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Overview

You can integrate Avante.nvim with neo-tree to quickly add files or folders to the Avante chat context directly from the neo-tree sidebar.
This integration allows you to select files in neo-tree and add them to Avante’s selected files list without leaving the file explorer.

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Installation & Configuration

Add the following configuration to your neo-tree setup: 
return {
  {
    'nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim',
    config = function()
      require('neo-tree').setup({
        filesystem = {
          commands = {
            avante_add_files = function(state)
              local node = state.tree:get_node()
              local filepath = node:get_id()
              local relative_path = require('avante.utils').relative_path(filepath)

              local sidebar = require('avante').get()

              local open = sidebar:is_open()
              -- ensure avante sidebar is open
              if not open then
                require('avante.api').ask()
                sidebar = require('avante').get()
              end

              sidebar.file_selector:add_selected_file(relative_path)

              -- remove neo tree buffer
              if not open then
                sidebar.file_selector:remove_selected_file('neo-tree filesystem [1]')
              end
            end,
          },
          window = {
            mappings = {
              ['oa'] = 'avante_add_files',
            },
          },
        },
      })
    end,
  },
}

​
How It Works

1

Define Custom Command

The avante_add_files command is defined in neo-tree’s filesystem.commands section.
2

Get File Path

When triggered, it gets the node under the cursor and extracts the file path.
3

Convert to Relative Path

Uses require('avante.utils').relative_path() to convert the absolute path to a project-relative path.
4

Ensure Avante Sidebar is Open

Checks if the Avante sidebar is open; if not, opens it with require('avante.api').ask().
5

Add File to Selection

Adds the file to Avante’s selected files list using sidebar.file_selector:add_selected_file().
6

Clean Up

Removes the neo-tree buffer from the selection if the sidebar wasn’t already open.

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Usage

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Adding Files

  1. Open neo-tree sidebar (:Neotree or your configured keybinding)
  2. Navigate to the file or folder you want to add
  3. Press oa (or your configured key) to add it to Avante’s context
  4. The file appears in Avante’s “Selected Files” list

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Customizing the Keybinding

You can change 'oa' to any keybinding you prefer: 
window = {
  mappings = {
    ['<leader>aa'] = 'avante_add_files',  -- Use <leader>aa instead
    -- or
    ['ga'] = 'avante_add_files',          -- Use ga instead
  },
},

​
Complete Example Configuration

Here’s a complete example with both Avante and neo-tree configured: 
return {
  -- Avante.nvim
  {
    "yetone/avante.nvim",
    event = "VeryLazy",
    opts = {
      -- Your Avante configuration
      selector = {
        exclude_auto_select = { "neo-tree" }, -- Don't auto-select neo-tree buffer
      },
    },
    dependencies = {
      "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim",
      "MunifTanjim/nui.nvim",
      -- ... other dependencies
    },
  },
  
  -- Neo-tree with Avante integration
  {
    'nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim',
    branch = "v3.x",
    dependencies = {
      "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim",
      "nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons",
      "MunifTanjim/nui.nvim",
    },
    config = function()
      require('neo-tree').setup({
        filesystem = {
          commands = {
            avante_add_files = function(state)
              local node = state.tree:get_node()
              local filepath = node:get_id()
              local relative_path = require('avante.utils').relative_path(filepath)

              local sidebar = require('avante').get()
              local open = sidebar:is_open()
              
              if not open then
                require('avante.api').ask()
                sidebar = require('avante').get()
              end

              sidebar.file_selector:add_selected_file(relative_path)

              if not open then
                sidebar.file_selector:remove_selected_file('neo-tree filesystem [1]')
              end
            end,
          },
          window = {
            mappings = {
              ['oa'] = 'avante_add_files',
            },
          },
        },
      })
    end,
  },
}

​
Advanced: Remove Files

You can also add a command to remove files from Avante’s selection: 
commands = {
  avante_add_files = function(state)
    -- ... (as shown above)
  end,
  
  avante_remove_files = function(state)
    local node = state.tree:get_node()
    local filepath = node:get_id()
    local relative_path = require('avante.utils').relative_path(filepath)
    
    local sidebar = require('avante').get()
    if sidebar:is_open() then
      sidebar.file_selector:remove_selected_file(relative_path)
    end
  end,
},

window = {
  mappings = {
    ['oa'] = 'avante_add_files',
    ['od'] = 'avante_remove_files',  -- Remove file
  },
},

​
Tips & Tricks

Add Multiple Files

Navigate and press oa on multiple files to add them all to the context.

Add Folders

You can add entire folders by pressing oa on a directory node.

Visual Feedback

Check Avante’s sidebar to see the list of selected files after adding.

Exclude Neo-tree

Use exclude_auto_select to prevent neo-tree buffers from being auto-selected.

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Alternative: nvim-tree Integration

For nvim-tree users, you can create a similar integration: 
require('nvim-tree').setup({
  on_attach = function(bufnr)
    local api = require('nvim-tree.api')
    
    local function add_to_avante()
      local node = api.tree.get_node_under_cursor()
      if node then
        local relative_path = require('avante.utils').relative_path(node.absolute_path)
        local sidebar = require('avante').get()
        
        if not sidebar:is_open() then
          require('avante.api').ask()
          sidebar = require('avante').get()
        end
        
        sidebar.file_selector:add_selected_file(relative_path)
      end
    end
    
    vim.keymap.set('n', 'oa', add_to_avante, {
      buffer = bufnr,
      desc = "Add file to Avante",
    })
  end,
})

​
Exclude Auto-Select

To prevent file explorer buffers from being automatically selected by Avante: 
require('avante').setup({
  selector = {
    exclude_auto_select = { "NvimTree", "neo-tree" },
  },
})

​
Troubleshooting

  1. Verify the mapping is in the correct section (filesystem.window.mappings)
  2. Check for conflicts with other neo-tree mappings
  3. Ensure neo-tree is loaded before using the mapping
  1. Check if Avante sidebar is open after pressing oa
  2. Verify the file path is correct
  3. Look for errors in :messages
  4. Ensure avante.utils.relative_path() is working correctly
Add neo-tree to exclude_auto_select:
selector = {
  exclude_auto_select = { "neo-tree" },
}

Completion Sources

Other ways to add files to context

Keybindings

All Avante keybindings

File Selector

Configure file picker providers

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