feat: openInNewTab should reuse existing tab group (viewColumn arg or setting)
Summary
Ctrl+Shift+Esc (anthropic.claude-code.openInNewTab) always opens Claude in a new tab group, with no way to configure it to reuse the existing one.
Desired behavior
One or both of:
- Keybinding arg support — allow
viewColumnto be passed so users can control placement:
``json``
{
"key": "ctrl+shift+escape",
"command": "anthropic.claude-code.openInNewTab",
"args": { "viewColumn": "active" }
}
- Setting — a
claude.preferredTabGroup(or similar) that controls whether new tabs open beside the active editor or in a new group.
Why
Standard VS Code commands (e.g. vscode.open, workbench.action.splitEditor) accept viewColumn as a keybinding argument. Claude Code's command does not, so there is no keyboard-driven way to open a new Claude tab in the same group — every invocation fractures the layout.
Workaround today
None that fully works. openInSidebar keeps Claude in the panel (not a tab). Rebinding the key can focus an existing group but cannot prevent a new group from being created if no Claude tab is already active.
Environment
- Claude Code VS Code extension
- Linux (applies equally to Mac/Windows)
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