how to show or find full path of file listed in the File->Open dialog?

Question

This question was posted 2 days ago at community. I had a good answer but it does not quit do what I wanted. Hence I am trying here to see if someone might know of some other solution. Here is the question:

I tend to name some files, which are in different folders, with the same name. Say source.nb

But when going back to open a specific file from one folder, using File->Open dialog, it does not show the full path of the file. Even a right-click on the file name, or hovering the mouse over the name, has no pop-up menu to show the full path name. This makes it hard to know in which folder any of these files are in. So I end up opening the wrong file many times. Here is a screen shot:

I looked at options and did not see a way to change this. It might be there and I have overlooked it. I searched for "file" options. Using V 9.01 on windows.

Would any one know of a way to make it either display the full path name, or at least when hovering the mouse over the name, it will display the full path name in a small pop-up help display (which is the common way most applications handle this sort of thing).

Answer 1

This works on my system (v7, Windows 7):

Cases[
  NotebooksMenu /. Options[$FrontEnd],
  FrontEnd`FileName[{_, path__}, name_, ___] :> FileNameJoin @ {path, name},
  {3}
]

The first _ in {_, path__} is to skip $RootDirectory; if you want to preserve $RootDirectory leave it out.

To create a palette with buttons to open these Notebooks you may use:

Cases[
  NotebooksMenu /. Options[$FrontEnd],
  FrontEnd`FileName[{_, path__}, name_, ___] :> FileNameJoin@{path, name},
  {3}
] // CreatePalette @ Column[Button[#, NotebookOpen@#] & /@ #] &;