File Pilot - QL-Win/QuickLook GitHub Wiki

From Discord | Quicklook integration option needed.

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Setup instructions:

Install AutoHotKey: https://www.autohotkey.com/download/ Install QuickLook (QL-Win): https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/releases

In FilePilot, remove the "Toggle Inspector" space hotkey: Click on the 3 dots on the top right. Click on the hotkey > x (You can still toggle this manually from here).

In FilePilot, open the Command Palette & assign a hotkey to “Copy as path”: Press Ctrl+Shift+P Type: "copy as path" Select the command in the list. Press the + button Enter: Ctrl+Alt+C Save/confirm the binding.

Update the script’s QuickLook path: Right click > Edit in Notepad > edit "YOUR-USERNAME-HERE"

Run the script: Double click/right click > Run script You can find the icon running in the taskbar tray (right click on it for further options etc.)

If you want the script to run automatically on startup you can place it here: C:\Users\YOUR-USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

You don't need to close the QuickLook window every time you press the arrow keys. (It looks like you're switching windows?) You can always focus on the QuickLook window. https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=576829#p576829

I wrote an AHK script for XYplorer, but it runs very slowly via the exe file. We need WM_COPYDATA support:

https://drive.proton.me/urls/3P7CGPS1QC#uxkvQviE7uLE

FilePilot QuickLook (Space).zip

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
#SingleInstance Force

; FilePilot → QuickLook (Space preview)
; Version: 1.1.0
; Author: Abdul
; Last Updated: 2026-01-26
; Setup:
; 1) In FilePilot, bind "Copy as path" to Ctrl+Alt+C
; 2) Set QUICKLOOK_EXE to your QuickLook.exe path

global FP_EXE         := "ahk_exe FPilot.exe"
global QUICKLOOK_EXE  := "C:\Users\YOUR-USERNAME-HERE\AppData\Local\Programs\QuickLook\QuickLook.exe"
global QUICKLOOK_AHK  := "ahk_exe QuickLook.exe"
global COPY_AS_PATHHK := "^!c"   ; Ctrl+Alt+C

; Polling + typing bypass
global FAST_POLL_MS        := 25
global SLOW_POLL_MS        := 90
global TYPING_MODE_HOLD_MS := 1200

; If Space is pressed shortly after typing a character, treat it as typing
global RECENT_TYPE_MS      := 450

global _typingModeUntil := 0
global _previewMode := false
global _refreshQueued := false
global _lastTypeTick := 0

#HotIf WinActive(FP_EXE)

; Record recent typing (lets Space behave normally in filter bar/search/rename flows)
~a::MarkTyped()  ; letters
~b::MarkTyped()
~c::MarkTyped()
~d::MarkTyped()
~e::MarkTyped()
~f::MarkTyped()
~g::MarkTyped()
~h::MarkTyped()
~i::MarkTyped()
~j::MarkTyped()
~k::MarkTyped()
~l::MarkTyped()
~m::MarkTyped()
~n::MarkTyped()
~o::MarkTyped()
~p::MarkTyped()
~q::MarkTyped()
~r::MarkTyped()
~s::MarkTyped()
~t::MarkTyped()
~u::MarkTyped()
~v::MarkTyped()
~w::MarkTyped()
~x::MarkTyped()
~y::MarkTyped()
~z::MarkTyped()

~0::MarkTyped()  ; digits
~1::MarkTyped()
~2::MarkTyped()
~3::MarkTyped()
~4::MarkTyped()
~5::MarkTyped()
~6::MarkTyped()
~7::MarkTyped()
~8::MarkTyped()
~9::MarkTyped()

~Backspace::MarkTyped()
~Delete::MarkTyped()

$Space::FP_Preview()

; While QuickLook preview is open, arrow keys refresh preview to match selection.
$Up::FP_Nav("{Up}")
$Down::FP_Nav("{Down}")
$Left::FP_Nav("{Left}")
$Right::FP_Nav("{Right}")

; Optional: Esc closes QuickLook if open, otherwise behaves normally.
$Esc::FP_Escape()

#HotIf

MarkTyped() {
    global _lastTypeTick
    _lastTypeTick := A_TickCount
}

FP_Preview() {
    global _previewMode
    if FP_OpenSelectionInQuickLook(true)
        _previewMode := true
}

FP_Nav(key) {
    global _previewMode, QUICKLOOK_AHK, _refreshQueued

    SendInput key

    if !_previewMode
        return
    if !WinExist(QUICKLOOK_AHK) {
        _previewMode := false
        return
    }

    ; Refresh on next message loop.
    if !_refreshQueued {
        _refreshQueued := true
        SetTimer FP_RefreshPreview, -1
    }
}

FP_RefreshPreview() {
    global _refreshQueued
    _refreshQueued := false
    FP_OpenSelectionInQuickLook(false)
}

FP_Escape() {
    global _previewMode, QUICKLOOK_AHK
    if WinExist(QUICKLOOK_AHK) {
        WinClose QUICKLOOK_AHK
        _previewMode := false
        return
    }
    SendInput "{Esc}"
}

FP_OpenSelectionInQuickLook(allowSpaceFallback := true) {
    global QUICKLOOK_EXE, COPY_AS_PATHHK, FAST_POLL_MS, SLOW_POLL_MS, TYPING_MODE_HOLD_MS
    global RECENT_TYPE_MS, _typingModeUntil, _lastTypeTick

    now := A_TickCount

    ; If user is actively typing (e.g., filter bar), never trigger QuickLook.
    if (_lastTypeTick != 0 && (now - _lastTypeTick) <= RECENT_TYPE_MS) {
        _typingModeUntil := now + TYPING_MODE_HOLD_MS
        if allowSpaceFallback
            SendInput "{Space}"
        return false
    }

    ; If we recently inferred typing/rename, don't intercept Space.
    if (now < _typingModeUntil) {
        if allowSpaceFallback
            SendInput "{Space}"
        return false
    }

    ; If QuickLook isn't found, don't hijack Space.
    if !FileExist(QUICKLOOK_EXE) {
        if allowSpaceFallback
            SendInput "{Space}"
        return false
    }

    ; If focus is likely a text input, enter typing mode and pass Space through.
    if IsTypingFocus() {
        _typingModeUntil := now + TYPING_MODE_HOLD_MS
        if allowSpaceFallback
            SendInput "{Space}"
        return false
    }

    ; Save/restore TEXT clipboard only.
    clipSaved := A_Clipboard
    A_Clipboard := ""

    ; Copy selected item's path (FilePilot hotkey).
    SendInput COPY_AS_PATHHK

    ; If clipboard doesn't populate quickly, assume typing/rename and pass Space through.
    if !WaitClip(FAST_POLL_MS) && !WaitClip(SLOW_POLL_MS) {
        A_Clipboard := clipSaved
        _typingModeUntil := now + TYPING_MODE_HOLD_MS
        if allowSpaceFallback
            SendInput "{Space}"
        return false
    }

    path := NormalizePath(A_Clipboard)
    A_Clipboard := clipSaved

    if (path = "") {
        _typingModeUntil := now + TYPING_MODE_HOLD_MS
        if allowSpaceFallback
            SendInput "{Space}"
        return false
    }

    Run '"' QUICKLOOK_EXE '" "' path '"'
    return true
}

IsTypingFocus() {
    ctrl := ""
    try ctrl := ControlGetFocus("A")
    if (ctrl = "")
        return false

    if (SubStr(ctrl, 1, 4) = "Edit")
        return true
    if InStr(ctrl, "RichEdit")
        return true

    return RegExMatch(ctrl, "i)^(RICHEDIT|WindowsForms10\.EDIT|Scintilla)\d*$")
}

WaitClip(ms) {
    end := A_TickCount + ms
    while (A_TickCount < end) {
        if (A_Clipboard != "")
            return true
        Sleep 5
    }
    return false
}

NormalizePath(s) {
    s := Trim(s)

    if InStr(s, "`n") {
        s := StrSplit(s, ["`r","`n"])[1]
        s := Trim(s)
    }

    if (SubStr(s, 1, 1) = '"' && SubStr(s, -1) = '"')
        s := SubStr(s, 2, StrLen(s) - 2)

    return s
}