From 3374f6b07f30f51b4006c5e9ef210cc2926d220d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Travis Abendshien <46939827+CyanVoxel@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2025 13:44:52 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] fix: add option to use old Windows 'start' command (#1084)

---
 src/tagstudio/core/global_settings.py         |  1 +
 .../preview/preview_thumb_controller.py       |  8 +++--
 src/tagstudio/qt/helpers/file_opener.py       | 32 +++++++++++++------
 3 files changed, 30 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/tagstudio/core/global_settings.py b/src/tagstudio/core/global_settings.py
index 7f3add39..ec9812bf 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/core/global_settings.py
+++ b/src/tagstudio/core/global_settings.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ class GlobalSettings(BaseModel):
     tag_click_action: TagClickActionOption = Field(default=TagClickActionOption.DEFAULT)
     theme: Theme = Field(default=Theme.SYSTEM)
     splash: Splash = Field(default=Splash.DEFAULT)
+    windows_start_command: bool = Field(default=False)
 
     date_format: str = Field(default="%x")
     hour_format: bool = Field(default=True)
diff --git a/src/tagstudio/qt/controller/widgets/preview/preview_thumb_controller.py b/src/tagstudio/qt/controller/widgets/preview/preview_thumb_controller.py
index 017d8762..65223e54 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/qt/controller/widgets/preview/preview_thumb_controller.py
+++ b/src/tagstudio/qt/controller/widgets/preview/preview_thumb_controller.py
@@ -144,7 +144,9 @@ class PreviewThumb(PreviewThumbView):
             return self.__get_image_stats(filepath)
 
     def _open_file_action_callback(self):
-        open_file(self.__current_file)
+        open_file(
+            self.__current_file, windows_start_command=self.__driver.settings.windows_start_command
+        )
 
     def _open_explorer_action_callback(self):
         open_file(self.__current_file, file_manager=True)
@@ -154,4 +156,6 @@ class PreviewThumb(PreviewThumbView):
             self.__driver.delete_files_callback(self.__current_file)
 
     def _button_wrapper_callback(self):
-        open_file(self.__current_file)
+        open_file(
+            self.__current_file, windows_start_command=self.__driver.settings.windows_start_command
+        )
diff --git a/src/tagstudio/qt/helpers/file_opener.py b/src/tagstudio/qt/helpers/file_opener.py
index 583830c8..0227a0d0 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/qt/helpers/file_opener.py
+++ b/src/tagstudio/qt/helpers/file_opener.py
@@ -20,13 +20,15 @@ from tagstudio.qt.helpers.silent_popen import silent_Popen
 logger = structlog.get_logger(__name__)
 
 
-def open_file(path: str | Path, file_manager: bool = False):
+def open_file(path: str | Path, file_manager: bool = False, windows_start_command: bool = False):
     """Open a file in the default application or file explorer.
 
     Args:
         path (str): The path to the file to open.
         file_manager (bool, optional): Whether to open the file in the file manager
             (e.g. Finder on macOS). Defaults to False.
+        windows_start_command (bool): Flag to determine if the older 'start' command should be used
+            on Windows for opening files. This fixes issues on some systems in niche cases.
     """
     path = Path(path)
     logger.info("Opening file", path=path)
@@ -51,14 +53,26 @@ def open_file(path: str | Path, file_manager: bool = False):
                     | subprocess.CREATE_BREAKAWAY_FROM_JOB,
                 )
             else:
-                command = f'"{normpath}"'
-                silent_Popen(
-                    command,
-                    shell=True,
-                    close_fds=True,
-                    creationflags=subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP
-                    | subprocess.CREATE_BREAKAWAY_FROM_JOB,
-                )
+                if windows_start_command:
+                    command_name = "start"
+                    # First parameter is for title, NOT filepath
+                    command_args = ["", normpath]
+                    subprocess.Popen(
+                        [command_name] + command_args,
+                        shell=True,
+                        close_fds=True,
+                        creationflags=subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP
+                        | subprocess.CREATE_BREAKAWAY_FROM_JOB,
+                    )
+                else:
+                    command = f'"{normpath}"'
+                    silent_Popen(
+                        command,
+                        shell=True,
+                        close_fds=True,
+                        creationflags=subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP
+                        | subprocess.CREATE_BREAKAWAY_FROM_JOB,
+                    )
         else:
             if sys.platform == "darwin":
                 command_name = "open"