#!/bin/bash
err_script()
{
    if [ "$2" ]; then
        msg="Error: could not change to directory '$1': $2"
    else
        msg="Error: could not change to directory '$1'."
    fi
    printf "printf '%s\n' %q\n" "$msg"
    cat <<EOF
echo Press enter to quit.
read
EOF
}

target=$1
errmsg=
case "$target" in
    file:///) target=${target#file://} ;;
esac

try_chdir()
{
    if [ -d "$target" ]; then
        cd "$target"
    elif [ -e "$target" ]; then
        cd "$(dirname "$target")"
    else
        errmsg='does not exist'
        false
    fi
}

if try_chdir; then
    exec xterm
else
    err_script=$(err_script "$target" "$errmsg")
    exec xterm -e "$err_script"
fi