mark, with folder 1 selected in the side bar

However, I seem to have no access to the folder I SELECT IN THE SIDE BAR!!!

${fileDirname} is not Valid because I do not open any file in the editor.

${workspaceFolder}="1" is also wrong because I do not want the root folder.

Answer 1

I wrote the extension Command Variable and with v1.56.0 you can implement this by using the context menu of the VSC File Explorer.

Define the following in your tasks.json:

"tasks": [
{
    "label": "Create_Folder_and_Markdown_File",
    "type": "shell",
    "command": "touch \"${input:getClipboard}/${input:rememberFolderName}/${input:rememberFolderName}.md\"",
    "presentation": {
        "echo": true,
        "reveal": "always",
        "focus": false,
        "panel": "shared",
        "showReuseMessage": true,
        "clear": true
    },
    "problemMatcher": [],
    "dependsOn": [
        "Create_Folder"
    ]
},
{
    "label": "Create_Folder",
    "type": "shell",
    "command": "mkdir \"${input:getClipboard}/${input:promptFolderName}\"",
    "presentation": {
        "echo": true,
        "reveal": "always",
        "focus": false,
        "panel": "shared",
        "showReuseMessage": true,
        "clear": true
    },
    "problemMatcher": []
}
],
"inputs": [
    {
      "id": "promptFolderName",
      "type": "command",
      "command": "extension.commandvariable.promptStringRemember",
      "args": {
        "key": "FolderName",
        "description": "Enter the folder name:"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "rememberFolderName",
      "type": "command",
      "command": "extension.commandvariable.remember",
      "args": {
        "key": "FolderName"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "getClipboard",
      "type": "command",
      "command": "extension.commandvariable.getClipboard"
    }
]

The task uses the possibility to remember what you have entered, no need to type Enter to confirm the previous text.

VSC has a task/launch variable ${CLIPBOARD} but it returns an empty string in my version of VSC. So I added a command to get the clipboard content.

---

In the File Explorer Right-Click on the folder and select the option Copy Path.

Now start your task: Create_Folder_and_Markdown_File