microsoft · xinyi-gong · May 21, 2026
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+# Support Editing and Creating Local Files Outside the Workspace
+
+## Overview
+Verify that Copilot Agent mode can edit and create local filesystem files that are outside the Eclipse workspace, and
+that those changes are surfaced through the file change summary bar with the same review actions users expect for
+workspace files.
+
+This covers the user-visible flow for the `insert_edit_into_file` and `create_file` tools when the target is an
+absolute local path rather than an Eclipse `IFile`.
+
+Entry points:
+- Window -> Show View -> Other... -> Copilot -> Copilot Chat -> Agent mode
+
+Not exercised:
+- Direct unit-level invocation of the file tools.
+- Workspace-file edit coverage.
+- Low-level compare editor APIs; this plan verifies the Compare UI through the summary bar.
+
+---
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Eclipse IDE with the GitHub Copilot for Eclipse plugin installed and activated.
+- The user is signed in to GitHub Copilot and Agent mode is available in the Copilot Chat view.
+- A writable local directory outside the Eclipse workspace is available, for example:
+  - Windows: `%TEMP%\\copilot-eclipse-local-file-tools`
+  - macOS/Linux: `/tmp/copilot-eclipse-local-file-tools`
+- The local directory contains an existing text file named `existing-local-file.txt` with this content:
+  `before local edit`
+- The local directory does not contain `created-local-file.txt` before the create-file test starts.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Edit an existing local file outside the workspace
+
+### TC-001: Agent edits a local file and exposes the change in the summary bar
+
+**Type:** `Happy Path`
+**Priority:** `P0`
+
+#### Preconditions
+- The Eclipse workbench is open.
+- Copilot Chat is open in a fresh or cleared conversation.
+- `existing-local-file.txt` exists outside the workspace and contains `before local edit`.
+
+#### Steps
+1. Open **Copilot Chat** from `Window -> Show View -> Other... -> Copilot -> Copilot Chat`.
+2. Switch the chat mode selector to **Agent**.
+3. Send a prompt that asks Agent mode to edit the external local file by absolute path, for example:
+   `Edit <absolute path to existing-local-file.txt> so its entire content is exactly "after local edit".`
+4. If Copilot asks for tool confirmation, approve the file edit operation.
+5. Wait for the Agent turn to complete.
+6. Verify the file change summary bar appears in the Chat view.
+7. Verify the summary bar includes `existing-local-file.txt` and displays a local filesystem path for that file.
+8. Click **View Diff** for `existing-local-file.txt`.
+9. Verify the Compare editor opens and shows the original content `before local edit` against the modified content
+   `after local edit`.
+10. Close the Compare editor.
+
+#### Expected Result
+- Copilot completes the edit without reporting that the file is outside the workspace or cannot be edited.
+- The local file on disk contains `after local edit`.
+- The summary bar lists `existing-local-file.txt` even though it is not an Eclipse workspace file.
+- The Compare editor opens from **View Diff** and shows the correct before/after content.
+- No error dialog is shown. The Eclipse error log has no uncaught exception from `insert_edit_into_file`, local file
+  path handling, or compare editor creation.
+
+#### Key Screenshots
+- [ ] **Agent edit prompt** -- Copilot Chat in Agent mode with the absolute local file path visible.
+- [ ] **Summary bar after local edit** -- The changed local file appears in the file change summary bar.
+- [ ] **Local file Compare editor** -- The Compare editor shows `before local edit` vs. `after local edit`.
+
+#### Notes on failure modes
+- The edit succeeds on disk but the file is missing from the summary bar -- the local `Path` change may not be tracked
+  by the summary bar model.
+- **View Diff** does nothing or throws an error -- local files may not be routed through the local Compare input path.
+- The diff baseline shows the modified content on both sides -- the original content may not have been cached before
+  applying the edit.
+
+### TC-002: Keep clears the local file change and later edits use a new baseline
+
+**Type:** `Happy Path`
+**Priority:** `P0`
+
+#### Preconditions
+- The Eclipse workbench is open.
+- Copilot Chat is open in a fresh or cleared conversation.
+- `existing-local-file.txt` exists outside the workspace and contains `before local edit`.
+- Agent mode has edited `existing-local-file.txt` so it contains `after local edit`, and the file is listed in the
+  summary bar.
+
+#### Steps
+1. Click **Keep** for `existing-local-file.txt` in the file change summary bar.
+2. Verify the file is removed from the summary bar.
+3. Send another Agent prompt to edit the same absolute file path so its entire content is exactly `second local edit`.
+4. Approve the edit if prompted and wait for the turn to complete.
+5. Click **View Diff** for `existing-local-file.txt`.
+6. Verify the Compare editor shows `after local edit` as the original content and `second local edit` as the modified
+   content.
+
+#### Expected Result
+- **Keep** accepts the current local file content and clears the tracked change.
+- The next edit of the same local file starts a new diff baseline from the kept content.
+- The file remains accessible through the summary bar and Compare editor after the second edit.
+
+#### Key Screenshots
+- [ ] **After Keep** -- The summary bar no longer lists the local file.
+- [ ] **Second local diff** -- The Compare editor shows the kept content as the new baseline.
+
+### TC-003: Undo restores the original local file content
+
+**Type:** `Happy Path`
+**Priority:** `P0`
+
+#### Preconditions
+- The Eclipse workbench is open.
+- Copilot Chat is open in a fresh or cleared conversation.
+- `existing-local-file.txt` exists outside the workspace and contains `before local edit`.
+- Agent mode has edited `existing-local-file.txt` so it contains `after local edit`, and the file is listed in the
+  summary bar.
+
+#### Steps
+1. Click **Undo** for `existing-local-file.txt` in the file change summary bar.
+2. Verify the file is removed from the summary bar.
+3. Open `existing-local-file.txt` from the local filesystem and inspect its content.
+
+#### Expected Result
+- **Undo** restores the file to the original content captured before the tracked edit.
+- The file is removed from the summary bar after undo completes.
+- No error dialog is shown and the Eclipse error log has no local file undo exception.
+
+#### Key Screenshots
+- [ ] **Before Undo** -- The summary bar lists the edited local file.
+- [ ] **After Undo** -- The summary bar no longer lists the local file and the file content is restored.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Create a new local file outside the workspace
+
+### TC-004: Agent creates a local file and shows an empty-baseline diff
+
+**Type:** `Happy Path`
+**Priority:** `P0`
+
+#### Preconditions
+- `created-local-file.txt` does not exist in the local test directory.
+- Copilot Chat is open in Agent mode.
+
+#### Steps
+1. Send a prompt that asks Agent mode to create the external local file by absolute path, for example:
+   `Create <absolute path to created-local-file.txt> with the exact content "created local content".`
+2. If Copilot asks for tool confirmation, approve the file create operation.
+3. Wait for the Agent turn to complete.
+4. Verify `created-local-file.txt` exists on disk and contains `created local content`.
+5. Verify the file change summary bar lists `created-local-file.txt`.
+6. Click **View Diff** for `created-local-file.txt`.
+7. Verify the Compare editor shows an empty original side and `created local content` on the modified side.
+
+#### Expected Result
+- Copilot creates the local file without requiring it to be inside an Eclipse workspace project.
+- The created file is listed in the summary bar.
+- The diff baseline for the created file is empty.
+- No error dialog is shown and the Eclipse error log has no local file create or Compare UI exception.
+
+#### Key Screenshots
+- [ ] **Agent create prompt** -- Copilot Chat in Agent mode with the absolute create path visible.
+- [ ] **Summary bar after local create** -- The created local file appears in the file change summary bar.
+- [ ] **Created file diff** -- The Compare editor shows empty original content vs. the created content.
+
+### TC-005: Undo removes a created local file
+
+**Type:** `Happy Path`
+**Priority:** `P0`
+
+#### Preconditions
+- The Eclipse workbench is open.
+- Copilot Chat is open in Agent mode.
+- `created-local-file.txt` does not exist in the local test directory.
+- Agent mode has created `created-local-file.txt` with content `created local content`, and the file is listed in the
+  summary bar.
+
+#### Steps
+1. Click **Undo** for `created-local-file.txt` in the file change summary bar.
+2. Verify the file is removed from the summary bar.
+3. Verify `created-local-file.txt` no longer exists on disk.
+
+#### Expected Result
+- **Undo** for a created local file deletes the file, matching the create-file semantics.
+- The summary bar no longer lists the created file after undo completes.
+- No error dialog is shown and the Eclipse error log has no local file deletion exception.
+
+#### Key Screenshots
+- [ ] **Before created-file Undo** -- The summary bar lists `created-local-file.txt`.
+- [ ] **After created-file Undo** -- The summary bar is clear and the file is absent from disk.
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 
 import com.microsoft.copilot.eclipse.ui.CopilotUi;
 import com.microsoft.copilot.eclipse.ui.chat.services.ChatServiceManager;
+import com.microsoft.copilot.eclipse.ui.chat.tools.ChangedFile;
 import com.microsoft.copilot.eclipse.ui.chat.tools.FileToolService;
 import com.microsoft.copilot.eclipse.ui.chat.tools.FileToolService.FileChangeProperty;
 import com.microsoft.copilot.eclipse.ui.utils.SwtUtils;
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ private void setupMocks() {
   void testNoScrollForFewFiles() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ void testNoScrollForFewFiles() {
   void testNoScrollForExactlyMaxFiles() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(5, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(5, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ void testNoScrollForExactlyMaxFiles() {
   void testScrollCreatedForManyFiles() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ void testScrollCreatedForManyFiles() {
   void testScrollHeightHintForManyFiles() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(8, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(8, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ void testAllFileRowsRenderedWithScroll() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
       int fileCount = 7;
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(fileCount, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(fileCount, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ void testAllFileRowsRenderedWithScroll() {
   void testContentAreaSetInScrolledComposite() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(8, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(8, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@ void testContentAreaSetInScrolledComposite() {
   void testMinHeightSetForScrolledComposite() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ void testRebuildSummaryBarChangesScrollBehavior() {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
 
       // First build with few files (no scroll)
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> fewFiles = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> fewFiles = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(fewFiles);
 
       Object changedFiles1 = getFieldValue(workingSetBar, "changedFiles");
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@ void testRebuildSummaryBarChangesScrollBehavior() {
       assertNull(scroll1, "No scroll should exist for 3 files");
 
       // Rebuild with many files (should have scroll)
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> manyFiles = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> manyFiles = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(manyFiles);
 
       Object changedFiles2 = getFieldValue(workingSetBar, "changedFiles");
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ void testRebuildSummaryBarChangesScrollBehavior() {
   void testExpandIconImageWhenExpanded() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ void testExpandIconImageWhenExpanded() {
   void testExpandIconImageWhenCollapsed() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -354,7 +355,7 @@ void testExpandIconImageWhenCollapsed() {
   void testTooltipTextWhenExpanded() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(3, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -395,7 +396,7 @@ void testTooltipTextWhenExpanded() {
   void testTooltipTextWhenCollapsed() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(5, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(5, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -436,7 +437,7 @@ void testTooltipTextWhenCollapsed() {
   void testTooltipAndImageToggleBehavior() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(4, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = createMockFilesMap(4, false);
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(filesMap);
 
@@ -476,7 +477,7 @@ void testTooltipContainsCorrectFileCount() {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
 
       // Test with 1 file
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> oneFile = createMockFilesMap(1, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> oneFile = createMockFilesMap(1, false);
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(oneFile);
 
       Object titleBar = getFieldValue(workingSetBar, "titleBar");
@@ -488,7 +489,7 @@ void testTooltipContainsCorrectFileCount() {
           "Tooltip should contain 'file' (singular)");
 
       // Test with 10 files
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> tenFiles = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> tenFiles = createMockFilesMap(10, false);
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(tenFiles);
 
       titleBar = getFieldValue(workingSetBar, "titleBar");
@@ -508,7 +509,7 @@ void testTooltipContainsCorrectFileCount() {
   void testEmptyFilesMapDoesNotCreateChangedFiles() {
     SwtUtils.invokeOnDisplayThread(() -> {
       workingSetBar = new WorkingSetBar(parent, SWT.NONE);
-      Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> emptyMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+      Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> emptyMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
 
       workingSetBar.buildSummaryBarFor(emptyMap);
 
@@ -524,11 +525,11 @@ void testEmptyFilesMapDoesNotCreateChangedFiles() {
   /**
    * Creates a map of mock files with the specified count.
    */
-  private Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> createMockFilesMap(int count, boolean isHandled) {
-    Map<IFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+  private Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> createMockFilesMap(int count, boolean isHandled) {
+    Map<ChangedFile, FileChangeProperty> filesMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
     for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
       IFile mockFile = createMockFile("TestFile" + i + ".java");
-      filesMap.put(mockFile, new FileChangeProperty(FileChangeType.Created));
+      filesMap.put(ChangedFile.workspace(mockFile), new FileChangeProperty(FileChangeType.Created));
     }
     return filesMap;
   }