File types should be visually distinct in File Explorer (color, style, etc), especially unsupported files

Feature requests
1

Use case or problem

When Detect all file extensions is enabled, unsupported file types will show up in File Explorer. I like this option. But different filenames aren’t visually distinct, apart from the file extension icon next to each file. This creates some friction as I parse my file tree, and can also lead to accidental opening of files in external programs.

Proposed solution

Apply color or style to the filename, or its extension icon. 2 or 3 distinct styles:

  • markdown files
  • other supported files
  • unsupported files

A minimal solution would be to just show unsupported files in grey. A maximal solution would be unique icon styles for each supported file type (maybe too much maintenance, or too much visual noise).

A closely related feature is what happens when you click an unsupported file. I would prefer to get a prompt before the file is opened externally. This would add a click, so maybe it would be configurable, or maybe there would be a second method which skips the prompt (e.g. double-click).

2

Please keep to one feature request per topic, thanks.

This is easily done with a CSS snippet. e.g.

.nav-file .nav-file-title[data-path$='.pdf'] {
    color: orange;
}

.nav-file .nav-file-title[data-path$='.png'] {
    color: salmon;
}

Screenshot 2024-06-25 075726

There are two plugin ideas topics here:

and most likely a few plugins that can do this already.

I’m not sure if something like this will be integrated into core Obsidian. We’ll see what the team thinks.

1 Like
3

Nice! I’m pretty new to Obsidian, and you’ve introduced me to both CSS snippets and plugins. I’ll give the CSS a try. Thanks.