Tab File Finder (VS Code Extension)

Tab File Finder is a Visual Studio Code extension that helps developers quickly locate files and folders across the current workspace. Its primary command, Tab File Finder: Search Workspace Files, provides live search by item name and relative path so you can navigate large projects without leaving the editor.

Main Problem It Solves

In large projects, finding the right file or folder can become slow and distracting, especially with deeply nested structures. Tab File Finder reduces that friction with a focused workspace search that updates as you type.

Features

• Live Workspace File and Folder Search

  • Command: Tab File Finder: Search Workspace Files
  • Searches files and folders across the entire current workspace, not just opened tabs.
  • Updates results while you type; you do not need to press Enter before seeing matches.
  • Matches against both item names and relative paths.
  • Works across deeply nested folders.
  • Lets you scroll through matching results in the Quick Pick list.
  • Uses 📁 for folders and 📄 for files.
  • Opens selected files in the editor.
  • Reveals selected folders in the VS Code Explorer.

• Generated Item Exclusions

  • Skips common generated, dependency, and system folders, including node_modules, .git, out, dist, build, .quarto, and __pycache__.
  • Folder exclusions apply to folder contents only, so useful dotfiles and config files such as .gitignore, package.json, README.md, .env.example, .npmrc, .editorconfig, .prettierrc, and .eslintrc remain searchable.
  • Does not exclude .vscode by default, so files like .vscode/settings.json, .vscode/launch.json, and .vscode/tasks.json can be found.
  • Skips generated package files such as *.vsix.

• Optional Open File Search

  • Command: Tab File Finder: Search Open Files
  • Searches only files currently open in VS Code tabs/documents.
  • This command is optional. The main recommended workflow is workspace search with Ctrl+P.

• Fast Keyboard Access

  • Keyboard shortcut for Search Workspace Files: Ctrl+P.
  • Ctrl+P opens Tab File Finder globally in VS Code, including when the integrated terminal has focus.

Keyboard Shortcut

• Ctrl+P opens Tab File Finder globally in VS Code, including from the integrated terminal, and searches files and folders across the current workspace.
• Start typing to filter workspace files and folders live by name or relative path.
• Scroll inside the Quick Pick list to browse more matching results.
• Click outside the Quick Pick to close it.
• Select a file to open it in the editor, or select a folder to reveal it in the Explorer.

Configuration

Tab File Finder can be customized from VS Code Settings under Tab File Finder.

• tabFileFinder.includeFiles

  • Default: true
  • Includes files in workspace search results.

• tabFileFinder.includeFolders

  • Default: true
  • Includes folders in workspace search results.

• tabFileFinder.excludeFolders

  • Default: node_modules, .git, out, dist, build, .quarto, __pycache__
  • Excludes folder names or relative folder paths from workspace search. These entries only exclude matching folders and their contents; similarly named files, such as .gitignore, are still searchable.

• tabFileFinder.excludeFiles

  • Default: *.vsix
  • Excludes file names, relative file paths, or wildcard patterns from workspace search.

• tabFileFinder.maxResults

  • Default: 1000
  • Minimum: 10
  • Maximum: 1000
  • Optional safety limit for how many matches are loaded into the Quick Pick list. The list uses VS Code's normal Quick Pick scrolling.

• tabFileFinder.showGeneratedFiles

  • Default: false
  • Controls whether generated and dependency files are included in search results.

• tabFileFinder.searchMode

  • Default: filesAndFolders
  • Options: filesAndFolders, filesOnly, foldersOnly
  • Controls whether the main search includes files, folders, or both.

Note: This extension is intended to replace VS Code's default Ctrl+P quick open behavior.