The `files` picker

picker-files: fuzzy-find a file under the project root and open it — `:files [root]`.

On this page

Every file under the active buffer's project, filtered as you type. <CR> opens the one you picked.

Open it with :files, :picker files, or <C-x><C-f> with emacs-keys-mode on. :files <root> walks another directory instead (~ is expanded); the prompt shows the project root either way.


Keys in this picker

KeyHere
(type)Filter by path. Space separates fragments: pick refil and refil pick both find lattice-picker/src/refilter.rs
<CR>Open the file (or switch to it if it is already open)
<C-s> / <C-v> / <C-t>Open it in a horizontal split / vertical split / new tab instead
<C-q>Send every file still listed to the error list, then close — walk them with :cn / :cp
<C-n> / <C-p>, <Down> / <Up>, <Tab> / <S-Tab>Move the selection
<BS> / <C-w>Delete a character / the previous word of the query
<C-r>Append something from your yank history to the query
<Esc> / <C-c>Close without opening anything
<C-h>This page

<C-l> and <C-d> do nothing here: a file has no inside to go into, and nothing is removed from a file listing but the file itself (use oil for that).


What is listed

Paths relative to the root, with three columns on the right: permissions (drwxr-xr-x, each bit coloured), size (ls -h style) and when the file was last modified ("3 hours ago").

The walk is deliberately simple and fast:

  • Hidden entries are skipped — anything whose name starts with ., files and directories alike.
  • .git, target, node_modules, dist and .cache are never entered.
  • .gitignore is not read. Use grep or :search, whose backends respect it, when ignore rules matter.
  • Regular files only; symlinks are not followed.
  • At most 5000 files. A larger tree is cut off, so pass a narrower root: :files crates/lattice-host.

Preview

Moving the selection shows the file in the active pane, from the top, without opening it — no language server starts. Large files are read partially (256 KiB / 2000 lines), and a binary file shows <binary file — no preview>.


Ranking

Files you open from this picker come back sooner: a frecency bonus (recent and frequent picks) breaks ties between equally good matches. It never outranks a better match. See MRU ranking for the picker.mru.* options.


See also

  • recent — just the files you edited this session.
  • file-pick — the same list, but choosing a path supplies it as a value instead of opening it.
  • grep — search file contents.
  • picker — keys and options shared by every picker.