[Settings] Support for deep-linking

[niels9001]

This was discussed with @martinchrzan and @crutkas. It would be nice to have deep-linking support to specific Settings pages. Not entirely sure if this is already supported.

This is helpful for the UX of modules (such as FancyZones editor or ColorPicker) to quickly launch into the right settings page. As a fall-back, it should open the default tab (General)

@martinchrzan @crutkas please chime in with any technical requirements!

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[martinchrzan]

We need to review requirements in settings entry point were it requires to be started from the runner, not as a standalone application, or provide easy way for modules to ask runner to open settings window
Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Runner - Program.cs

Regarding opening specific page, it should be just a matter of providing some extra parameter when starting settings ui process

[crutkas]

My gut says this will be needed for OOBE.

[htcfreek]

This would be a nice feature for IMAGE RESIZER too.

[Jay-o-Way]

#1053 and #888

[niels9001]

We can only launch it from OOBE. Not yet ready for adding this to all modules.

[htcfreek]

ping @niels9001: Implementation is in progress.

[htcfreek]

ping @niels9001: Implementation is in progress.

For specification: The implementation of deep-linking parameter in runner.exe.

[franky920920]

Another suggestion: Get a custom protocol for PowerToys.
For example, FeedBack Hub got feedback-hub:// as protocol, we can have powertoys:// or something as a custom protocol for PT.

I could open another issue for this if required.

[dedavis6797]

Resolved with v0.49.0. Thanks @niels9001!

[franky920920]

@niels9001 I just found out we do have the custom scheme powertoys: like powertoys://open_settings/ which we had in updateUtils.

PowerToys/src/runner/UpdateUtils.cpp

Line 49 in e62df46

L"powertoys://update_now/" },

Would this be better than PowerToys.exe --open-settings=FancyZones if we can do powertoys://fancyzones/?

[niels9001]

@niels9001 I just found out we do have the custom scheme powertoys: like powertoys://open_settings/ which we had in updateUtils.

PowerToys/src/runner/UpdateUtils.cpp

Line 49 in e62df46

L"powertoys://update_now/" },

Would this be better than PowerToys.exe --open-settings=FancyZones if we can do powertoys://fancyzones/?

@stefansjfw knows more about this stuff :)

[stefansjfw]

It would be cleaner that way indeed. However, we might want to keep powertoys://<module_name> for launching modules. Maybe we can use something like powertoys://open_settings/<module_name> if possible..

[htcfreek]

It would be cleaner that way indeed. However, we might want to keep powertoys://<module_name> for launching modules. Maybe we can use something like powertoys://open_settings/<module_name> if possible..

why not powertoys:<module_name> and powertoys-settings:<page_name>

[stefansjfw]

why not powertoys:<module_name> and powertoys-settings/<page_name>

Even better :)

[crutkas]

I think for the most part, this is a PT feature only. No one has asked for this outside of core.