It is very usefull during development if you have ability of navigation dirrectly to source code from explorer page.
I create such solution for my editor Notepad++.

First of all please download last version of editor from sourceforge page. http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/

Now i describe the basic solution that allow you to open model, controller and view from browser.

As you see in Debug controllear in before filter method created two config parameters.
First Editor.path is a path to the your editor.
Second Editor.linekey is string mask which used when need inform editor in which line need to open file.

I have editor at folder c:notepad++. All works well in this case.

How all works? When you click the link, browser open page with link to debuger controller in new window, and this page close by the javascript. Controller make system call and start editor with necessery parameters. All really simple.

Plece next controller in controllers folder with name debug_controller.php

Controller Class:

<?php 
class DebugController extends AppController {     var $name = 'Debug';
    var $helpers = array('Html', 'Form', 'Ajax', 'Debug');
    var $uses = array();
    var $components = array();
    
    function beforeFilter() {
        Configure::write('Editor.path', 'C:\Notepad++\notepad++.exe');
        Configure::write('Editor.linekey', '-n%s');
        
        parent::beforeFilter();
        return true;
    }    
    
    function open($file, $line=null) { 
        $file=base64_decode($file);
        $this->_open($file, $line);
        $this->render('close'); 
    }
    
    function _open($file, $line=null, $options=array()) { 
        if (!empty($line)) {
            $linekey=sprintf(Configure::read('Editor.linekey'),$line);
        } else {
            $linekey='';
        }
        $command=sprintf('%s "%s" %s',Configure::read('Editor.path'),$file,$linekey);
        $this->log($command);
        $result=system($command);
    } 
    
    function open_controller ($name, $action=null) {
        $name=Inflector::camelize($name);
        if (loadController($name)) {
            $cname=$name.'Controller';
            $filepath=APP.'controllers'.DS.Inflector::underscore($cname).'.php';
            $line=null;
            if (!empty($action)) {
                $file=& new File($filepath);
                if ($file->exists()) {
                    $text=$file->read();
                    $textarr=split("\n",$text);
                    foreach($textarr as $key => $str) {
                        if (preg_match("/function\s+$action/i",$str)) {
                            $line=$key+1;
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            $this->_open($filepath,$line);
        }
        $this->render('close'); 
        
        
    }     function 

open_model ($name) {
        $name=Inflector::singularize(Inflector::camelize($name));
        if (loadModel($name)) {
            $cname=$name;
            $filepath=APP.'models'.DS.Inflector::underscore($cname).'.php';
            $file=& new File($filepath);
            if ($file->exists()) {
                $this->_open($filepath);
            }
        }
        $this->render('close'); 
    }     function open_view ($controller,$name) {
        $cname=Inflector::camelize($controller);
        if (loadController($cname)) {
            $filepath=APP.'views'.DS.$controller.DS.$name;
            $file=& new File($filepath.'.ctp');
            if ($file->exists()) {
                $this->_open($filepath.'.ctp');
            } else {
                $file=& new File($filepath.'.thtml');
                if ($file->exists()) {
                    $this->_open($filepath.'.thtml');
                }
            }
        }
        $this->render('close'); 
    }
    
}
?>

Create view /debug/show.ctp

View Template:


<script type="text/javascript">
 window.close();
</script>

Place next code in /views/layouts/default.ctp

View Template:


    <?php if (Configure::read()>0) {echo $debug->current_links();}?> 

If you use delault cake layout I recomend you to place it after header div (inside container div). This allow you always have links at top of page.

And last feature is a helper that you need to place at views/helpers/debug.php

Helper Class:

<?php 
class DebugHelper extends Helper 
{ 
    var $helpers = array('Html', 'Form', 'Ajax');//, 'Javascript');
    var $view=null;
    var $options = array ('target' => '_blank');     function link($file, $line=null, $title='Show') {
        $link=$this->Html->link($title,    array ('controller' => 'debug', 'action' => 'open',$file, $line),$this->options);
        $this->log($link);
        return $link;
    }
    
    function current_links() {
        
        $modelLink=$this->Html->link('Show Model',    array ('controller' => 'debug', 'action' => 'open_model',$this->params['controller']),$this->options);
        $controllerLink=$this->Html->link('Show controller',    array ('controller' => 'debug', 'action' => 'open_controller',$this->params['controller'], $this->params['action']),$this->options);
        $viewLink=$this->Html->link('Show view',    array ('controller' => 'debug', 'action' => 'open_view',$this->params['controller'], $this->params['action']),$this->options);
        
        
        return "$modelLink $controllerLink $viewLink";
    }
    
    
}
?>