Setting initial directory for NSOpenPanel

Question

I'm trying to get the user to select a file from a folder containing log files. So I want to display an NSOpenDialog showing the contents of that folder. I'm using Swift, so 10.9+

I see a number of threads on this topic here, but in spite of trying what appears to be the same code converted to Swift, it invariably returns to the Documents folder. Here's a sample:

    let fd: NSOpenPanel = NSOpenPanel()
    fd.directoryURL = NSURL.fileURLWithPath("~/LauncherLogs", isDirectory: true)
    fd.canChooseDirectories = false
    fd.canChooseFiles = true
    fd.allowedFileTypes = ["log"]
    fd.runModal()

The folder in question does exist, and copy and pasting the path into the Go to Folder... in the Finder goes right there. Any ideas?

I strongly assume that you have to expand the tilde to the actual path ... — Martin R, Apr 05 '16 at 21:05

score 12 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 02 '18 at 21:14

12

You need to expand the tilde and NSString has a hand method for this so:

let launcherLogPathWithTilde = "~/LauncherLogs" as NSString
let expandedLauncherLogPath = launcherLogPathWithTilde.stringByExpandingTildeInPath
fd.directoryURL = NSURL.fileURLWithPath(expandedLauncherLogPath, isDirectory: true)

+1 upvote for Martin for mentioning it.

edited Oct 02 '18 at 21:14

pkamb

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answered Apr 05 '16 at 21:18

Adrian Sluyters

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And this is what you get for assuming `NSURL.fileURLWithPath` would do expansions... *sigh* – Maury Markowitz Apr 06 '16 at 16:14
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I remember banging my head against the wall with this too! As user friendly apple devices and systems are, they certainly aren't developer friendly and if at best, extremely abstract. – Adrian Sluyters Apr 06 '16 at 16:16

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 22 '23 at 17:40

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2022 version of approved answer:

.stringByExpandingTildeInPath → .expandingTildeInPath
.file → .fileURL

let dialog = NSOpenPanel();
let launcherLogPathWithTilde = "~/LauncherLogs" as NSString
let expandedLauncherLogPath = launcherLogPathWithTilde.expandingTildeInPath
dialog.directoryURL = NSURL.fileURL(withPath: expandedLauncherLogPath, isDirectory: true)

edited Feb 22 '23 at 17:40

Sam Spencer

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answered Jul 31 '22 at 09:41

Yevhenii Hyzyla

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Setting initial directory for NSOpenPanel

2 Answers2