## Summary
Creating a new file via the file picker incorrectly used the focused
file's directory as the target even when that file did not belong to any
open worktree (e.g., Zed opened to a single file, settings.json focused
without a worktree, or an external file focused). This PR changes the
selection logic so the picker only uses the focused file's worktree if
that file actually belongs to one of the visible project worktrees;
otherwise, it falls back to the existing project heuristic (query-root
match or project default), which prevents misdirected file creation.
This addresses
[zed-industries/zed#41940](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/issues/41940).
---
## Problem
### Scenarios that errored or created in the wrong place:
1. **Zed opened to a single file from the CLI** (no worktree)
- Create New was offered and then failed or targeted a non-project
directory
2. **No worktree open with settings.json focused**
- Same failure mode as above
3. **A worktree is open but settings.json is focused**
- Create New used settings.json's directory
4. **A worktree is open but an external (non-worktree) file is focused**
- Create New used the external file's directory
### Root Cause
`set_search_matches` unconditionally overwrote `expect_worktree` using
the `currently_opened_path` worktree_id, even if the focused file was
not part of any visible worktree.
---
## Fix
### Query-derived worktree remains primary:
- Try to match the query path against the roots of visible worktrees
- If it matches, use that worktree and strip the root prefix from the
query to get the relative path
### Only use the focused file as a secondary signal if it is relevant:
- Check whether the focused file's `worktree_id` exists within visible
worktrees
- Only then override `expect_worktree`
If no worktree is determined (e.g., no worktrees are open), Create New
is not offered.
---
## Implementation Details
- **Iterate over `&available_worktree`** when scanning roots and clone
the matched entity to avoid moving out of the iterator
- **Validate focused file worktree membership:**
- Compute `focused_file_in_available_worktree` by scanning visible
worktrees for a matching id
- Override `expect_worktree` only if that check passes
- **Preserve existing guard rails for Create New:**
- Only push `Match::CreateNew` when a concrete `expect_worktree` is
present and the query doesn't end with a trailing separator
---
## Key Code Changes
### Before
Always overwrote `expect_worktree` with the focused file's
`worktree_id`, even for external or non-project files.
### After
Only override `expect_worktree` when the focused file belongs to a
visible worktree. Otherwise, keep the query-derived or default project
worktree.
---
## User-Facing Behavior
### No Worktree Open
*Example: Zed launched with a single file or only settings.json visible*
- The file picker will **not** offer "Create New"
### Worktree Open + Non-Project File Focused
*Example: A non-project file or settings.json is in focus*
- "Create New" is offered
- New file is created within the project worktree (based on root match
or project default)
- New file is **never** created beside the external file
### Multiple Worktrees Open + Query Rooted to One
*Example: Query specifies a particular worktree root*
- The worktree is selected by root-name match
- Project default selection applies if no match is found
---
## Tests
### Added:
`test_create_file_focused_file_not_belong_to_available_worktrees`
1. Set up two worktrees A and B; open an external file that belongs to
neither
2. Use the file picker to create "new-file.txt"
3. Assert the new file opens in an editor whose
`ProjectPath.worktree_id` equals either A or B, and the relative path is
"new-file.txt"
Existing tests for Create New, absolute/relative matching, and
multi-worktree behavior continue to pass.
---
## Reproduction Steps (Pre-Fix)
1. Launch Zed with a single file:
```bash
zed /tmp/foo.txt
```
Or open settings.json with no project
2. Open the file finder and type a new filename, then press Enter
3. Observe Create New trying to use the focused file's directory or
failing unexpectedly
---
## Expected vs Actual
### Expected:
- No Create New when there is no project worktree
- When a project exists, Create New targets the appropriate worktree,
not the focused external file's directory
### Actual (pre-fix):
- Create New used the focused file's directory, even if it was external
or unrelated to the project
---
## Migration and Compatibility
- No user configuration changes required
- Behavior now aligns with user expectation: Create New is only offered
when a project worktree is available and it always targets a project
worktree
---
## Reference
**Fixes:**
[zed-industries/zed#41940](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/issues/41940)
Fixes#41940
---
## Appendix: Code Snippets
### Guard before overriding with focused file:
```rust
let focused_file_in_available_worktree = available_worktree.iter().any(|wt| wt.read(cx).id() == worktree_id);
if focused_file_in_available_worktree {
expect_worktree = project.worktree_for_id(worktree_id, cx);
}
```
### Root-based worktree selection with non-moving iteration:
```rust
for worktree in &available_worktree {
if query_path.strip_prefix(worktree.read(cx).root_name()).is_ok() {
expect_worktree = Some(worktree.clone());
…
}
}
```
---
This PR includes a targeted test ensuring that when the focused file is
outside all worktrees, Create New still creates within the project
worktree(s), preventing regressions.
---
## Release Notes
- Fixed "Create New" in the file picker targeting the wrong directory
when a non-project file was focused.
---
---------
Co-authored-by: Kirill Bulatov <kirill@zed.dev>
Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
