PathPorter

PathPorter copies a list of workspace files into one portable text bundle, then recreates those files in another VS Code environment. It is designed for local-to-VDI workflows where text can be pasted between environments but direct file transfer is inconvenient.

PathPorter does not bypass security policy. Only transfer content that your organization allows through its clipboard or text channel.

Quick start

Install PathPorter in VS Code on both sides. Two buttons appear in the status bar:

• PathPorter: Copy Files
• PathPorter: Paste Files

1. Copy files from the source

Paste a file list into an editor and select it, or copy the list to the clipboard:

src/api/client.ts
Button.tsx
config/settings.json

Click PathPorter: Copy Files in the status bar. PathPorter resolves the files, reads their contents, and replaces the clipboard with one text bundle.

2. Move the bundle as text

In the destination environment, paste the bundle into a new untitled editor. Keep the editor active; selecting the bundle is optional.

If your clipboard is shared directly with the destination, you can skip the editor and leave the bundle on the clipboard.

3. Recreate the files

Open the destination project and click PathPorter: Paste Files. PathPorter reads the bundle from the current selection, active editor, or clipboard and recreates every file under its original workspace-relative path.

Existing files are not overwritten until you confirm.

Both buttons are also available from the Command Palette as PathPorter: Copy Listed Files as Text and PathPorter: Paste Files from Text.

How file names are resolved

• A relative path is matched exactly inside the open workspace.
• A bare name such as Button.tsx is searched anywhere in the workspace.
• If a bare name has several matches, VS Code asks which file to use.
• Missing and failed files appear in the PathPorter output panel.

Bundle format

The transferable text starts with -----BEGIN PATHPORTER BUNDLE----- and ends with -----END PATHPORTER BUNDLE-----. File paths and Base64-encoded contents are stored inside it, so both text and binary files preserve their original bytes.

The text can be larger than the original files. If your VDI limits clipboard or message size, transfer fewer files per bundle.

Security and privacy

• PathPorter does not use a network service and does not collect telemetry.
• Source file contents are placed on the system clipboard as text.
• Only a bundle you explicitly paste is written to the destination workspace.
• Unsafe absolute paths and parent-directory paths are rejected.
• Restricted or managed VDI environments may require an administrator to allow the extension or clipboard transfer.

Support

The included SUPPORT.md file contains troubleshooting information.

Develop or test from source

Open this folder in VS Code and press F5. In the Extension Development Host, open a test project and use the status-bar buttons.

Run npm test for bundle-format tests and npm run package:vsix to create an installable package.

Official references

• Your First Extension
• Commands
• VS Code API