Symbolic links are resolved on drag and drop
Background: I have several videos located in a git annex folder. Git annex is a git extension that manages "big" files in a git repository by hashing them and saving them in the repository as symbolic links. The files are contained in a separate folder, usually .git/annex/objects/xx/yy/ under a filename that contains the SHA256 hash, leading to awfully long filenames.
When I play such files in VLC by double-clicking the symbolic link in a file manager, or by selecting "Media > Add", the player lists the file as "Original name.mkv" (example name) but when I drag and drop the symbolic link, it seems like VLC will resolve the symbolic links and instead add the git annex file in the playlist, leading to awfully unmanageable names.
I have tried different combinations, for instance using different file managers.
- Dropping a symbolic link from either Thunar, pcmanfm, nautilus or spacefm into VLC will cause resolving.
- Dropping in a different player (candidates SMPlayer and MPV) will not resolve links.
- "Open with" from any of the file managers will not resolve links
To reproduce:
- Name a file something obscenely long
- Make a symbolic link to this file: name it something nice and short
- Drag the symbolic link to your VLC playlist
Expected results: the freshly added item bears the same name as the symbolic link.
Actual results: the freshly added item has an obscenely long title.
I listed the platform as GNU/Linux as this is my system, but I suppose it may affect all platforms that support symbolic links.