How to open a directory without making nvim-tree occupying the entire window

[Prince213]

Hi,
When I open a directory, nvim-tree occupies the entire window, I'm wondering if there's a way to make it open a small portion of the window. This has been asked at https://www.reddit.com/r/neovim/comments/urc32o/nvimtree_start_up/, but with no answer.
Thanks in advance.

[alex-courtis]

Unfortunately nvim-tree occupies the whole of its window.

I sounds like you might want a solution where a new window is opened for nvim-tree. Perhaps a floating window might be useful :help nvim-tree.view.float

Is your use case on vim start or opening a directory in an existing session?

Note that an overhaul of the startup behaviour is incoming #1669

[Prince213]

Hi,

I sounds like you might want a solution where a new window is opened for nvim-tree.

It's more like having nvim-tree on the one side and an empty buffer on the other side.

Is your use case on vim start or opening a directory in an existing session?

It's on vim start.

[alex-courtis]

Some sort of new_window option for the proposed startup options might be needed.

Please comment in the issue #1669 and describe exactly the desired behaviour i.e.
When you want a new nvim-tree window to open: what flavour of buffers should result in a new window.

[davidarny]

@alex-courtis I went through this wiki and tried all variants, but can make a tree to the side

Currently it opens like this:

And I believe me and @Prince213 want something like this

[alex-courtis]

I'm able to get the desired result with a "Clean Room" Replication and the very basic open recipe at the bottom:

      watcher = false,
    },
  },
})

local function open_nvim_tree()

  -- open the tree
  require("nvim-tree.api").tree.open()
end

vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd({ "VimEnter" }, { callback = open_nvim_tree })

return M

Please try that out to see if it's a tree problem or something in your plugin / startup that is causing the isssue.