convenience functionality for browse button (requested by Colin for the sequence editor, useful for managing files for the final edit)

- Holding Alt while clocking on the browse button opens a file browser with the containing dir.
- Holding Shift opens the file its self in the default application.

obscure but at least theres a tooltip so its not totally hidden.

release/scripts/op/wm.py

@@ -430,6 +430,40 @@ class WM_OT_url_open(bpy.types.Operator):
         return {'FINISHED'}
 
 
+class WM_OT_path_open(bpy.types.Operator):
+    "Open a path in a file browser"
+    bl_idname = "wm.path_open"
+    bl_label = ""
+
+    filepath = StringProperty(name="File Path", maxlen= 1024)
+
+    def execute(self, context):
+        import sys
+        import os
+        import subprocess
+
+        filepath = bpy.utils.expandpath(self.properties.filepath)
+        filepath = os.path.normpath(filepath)
+        
+        if not os.path.exists(filepath):
+            self.report({'ERROR'}, "File '%s' not found" % filepath)
+            return {'CANCELLED'}
+        
+        if sys.platform == 'win32':
+            subprocess.Popen(['start', filepath], shell= True)
+        elif sys.platform == 'darwin':
+            subprocess.Popen(['open', filepath])
+        else:
+            try:
+                subprocess.Popen(['xdg-open', filepath])
+            except OSError:
+                # xdg-open *should* be supported by recent Gnome, KDE, Xfce
+                pass
+
+        return {'FINISHED'}
+
+
+
 class WM_OT_doc_view(bpy.types.Operator):
     '''Load online reference docs'''
     bl_idname = "wm.doc_view"
@@ -562,6 +596,7 @@ classes = [
     WM_OT_context_modal_mouse,
 
     WM_OT_url_open,
+    WM_OT_path_open,
 
     WM_OT_doc_view,
     WM_OT_doc_edit,

source/blender/editors/interface/interface_layout.c

@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ static uiBut *ui_item_with_label(uiLayout *layout, uiBlock *block, char *name, i
 		uiDefAutoButR(block, ptr, prop, index, "", icon, x, y, w-UI_UNIT_X, h);
 
 		/* BUTTONS_OT_file_browse calls uiFileBrowseContextProperty */
-		but= uiDefIconButO(block, BUT, "BUTTONS_OT_file_browse", WM_OP_INVOKE_DEFAULT, ICON_FILESEL, x, y, UI_UNIT_X, h, "Browse for file or directory");
+		but= uiDefIconButO(block, BUT, "BUTTONS_OT_file_browse", WM_OP_INVOKE_DEFAULT, ICON_FILESEL, x, y, UI_UNIT_X, h, NULL);
 	}
 	else if(subtype == PROP_DIRECTION) {
 		uiDefButR(block, BUT_NORMAL, 0, name, x, y, 100, 100, ptr, RNA_property_identifier(prop), index, 0, 0, -1, -1, NULL);

source/blender/editors/space_buttons/buttons_ops.c

@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@
 
 #include "DNA_userdef_types.h"
 
+#include "BLI_fileops.h"
+
 #include "BKE_context.h"
+#include "BKE_global.h" /* G.sce only */
 
 #include "WM_api.h"
 #include "WM_types.h"
@@ -120,30 +123,53 @@ static int file_browse_invoke(bContext *C, wmOperator *op, wmEvent *event)
 
 	if(!prop)
 		return OPERATOR_CANCELLED;
-	
-	fbo= MEM_callocN(sizeof(FileBrowseOp), "FileBrowseOp");
-	fbo->ptr= ptr;
-	fbo->prop= prop;
-	op->customdata= fbo;
 
 	str= RNA_property_string_get_alloc(&ptr, prop, 0, 0);
-	RNA_string_set(op->ptr, "filepath", str);
-	MEM_freeN(str);
 
-	if(RNA_struct_find_property(op->ptr, "relative_path"))
-		if(!RNA_property_is_set(op->ptr, "relative_path"))
-			RNA_boolean_set(op->ptr, "relative_path", U.flag & USER_RELPATHS);
+	/* useful yet irritating feature, Shift+Click to open the file
+	 * Alt+Click to browse a folder in the OS's browser */
+	if(event->shift || event->alt) {
+		PointerRNA props_ptr;
 
-	WM_event_add_fileselect(C, op); 
-	
-	return OPERATOR_RUNNING_MODAL;
+		if(event->alt) {
+			char *lslash= BLI_last_slash(str);
+			if(lslash)
+				*lslash= '\0';
+		}
+
+
+		WM_operator_properties_create(&props_ptr, "WM_OT_path_open");
+		RNA_string_set(&props_ptr, "filepath", str);
+		WM_operator_name_call(C, "WM_OT_path_open", WM_OP_EXEC_DEFAULT, &props_ptr);
+		WM_operator_properties_free(&props_ptr);
+
+		MEM_freeN(str);
+		return OPERATOR_CANCELLED;
+	}
+	else {
+		fbo= MEM_callocN(sizeof(FileBrowseOp), "FileBrowseOp");
+		fbo->ptr= ptr;
+		fbo->prop= prop;
+		op->customdata= fbo;
+
+		RNA_string_set(op->ptr, "filepath", str);
+		MEM_freeN(str);
+
+		if(RNA_struct_find_property(op->ptr, "relative_path"))
+			if(!RNA_property_is_set(op->ptr, "relative_path"))
+				RNA_boolean_set(op->ptr, "relative_path", U.flag & USER_RELPATHS);
+
+		WM_event_add_fileselect(C, op);
+
+		return OPERATOR_RUNNING_MODAL;
+	}
 }
 
 void BUTTONS_OT_file_browse(wmOperatorType *ot)
 {
 	/* identifiers */
 	ot->name= "Accept";
-	ot->description="Open a file browser";
+	ot->description="Open a file browser, Hold Shift to open the file, Alt to browse containing directory";
 	ot->idname= "BUTTONS_OT_file_browse";
 	
 	/* api callbacks */