"Project mode" for easier file handling of whole games

[c08oprkiua]

Before opening this issue, I ensure that...

• I have checked both open and closed issues and confirmed this feature has not already been requested.
• I acknowledge the addition of this feature is neither guaranteed nor a priority.
• This request is not related to any unofficial forks of the editor, and any requests related to those should be kept in the appropriate repository.

Editor Tool

Other

Requested Feature

This feature would allow you to open a single Data folder as the "root" of a project, and then any subsequent opening of files will assume that data folder as the root. This would also allow for contextual file opening shortcuts:

• Things like opening the GameConfig could be entirely replaced by an "Open GameConfig" button, for example, since that path is entirely hardcoded within the game's files.
• Other file shortcuts could be provided on a relative level, such as being able to open global scripts or the scripts of a scene from a drop-down menu selection (for example, each listing would have the relative path listed in the GameConfig/StageConfig as its label) when the level is open in the editor, since the full path information can be pieced together from what's in the GameConfig/StageConfig joined with the Data folder's path. ...Ok that isn't the best example, considering RetroED doesn't have a builtin script editor (yet), but hopefully you get the idea.

Also as a sidenote, maybe have a project folder tree generator. It's a kinda minor thing, but it'd be a nice QOL thing to have-

Additional Comments

No response

[c08oprkiua]

Another example: After loading a GameConfig, a drop down menu can be made that mimics the Categories menu in the GameConfig editor, but instead, it offers a shortcuts open a scene's act file in the stage editor

[MegAmi24]

I believe what you're asking for is essentially Maniac Editor's "Open Data Directory" feature. The problem is that I don't see much benefit from a feature like this; the difference would just be a file tree of the Data folder compared to a file dialog window. Is that really much better from just navigating your Data directory in the dialog window?

[c08oprkiua]

1. I've never used Maniac, so I wouldn't know.
2. Yes, yes it is:
   • Some file dialogs, like opening the GameConfig, can be entirely skipped and replaced by a button, which would be in a drop-down menu alongside the Tools, File, etc. menus, which is most definitely faster than opening a file dialog, hands down.
   • Setting a default file tree would also help reduce time spent in file navigation caused by the default behavior of the file navigation window. When you open subsequent files in RetroED after opening your first file, it will open to your last file's folder. For example, if I were to open a scene and then a GameConfig, when I go to open the GameConfig, I have to navigate back out of the subdirectory of the speicfic scene, and then the out of the Scenes/ directory, and then finally back into the Game/ directory, and then select my GameConfig.bin file. That is a lot of steps that when repeated over and over when working on several parts of a larger project, add up. It is often faster to navigate into a subfolder in a file explorer than it is to navigate back out, so even just having it set to open the Data folder dir by default would help a ton in these situations.