Re: Q: Is there a built-in way to read multiple file names?

[Ihor Radchenko <yantar92@posteo.net>]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:

>> My concern about dired and similar is that it is not possible to exit
>> them and go back to the original place as easily as C-g in the
>> completion prompt. Interactive narrowing is also not as easy as in the
>> completion.
>
> I didn't mean Dired as use it for browsing a directory.  I meant a UI
> for selecting multiple files that reuses Dired, and lets users exit it
> with "C-c C-c" or somesuch.
>
> IOW, my intent was to point out the features to generalize and extend
> in order to have what you want.  (For buffers, I think Ibuffer already
> offers an almost complete solution.)

May you please explain in more details how you envision such multi-file
selection interface?

(For context, I am interested in this question to extend M-x org-attach
where I want to allow users select multiple files at once; or,
similarly, to extend the email attachment prompt)

>> IMHO, helm proves that completion framework can be used for very quick
>> selection. It does it via:
>> 
>> 1. The notion of "current" candidate from the list that can be navigated
>>    right from the minibuffer (like next/previous-completion in the
>>    *completions*)
>> 2. minibuffer command to mark/unmark candidates quickly
>> 3. ability to retain marked candidates even the prompt input changes
>> 
>> I find it quick and convenient to use, despite being a completion
>> framework.
>> 
>> I also do not see why the same cannot be done based on the basis of
>> completion-list-mode.
>
> The display parts might be suitable for selection, but the entire
> completion machinery behind this makes absolutely no sense for the
> purpose of selection based on attributes that are not names or
> collection of strings.

Is it? AFAIK, packages like consult allow searching by metadata. Isn't
custom COLLECTION function not suitable?

-- 
Ihor Radchenko // yantar92,
Org mode contributor,
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