selectFolder

Category: Dialog Operations

Namespace: web.dialogs.selectFolder

Description

Display a native Windows folder selection dialog that allows users to browse and select a directory. Returns the full path to the selected folder, or an empty string if cancelled.

Syntax

const folderPath = await web.dialogs.selectFolder({
    title: string
});

Parameters

title (optional) - Dialog window title. Default: "Select Folder"

Returns

Promise<string> - Full path to selected folder, or empty string "" if cancelled

Example

Simple example

const folderPath = await web.dialogs.selectFolder();

if (folderPath) {
    console.log('Selected:', folderPath);
}

Practical example

const folderPath = await web.dialogs.selectFolder({
    title: 'Select Output Folder'
});

if (folderPath) {
    const files = await web.directory.listFiles({ path: folderPath });
    console.log(`Folder contains ${files.length} files`);
} else {
    console.log('Folder selection cancelled');
}

Advanced example

async function processFolderFiles() {
    const folderPath = await web.dialogs.selectFolder({
        title: 'Select Folder to Process'
    });
    
    if (!folderPath) {
        alert('No folder selected');
        return;
    }
    
    // listFiles returns full paths; fileMask filters by extension
    const textFiles = await web.directory.listFiles({
        dirPath: folderPath,
        fileMask: '*.txt',
        allDirs: false
    });

    console.log(`Processing ${textFiles.length} text files...`);

    for (const fullPath of textFiles) {
        // fullPath is already absolute (e.g. "C:\MyFolder\file.txt")
        const content = await web.files.readTextFile({ filePath: fullPath });

        // Process file content
        const processed = content.toUpperCase();

        // Build output path alongside the original file
        const fileName = fullPath.split('\\').pop();
        await web.files.writeTextFile({
            filePath: `${folderPath}\\processed_${fileName}`,
            contents: processed
        });
    }

    alert(`Processed ${textFiles.length} files in ${folderPath}`);
}

Use Cases

Let users select output directories
Choose folders for batch operations
Select project directories
Pick backup locations
Choose installation directories
Select folders to scan or process
Browse for data directories
Pick locations for exports or archives

Error Handling

Returns empty string "" if user cancels. Always check before proceeding.

const folderPath = await web.dialogs.selectFolder({
    title: 'Select Folder'
});

if (!folderPath) {
    console.log('Folder selection cancelled');
    return;
}

// Proceed with folder operations
const files = await web.directory.listFiles({ path: folderPath });

Performance Tips

Provide clear, descriptive dialog titles
Always handle the cancel case (empty string)
Verify folder exists before operations
Use with directory APIs for folder operations
Check folder permissions before writing

web.dialogs.openFile() - Open file dialog
web.dialogs.saveFile() - Save file dialog
web.directory.listFiles() - List folder contents
web.directory.dirExists() - Check if folder exists
web.directory.createDir() - Create new folder

Notes

Native Windows folder browser dialog
Returns full absolute path (e.g., "C:\Users\Documents\MyFolder")
Returns empty string "" on cancel (not null)
User can create new folders from the dialog
Dialog remembers last used directory
Path uses backslashes on Windows (e.g., "C:\Folder\Subfolder")
No initialDir parameter - dialog starts at last used location