Context Consolidator

Quickly grab files and code snippets from your project and turn them into a clean XML prompt you can paste into ChatGPT or any LLM.

• One menu in the status bar.
• Always up to date (reads files fresh, not from stale copies).
• Generates XML with your files/snippets, plus optional prompt wrappers.

Quick start

1. Add files or folders

   • Right-click in Explorer → Add/Remove from Consolidation List (works with multiple at once).

2. Add a snippet

   • Select code in the editor → right-click → Add Selection to Consolidate List.
   • Snippets update automatically if you edit the file later.

3. Open the menu

   • Click the status bar item on the left (Context 📦 …).

4. Tune options (optional)

   • Toggle Advanced sections ON/OFF.
   • Adjust Reasoning Effort and Verbosity.
   • Edit or save a Prompt Preset.

5. Export

   • Choose Consolidate (TaskSpec) → Clipboard.
   • Paste into your LLM and fill in <UserPrompt>.

How it works

• Status bar menu shows your current list.

  • Each entry has a traffic light weight (🔴🟡🟢), token count, and % of total.
  • Click to remove items.

• Files are read fresh at export (so you always get the latest).

• Snippets follow their range in the document, so exports always match current content.

• Binary/junk files are skipped automatically.

Output

Minimal (no advanced sections)

<TaskSpec reasoning_effort="medium" verbosity="low">
  <UserPrompt>
  </UserPrompt>

  <ConsolidatedFilesContext>
    <FolderTree>
      src/app.ts
      src/utils.ts
    </FolderTree>
    <Code file="src/app.ts">
      // full file content...
    </Code>
    <Code file="src/utils.ts" snippet="lines 5-10">
      // current snippet content...
    </Code>
  </ConsolidatedFilesContext>
</TaskSpec>

With advanced sections

<TaskSpec reasoning_effort="high" verbosity="low">
  <UserPrompt>
  </UserPrompt>

  <GeneralGuidelines>
    <!-- preset content -->
  </GeneralGuidelines>
  <CodingDirectives>
    <!-- preset content -->
  </CodingDirectives>
  <Assumptions></Assumptions>
  <StopConditions>- Stop when all subtasks are done.</StopConditions>

  <ConsolidatedFilesContext>
    <FolderTree>…</FolderTree>
    <Code file="…">…</Code>
  </ConsolidatedFilesContext>
</TaskSpec>

Commands & tools

• Status bar menu (Context 📦 …):

  • Consolidate → Clipboard
  • Toggle advanced sections
  • Change Reasoning Effort / Verbosity
  • Edit or Save Prompt Preset
  • Clear list

• Explorer: Add/Remove files or folders

• Editor selection: Add selection as snippet

• Hotkey (configurable): Ctrl+Alt+C / Cmd+Alt+C

Tips

• Keep <UserPrompt> short and specific — your context is already included.
• If you don’t need the wrapper, turn Advanced sections OFF or just copy <ConsolidatedFilesContext>.

Requirements

• VS Code ^1.96.0
• Works on Windows / macOS / Linux

Happy coding 🚀