microsoft/vscode · error · Error

Please open a text editor to use the `#selection` variable.

Error message

Please open a text editor to use the `#selection` variable.

What it means

Error "Please open a text editor to use the `#selection` variable." thrown in microsoft/vscode.

Source

Thrown at extensions/copilot/src/extension/conversation/vscode-node/remoteAgents.ts:646

		// Check whether we can send file and selection data implicitly
		if (this.checkAuthorized(slug)) {
			const { activeTextEditor } = this.tabsAndEditorsService;
			if (activeTextEditor && variables.find(v => v.id.startsWith('vscode.implicit'))) {
				await addFileReference(activeTextEditor.document, undefined, true);
				await addSelectionReference(activeTextEditor, undefined, undefined, true);
				hasSentImplicitSelectionReference = true;
			}
		}

		for (const variable of variables) {
			if (URI.isUri(variable.value)) {
				const textDocument = await this.workspaceService.openTextDocument(variable.value);
				await addFileReference(textDocument, variable.name);
			} else if (variable.name === 'selection') {
				const { activeTextEditor } = this.tabsAndEditorsService;
				if (!activeTextEditor) {
					throw new Error(l10n.t({ message: 'Please open a text editor to use the `#selection` variable.', comment: '{Locked=\'`#selection`\'}' }));
				}
				if (!hasSentImplicitSelectionReference) {
					await addSelectionReference(activeTextEditor, variable.name, true);
				}
			} else if (variable.name === 'editor' && this.tabsAndEditorsService.activeTextEditor) {
				await addFileReference(this.tabsAndEditorsService.activeTextEditor.document, variable.name);
			}
		}

		// Always send the open GitHub repositories
		if (!this.gitService.isInitialized) {
			await this.gitService.initialize();
		}
		const repositories = this.gitService.repositories;
		for (const repository of repositories) {
			const repoId = getGitHubRepoInfoFromContext(repository)?.id;
			if (!repoId) {
				continue; // Not a GitHub repository

View on GitHub (pinned to a94b963a32)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at extensions/copilot/src/extension/conversation/vscode-node/remoteAgents.ts:646 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of microsoft/vscode@a94b963a32 (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ea78fc4f1173be3c. Report an issue: GitHub.