42054 - XP file picker cannot expand native paths

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Core :: XUL, defect, P3)

Description

[Jeffrey Baker]

On Linux build 2000060908 (M17), the XP file picker doesn't understand paths. 
Typing "/home/jwb/index.html" or "~/index.html" or "/*/jwb/index.html" are more
than Mozilla's tiny brain can handle.  On the console, I get these errors after
I click "Ok" in the dialog:

JavaScript error: 
 line 0: uncaught exception: [Exception... "Component returned failure code:
0x80520001 [nsIFile.append]"  nsresult: "0x80520001 (<unknown>)"  location: "JS
frame :: chrome://global/content/filepicker.js :: onOK :: line 86"  data: no]

The expected behavior it for Mozilla to resolve the path the same way that the
Unix shell would, or the equivalent for other platforms.

Comment 1

[Peter Trudelle]

assigning to bryner, nominating for nsbeta3.  If we do this, it would have to 
be platform-specific, since paths aren't even used on all platform's file 
pickers (e.g., it is expressly forbidden by Mac UI guidelines)

Comment 2

[Asa Dotzler [:asa]]

setting to New

Comment 3

[Peter Trudelle]

okay to fix if it is just a call to normalize the path, but not worth the risk 
of writing new code to do this.

Comment 4

[Brian Ryner (not reading)]

This would require additional code.  nsIFile::Normalize does not understand ~ --
it calls realpath() which only deals with ".." type expansions.

Removing [need info] and nsbeta3 keyword, marking Future.

Comment 5

[John Morrison]

.. but a nice patch would be most appreciated :-]

Comment 6

[Brian Ryner (not reading)]

Fixed.