Bug 510237

Summary: On modifier + middle-click, open file with the third application for the file mime...
Product: [Applications] dolphin Reporter: xaxaxa.kdebug
Component: generalAssignee: Dolphin Bug Assignee <dolphin-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED FIXED    
Severity: wishlist CC: dolphin-bugs-null, droidgoo, meven, pallaswept
Priority: NOR Keywords: junior-jobs
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: unspecified   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description xaxaxa.kdebug 2025-10-04 17:39:43 UTC
As discussed here https://discuss.kde.org/t/allow-to-set-default-program-for-the-middle-click/40262/3 I wish to open some mime types with a third application. It is a follow-up of this implementation: https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/merge_requests/596. As use-case example I want to show it for typical image mimes:
- left mouse click -> open image with image viewer
- middle mouse click -> open image with light-weight image-editor to quick edits
- modifier + middle mouse click -> open image with heavy-weight image-editor for complex edits

What kind of modifier I would expect? 
- Ctrl -> most obvious in my opinion, it would be my choice
- Shift -> also very fine, no argument against it
- Alt -> less obvious, wouldn't be my choice, but still okay
- Meta -> key is more used for window management actions, so I would avoid it.
Comment 1 pallaswept 2025-10-05 00:37:20 UTC
I just immediately added myself to the CC list because I'd maybe use this feature (big fan of 'one hand on the keyboard one on the mouse' operation, mouse vs keyboard is so last century, por que no los dos? ;) ), but thinking it over...

Using shift or ctrl to select multiple files, and then opening all of them by shift|ctrl(to maintain the selection, as normal) +enter(to open as normal) or shift|ctrl +doubleclick, is a thing (though the latter is currently not working)

Alt+enter opens properties of the selection, and similar to the above alt+doubleclick should too but currently doesn't. 

Not sure how they're currently working with single-click-to-open?

These modifiers might not be available, and as you mentioned, super is not really appropriate here. Seems like a cool idea but perhaps the modifiers are already fully loaded.
Comment 2 goo 2025-10-05 15:00:28 UTC
this middle click feature is one of the few plasma 6 features i'm actually looking forward to as a plasma 5 user.

being able to bypass the right click context menu to select one of the other Open With... options in my File Associations settings is a great feature addition.

my suggestion is to add all four modifiers (or at least two) that move thru the File Associations list in a predictable order.

- left click > opens with the first file association (default)
- middle click > opens with the 2nd file association (1st alternate) 
- Ctrl+middle click > opens with the 3rd file association (2nd alternate) 
- Shift+middle click > opens with the 4th file association (3rd alternate) 
- Alt+middle click > opens with the 5th file association (4th alternate)    #### ok, maybe this is getting silly
- Meta+middle click > opens with the 6th file association (5th alternate)    #### yeah, probably is getting silly
Comment 3 Méven 2025-10-06 08:36:08 UTC
This is an extension to
https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/merge_requests/596

One additional file-open is sufficient.

If a feature is only ever used by 5% of users rarely, it isn't worse implementing.
Comment 4 Bug Janitor Service 2025-10-31 23:45:00 UTC
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/merge_requests/1086
Comment 5 Méven 2025-11-04 09:48:47 UTC
Git commit 4e89d3b88aabd371ef0b0b10c6a5fc95c8765250 by Méven Car, on behalf of Tomasz Kot.
Committed on 04/11/2025 at 09:48.
Pushed by meven into branch 'master'.

dolphinview: On shift+middle-click, open file with third app for the open with list

Added the feature to open the selected file with the third application from the associated applications list on shift and middle-click. Generalized the middle-click slot to open the file with the app on a specified index, since the behavior should be almost the same for those two actions.

Similar to: d27ee07de7558470ef7b497fbe3d3504ce7cad07

M  +5    -2    src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
M  +3    -1    src/dolphinviewcontainer.h

https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/commit/4e89d3b88aabd371ef0b0b10c6a5fc95c8765250