Files that are already open, could be indicated in “Recent files list” e.g. by prefixed icon.
/ 🕓 \_____
| ↱ fileA | //open
| fileB | // closed
| ↱ fileC | // open
| ↱ fileD | // open
| fileE | // closed
| fileF | // closed
| fileG | // closed
Clicking on such icon would activate corresponding pane while clicking on filename would behave as it does now. (Last active pane when the same file is opened in multiple panes.)
If the icon cannot be clickable separately from filename for some technical reasons, then there could be option in settings to activate existing pane on click (if it exists) and open in new pane on Ctrl+click or Ctrl+Shift+click.
Alternatively, open files (filenames) could be displayed by different style (e.g. bold, text color, or text background color) instead of occupying more screen space by icon.
Is this possible?