Symlink features: go to target, yank target

[maxfl]

yazi --debug output

Yazi
Version: 25.2.26 (Arch Linux 2025-02-27)
Debug  : false
Triple : x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu (linux-x86_64)
Rustc  : 1.85.0 (4d91de4e 2025-02-17)

Ya
Version: 25.2.26 (Arch Linux 2025-02-27)

Emulator
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Adapter
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Desktop
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WAYLAND_DISPLAY            : Some("wayland-0")
DISPLAY                    : Some(":1")
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SSH
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WSL
WSL: false

Variables
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EDITOR          : Some("nvim")
VISUAL          : None
YAZI_FILE_ONE   : None
YAZI_CONFIG_HOME: None
YAZI_ZOXIDE_OPTS: None
FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS: None

Text Opener
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block-create: Some(Opener { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for_: None, spread: true })
block-rename: Some(Opener { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for_: None, spread: true })

Multiplexers
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tmux version       : tmux 3.5a
tmux build flags   : enable-sixel=Unknown
ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME: None
Zellij version     : No such file or directory (os error 2)

Dependencies
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ueberzugpp    : 2.9.6
ffmpeg/ffprobe: 7.1 / 7.1
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magick        : 7.1.1-44
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7zz/7z        : No such file or directory (os error 2) / 24.09
jq            : 1.7.1

Clipboard
wl-copy/paste: 2.2.1 / 2.2.1
xclip        : No such file or directory (os error 2)
xsel         : No such file or directory (os error 2)


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Please describe the problem you're trying to solve

For symlinks I see where it points to. It is often needed to do something not with the symlink itself, but with the target. The basic features include:

• follow to target command: opens the folder of the target, sets the cursor on the symlink. May be supplemented with a command (argument) to open the target in the new tab.
• yank target. The alternative to yank, which, when pasted pastes the target files (or new symlinks to them).

Would you be willing to contribute this feature?

• Yes, I'll give it a shot

Describe the solution you'd like

Introduce commands:

• follow to target command: opens the folder of the target, sets the cursor on the symlink. May be supplemented with a command (argument) to open the target in the new tab.
• yank target. The alternative to yank, which, when pasted pastes the target files (or new symlinks to them).

Additional context

I've searched documentation, list of keys, plugins, issues and merge requests and did not find anything relevant.

Checklist

• I have searched the existing issues/discussions
• The latest nightly build doesn't already have this feature

[sxyazi]

• follow to target command: opens the folder of the target, sets the cursor on the symlink. May be supplemented with a command (argument) to open the target in the new tab.

Do you have any suggestions for command names, parameter names, and default key bindings?

• yank target. The alternative to yank, which, when pasted pastes the target files (or new symlinks to them).

This is already supported via paste --follow.

[hakan-demirli]

follow_symlink: (go to link a.k.a <gl>)

	{ on = [ "g", "l" ], run = '''shell 'ya emit cd "$(readlink -f "$1")"' ''', desc = "Follow hovered symlink" },

[maxfl]

@hakan-demirli, thanks a lot. I've done a few modifications:

• replaced $1 with $0 for hovered file.
• followed the command with leave as cd kind of enters the file.

I've tried using dirname for cd, but found out that there is no a proper command to set a cursor on particular file afterwards.

[[manager.prepend_keymap]]
on = [ "g", "l" ]
run = '''shell 'ya emit cd "$(readlink -f "$0")" && ya emit leave' '''
desc = "Follow hovered symlink"

[maxfl]

• follow to target command: opens the folder of the target, sets the cursor on the symlink. May be supplemented with a command (argument) to open the target in the new tab.
  Do you have any suggestions for command names, parameter names, and default key bindings?

gl as suggested by @hakan-demirli seems to be a good choice.

• yank target. The alternative to yank, which, when pasted pastes the target files (or new symlinks to them).
  This is already supported via paste --follow.

Thank you for pointing to this. The only difference from the proposal is that when you are able to yank target paths you can use -/_ to make new links to the targets, which I consider to be a useful feature. With paste --follow it is impossible. May be --follow key may be added to link command as well.

[sxyazi]

there is no a proper command to set a cursor on particular file afterwards

Try:

[[manager.prepend_keymap]]
on = [ "g", "l" ]
run = 'shell -- ya emit reveal "$(readlink -f "$0")"'
desc = "Follow hovered symlink"

[maxfl]

@sxyazi, this works, thanks a lot. (do not understand how I've missed the command when searching the docs)