Feature to restore selection

[maxfl]

yazi --debug output

Yazi
    Version: 25.6.11 (da97e5a8 2025-07-30)
    Debug  : false
    Triple : x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu (linux-x86_64)
    Rustc  : 1.88.0 (6b00bc38 2025-06-23)

Ya
    Version: 25.6.11 (da97e5a8 2025-07-30)

Emulator
    TERM                : Some("xterm-256color")
    TERM_PROGRAM        : None
    TERM_PROGRAM_VERSION: None
    Brand.from_env      : Some(Konsole)
    Emulator.detect     : Emulator { kind: Left(Konsole), light: true, csi_16t: (8, 17), force_16t: false }

Adapter
    Adapter.matches    : KgpOld
    Dimension.available: Dimension { rows: 32, columns: 215, width: 1722, height: 548 }

Desktop
    XDG_SESSION_TYPE           : Some("wayland")
    WAYLAND_DISPLAY            : Some("wayland-0")
    DISPLAY                    : Some(":1")
    SWAYSOCK                   : None
    HYPRLAND_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE: None
    WAYFIRE_SOCKET             : None

SSH
    shared.in_ssh_connection: false

WSL
    WSL: false

Variables
    SHELL           : Some("/usr/bin/fish")
    EDITOR          : Some("nvim")
    VISUAL          : None
    YAZI_FILE_ONE   : None
    YAZI_CONFIG_HOME: None
    YAZI_ZOXIDE_OPTS: None
    FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS: None

Text Opener
    default     : Some(OpenerRule { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for: None, spread: true })
    block-create: Some(OpenerRule { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for: None, spread: true })
    block-rename: Some(OpenerRule { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for: None, spread: true })

Multiplexers
    TMUX               : false
    tmux version       : tmux 3.5a
    tmux build flags   : enable-sixel=Unknown
    ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME: None
    Zellij version     : No such file or directory (os error 2)

Dependencies
    file          : 5.46
    ueberzugpp    : 2.9.7
    ffmpeg/ffprobe: 7.1.1 / 7.1.1
    pdftoppm      : 25.07.0
    magick        : 7.1.2-0
    fzf           : 0.65.0
    fd/fdfind     : 10.2.0 / No such file or directory (os error 2)
    rg            : 14.1.1
    chafa         : 1.16.1
    zoxide        : 0.9.8
    7zz/7z        : No such file or directory (os error 2) / 24.09
    resvg         : No such file or directory (os error 2)
    jq            : 1.8.1

Clipboard
    wl-copy/paste: 2.2.1 / 2.2.1
    xclip        : No such file or directory (os error 2)
    xsel         : No such file or directory (os error 2)

Routine
    `file -bL --mime-type`: text/plain


See https://yazi-rs.github.io/docs/plugins/overview#debugging on how to enable logging or debug runtime errors.

Please describe the problem you're trying to solve

This might be useful for the following operation, for example:

1. select files (symlinks)
2. yank files
3. paste targets with paste --follow
4. restore selection
5. remove symlinks

Step 5. requires the same set of files to be selected. It would be useful to have a key for it, similar to gv in vim.

Would you be willing to contribute this feature?

• Yes, I'll give it a shot

Describe the solution you'd like

toggle_restore or toggle --restore command which selects the files which were previously selected.

Additionally toggle_yanked may be provided to select exactly the files which are currently yanked.

Additional context

I was not able to find this proposal in issues, in !51 and in currently available functions.

Checklist

• I have searched the existing issues/discussions
• The latest nightly build doesn't already have this feature

[sxyazi]

Sounds like what you want is to convert the yank state back to the selection state? If you yank files, they change from selection to yank, and after pasting, Yazi doesn't clear the yank marks, so you can reuse them.

…

On Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM Maxim Gonchar ***@***.***> wrote: *maxfl* created an issue (sxyazi/yazi#3140) <#3140> yazi --debug output Yazi Version: 25.6.11 (da97e5a 2025-07-30) Debug : false Triple : x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu (linux-x86_64) Rustc : 1.88.0 (6b00bc38 2025-06-23) Ya Version: 25.6.11 (da97e5a 2025-07-30) Emulator TERM : Some("xterm-256color") TERM_PROGRAM : None TERM_PROGRAM_VERSION: None Brand.from_env : Some(Konsole) Emulator.detect : Emulator { kind: Left(Konsole), light: true, csi_16t: (8, 17), force_16t: false } Adapter Adapter.matches : KgpOld Dimension.available: Dimension { rows: 32, columns: 215, width: 1722, height: 548 } Desktop XDG_SESSION_TYPE : Some("wayland") WAYLAND_DISPLAY : Some("wayland-0") DISPLAY : Some(":1") SWAYSOCK : None HYPRLAND_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE: None WAYFIRE_SOCKET : None SSH shared.in_ssh_connection: false WSL WSL: false Variables SHELL : Some("/usr/bin/fish") EDITOR : Some("nvim") VISUAL : None YAZI_FILE_ONE : None YAZI_CONFIG_HOME: None YAZI_ZOXIDE_OPTS: None FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS: None Text Opener default : Some(OpenerRule { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for: None, spread: true }) block-create: Some(OpenerRule { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for: None, spread: true }) block-rename: Some(OpenerRule { run: "${EDITOR:-vi} \"$@\"", block: true, orphan: false, desc: "$EDITOR", for: None, spread: true }) Multiplexers TMUX : false tmux version : tmux 3.5a tmux build flags : enable-sixel=Unknown ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME: None Zellij version : No such file or directory (os error 2) Dependencies file : 5.46 ueberzugpp : 2.9.7 ffmpeg/ffprobe: 7.1.1 / 7.1.1 pdftoppm : 25.07.0 magick : 7.1.2-0 fzf : 0.65.0 fd/fdfind : 10.2.0 / No such file or directory (os error 2) rg : 14.1.1 chafa : 1.16.1 zoxide : 0.9.8 7zz/7z : No such file or directory (os error 2) / 24.09 resvg : No such file or directory (os error 2) jq : 1.8.1 Clipboard wl-copy/paste: 2.2.1 / 2.2.1 xclip : No such file or directory (os error 2) xsel : No such file or directory (os error 2) Routine `file -bL --mime-type`: text/plain See https://yazi-rs.github.io/docs/plugins/overview#debugging on how to enable logging or debug runtime errors. Please describe the problem you're trying to solve This might be useful for the following operation, for example: 1. select files (symlinks) 2. yank files 3. paste targets with paste --follow 4. restore selection 5. remove symlinks Step 5. requires the same set of files to be selected. It would be useful to have a key for it, similar to gv in vim. Would you be willing to contribute this feature? - Yes, I'll give it a shot Describe the solution you'd like toggle_restore or toggle --restore command which selects the files which were previously selected. Additionally toggle_yanked may be provided to select exactly the files which are currently yanked. Additional context I was not able to find this proposal in issues, in !51 and in currently available functions. Checklist - I have searched the existing issues/discussions - The latest nightly build <https://yazi-rs.github.io/docs/installation/#binaries> doesn't already have this feature — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#3140>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AEFWFID4QBSWBTSKZX4NLLL3RGFFVAVCNFSM6AAAAACFXFCV26VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43ASLTON2WKOZTGM4DONJVGAYTMMQ> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[maxfl]

Sounds like what you want is to convert the yank state back to the
selection state? If you yank files, they change from selection to yank, and
after pasting, Yazi doesn't clear the yank marks, so you can reuse them.
…

Is that so? I select the file, move cursor away, press d and it proposes to remove the selected file. However, after I yank it deletion proposes to remove the file under the cursor, not the selected/yanked file.

Should I try the latest version of yazi?

[sxyazi]

I am trying to confirm what you want. If it's just restoring the selection state from a yank, that's easy to implement. However, if the selection state you want to restore doesn't come from the yank source, and since Yazi doesn't retain the selection state once it's unselected, then we'll need to find a way to record it.

…

On Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM Maxim Gonchar ***@***.***> wrote: *maxfl* left a comment (sxyazi/yazi#3140) <#3140 (comment)> Sounds like what you want is to convert the yank state back to the selection state? If you yank files, they change from selection to yank, and after pasting, Yazi doesn't clear the yank marks, so you can reuse them. … <#m_9148971508517380735_> Is that so? I select the file, move cursor away, press d and it proposes to remove the selected file. However, after I yank it deletion proposes to remove the file after the cursor, not the selected/yanked file. Should I try the latest version of yazi? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#3140 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AEFWFIBW75U45HV5WPILSED3RGP3XAVCNFSM6AAAAACFXFCV26VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTENJYGY2DCMRSG4> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[maxfl]

Short answer: both would be great.

Long answer: I think having a chance to restore the previous selection would be an amazing feature. It often happens that selection is unselected by a mistake and I want to set it back. In vim this is a very often used and essential feature so my muscle memory wants to use it in yazi as well.

However I understand that to do this will require introducing some kind of memory and may be difficult to implement and plan. So I leave it on your discretion.

Re-select yanked files I do miss often, as yanking removes the selection and prevents making multiple actions.