Add items to your project

Create a new directory

1. In the Project tool window (Alt+1), right-click the node in which you want to create a new directory and select New | Directory.

   Alternatively, select the node, press Alt+Insert, and click Directory.

2. Name the new directory and press Enter.

   If you want to create several nested directories, specify their names separated with slashes, for example: folder/new-folder.

   

Create a new package

Packages in Java are used for grouping classes that belong to the same category or provide similar functionality, for structuring and organizing large applications with hundreds of classes.

1. In the Project tool window (Alt+1), right-click the node within the Sources Root or Test Sources Root in which you want to create a new package, and click New | Package.

   Alternatively, select the node, press Alt+Insert, and click Package.

2. Name the new package and press Enter.

   Write package names in lowercase letters. There are some other naming conventions for packages in Java that you should follow.

   

Create a new empty file

1. In the Project tool window (Alt+1), right-click the node in which you want to create a new file and click New | File.

   Alternatively, select the node, press Alt+Insert, and click File.

2. Name the new file and specify its extension, for example: File.js, and press Enter.

   If the extension you have specified is not associated with any of the file types recognized by IntelliJ IDEA, the Register New File Type Association dialog is displayed. In this dialog, you can associate the extension with one of the recognized file types.

Create a new Java class

1. In the Project tool window (Alt+1), right-click the node in which you want to create a new class and select New | Java Class.

   Alternatively, select the node, press Alt+Insert, and select Java Class.

2. Name the new class and press Enter.

   Follow the Java naming convention as you create new classes.

   

   Gif

Together with the file, IntelliJ IDEA automatically generates the class declaration.

This is done by means of file templates. Depending on the type of the file that you create, the IDE inserts initial code and formatting that is expected to be in all files of that type. For more information on how to use and configure templates, refer to File templates.

Create a new module

Modules allow you to combine several technologies and frameworks in one application. In IntelliJ IDEA, you can create several modules in one project and each of them can be responsible for its own framework.

1. Select the top-level directory in the Project tool window and press Alt+Insert or select New | Module from the context menu.

   The New Module wizard opens.

2. From the list on the left, select a module type. Name the new module.

3. From the Language list, select the language that you want to use in your application.

   If you want to use a language that is not available in IntelliJ IDEA out of the box (for example, Python or PHP), click the button and select the necessary option.

   The IDE will open a dialog in which you can select and install the necessary language plugin. After that, you can close the dialog and keep configuring the new module.

4. Select the build system that you want to use in your project: the native IntelliJ builder, Maven, or Gradle.

   For Gradle, you will also need to select a language for the build script: Groovy or Kotlin.

5. Select a JDK that you want to use from the JDK list. You can use the project SDK or specify a new one.

6. Click Create.

For more information on modules in IntelliJ IDEA, refer to Modules.

Import files

You can import files to your project using any of the following ways:

• Drag the file from your system file manager to the necessary node in the Project tool window (Alt+1).

• Copy the file in the system file manager by pressing Ctrl+C and then paste in to the necessary node in the IDE Project tool window by pressing Ctrl+V.

• Manually move the file to the project folder in your system file manager.

Import folders

• To import a folder to your current project, drag the folder from your system file manager to the Project tool window (Alt+1).

Example: Import an image

Images belong to resource files. They should be stored in a dedicated folder – Resources Root. If you don't have this folder in your project, create a new directory, right-click it in the Project tool window, and select Mark Directory as | Resources Root.

1. Copy the file in the file manager and then paste in to the folder with resource files in the IDE Project tool window.

2. In the dialog that opens, edit the filename and the target location if necessary. Click OK.

3. Right-click the pasted image in the Project tool window and select Copy | Path From Source Root.

4. In the class in which you want to use the image, place the caret at the necessary line and press Ctrl+V to paste the path to the image.

   Run the class to make sure that the image is inserted correctly.

Import an existing module

You can import a module to your project by adding the .iml file from another project:

1. From the main menu, select File | New | Module from Existing Sources.

2. In the dialog that opens, specify the path the .iml file of the module that you want to import, and click Open.

   By doing so, you are attaching another module to the project without physically moving any files. If you don't need the modules to be located in one folder, the module import is finished, and you can start working with the project normally.

   tip

   If you want the modules in the same folder, in the Project tool window, drag the imported module to the top-level directory. In this case, the contents of the imported module will be physically transferred to your project's folder.