File Path name copy&paste- single/double backslash problem

Question

Shift+RightClick a file on windows explorer and select 'copy as path', then ctrl+v paste to mathematica notebook, then apply FileExistsQ :

ex1)

FileExistsQ["C:\Users\Pi33\Desktop\FreeAlarmClockPortable"]
True

But the same method produces False sometimes :

ex2)

FileExistsQ["C:\Users\Pi33\Desktop\nircmd-x64"]
False

because in the string "\nircmd-x64", the character "\n" is interpreted as LF.

In fact for ex1), we got True with some error messages. The reason for the error message is
\Users
\Pi33
\Desktop
\FreeAlarmClockPortable
The use of "\U" or "\P" or "\D" or "\F" are not allowed, because backslash is a special character that needs one more backslash in front of it, to be part of a string. I mean, they should be "\\U", "\\P", "\\D", "\\F". I think that mathematica showed automatic correction ability for ex1).

But in ex2), mathematica didn't/couldn't show such ability for "\n" in "\nircmd-x64", becuase "\n" is just LF.

So when we do 'file/folder path copy and paste job' in mathematica, we need
pre-processing
(processing the content of clipboard then paste)
or
post-processing
(some process in mathematica after pasting the clipboard content to a mathematica notebook).

At present, I am using a post-processing method, probably easiest but the most inefficient : searching problematic backslashes (like \n, \r,..) with eyes, and typing one more backslash before such backslashes with fingers.

What kind of method do you use?

The method should be automatic and work for multiple files and folders.

Answer 1

Instead of Shift + Right click > Copy Path, just select the files and press Ctrl+C. Paste will add the proper escaping as needed. You could also just drag and drop them using Ctrl + Shift (the drag icon should say Link instead of Copy).

Answer 2

Here's a post-processed solution.

First copy-paste the file path to a Text cell, then run this in the following cell

escapeSlashes[cell_] :=
  CellPrint[
   ExpressionCell[FE`makePlainText@NotebookRead@cell, "Input"]
   ];
escapeSlashes[] :=
  escapeSlashes[PreviousCell[]];

Instead of the CellPrint[ExpressionCell[...]] you can also use CopyToClipboard[FE`makePlainText@NotebookRead@cell] to copy the escaped path so you can paste it elsewhere.

Obviously you could do a lot more with this but this fixes the basic problem I think.