Project tool window

The Project tool window lets you take a look at your project from various viewpoints and perform different tasks such as creating new items (directories, files, classes, and so on), opening files in the editor, navigating to the necessary code fragments, and more.

Most of the functions in this tool window are accessed as context menu commands in the content pane and via associated shortcuts.

Also, the view contains the Scratches and Consoles folder that lets you manage created scratch files, database consoles, and extension scripts.

Views

The tool window has several views:

Project view. This view displays all the project items along with their dependencies (SDKs and libraries). The emphasis is on the directory structure, although the packages are also shown.
Scopes views (Files, Project Source Files, Project Non-Source Files, and so on). These views display the contents of the predefined and user-defined scopes. In other respects, depending on the currently selected view options, a scope view may resemble the Project view.

To switch between views, press ⌥ →/⌥ ← or select the desired view from the list on the title bar. You can also display each view in a separate tab: click and disable the Group Tabs option.

AppCode: choosing a view in the Project tool window

To configure a view, use the corresponding options in the title bar context menu. The necessary options can also be accessed by clicking on the title bar.

Preview files

There are two ways to preview files without opening each one in a separate tab:

Use the file preview popup — select a file in the Project tool window and press Space.
Enable the preview tab — click and select Enable Preview Tab.

Show file size and modification timestamp

The Project tool window allows you to see the size and modification timestamp for the files in the project tree. To display this information, select View | Appearance | Details in Tree Views from the main menu.

Descriptions in Tree Views: OFF	Descriptions in Tree Views: ON

Show tree indent guides

In the Project tool window, you can display vertical lines that mark indent levels and help you better understand the hierarchy of the components in your project. To display these lines, enable Show tree indent guides on the Appearance and Behavior | Appearance page of the IDE settings ⌃ ⌥ S.

Title bar context menu

The context menu that appears by right-clicking the title bar or clicking , provides settings for project views.

The following table lists and briefly explains the available commands and options.

Item

Description

Tree Appearance

Sort by Type

If the option is off, the files are sorted alphabetically by their names. If the option is on, the files are sorted by their extensions.

The option doesn't affect the order of the folders. The folders are always sorted alphabetically.

Folders Always on Top

If the option is on, folders are shown above the files. Otherwise, all items are sorted alphabetically, and files and folders appear intermixed.

Enable Preview Tab

Enable the preview tab that allows you to view files in a single tab one by one without opening each file in a new tab.

Open Files with Single Click

If this option is on, AppCode will automatically open the selected item in the editor. Otherwise, you need to double-click items to open them.

Note that you cannot disable this option if you enable the preview tab.

Always Select Opened File

If this option is on, AppCode automatically locates documents that you open in the editor in the current view of this window.

Xcode Order

If this option is on, files and folders will be arranged in the same order as in Xcode.

Edit Scopes

This command opens the Scopes dialog where you can add, remove, and edit custom scopes.

Group Tabs

If this option is on, there is a list in the left-hand part of the title bar from which you can select the necessary view.

If this option is off, the views are represented by tabs which appear in the left-hand part of the title bar.

Group Tabs: ON	Group Tabs: OFF

View Mode

This option lets you control general appearance and behavior of the tool window. See Tool window view modes.

Move to

To associate the tool window with a different tool window bar, select this command, and then select the destination tool window bar (Top, Left, Bottom or Right).

Resize

To resize the tool window by moving one of its borders, select this command, and then select the necessary Stretch to option.

Note that this command is not available for the floating mode.

Remove from Sidebar

This command hides the tool window, removes the associated tool window button from the tool window bar and removes the tool window from the quick access menu ( or ).

To open the tool window again (and restore the associated features), use the main menu: View | Tool Windows | <Window Name> or press ⌥ 1.

Help

This command opens the description of the Project tool window in the AppCode online help.

Title bar buttons

Item	Shortcut	Description
		Navigate from a file in the editor to the corresponding node (file, class, field, method, and so on) in the Project tool window. This icon is not available if the Always Select Opened File option is currently on.
	`⌃ -`	Collapse all the nodes.
		Open the menu for configuring the current view and changing the tool window viewing modes. The available options are a subset of the title bar context menu items. Note that most of the menu items are options that you can turn on or off. An option which is on has a check mark to the left of its name.
	`⇧ ⎋`	Hide the tool window `⇧ ⎋`. To hide all the tool windows, press `⌃ ⇧ F12`.

Content pane

The content pane shows the project items such as directories, files, and so on.

The icons for the main categories (node types) are shown and briefly explained in the following table. The icons used for the main symbols (classes, fields, methods, and so on.), visibility modifiers, and bookmarks are shown in Icon reference.


	A folder (directory). Different folder categories have different colors. Group (in the Project view) Directory (in the Files view) Excluded directory (in the Files view)
	Scratch files and consoles (in the Files view)
	Frameworks
	Assets

Context menu commands for the content pane items

The context menu of an item provides access to all the functions available for this item.

Item	Shortcut	Description
New	`⌘ N`	Create a new item (directory, file, or class) within the selected one.
Add		Use this command to add existing files, frameworks and libraries, or linked projects to your AppCode project.
Cut	`⌃ X`	Move the selected item or items from the current location to the clipboard.
Copy	`⌃ C`	Copy the selected item or items to the clipboard.
Copy Path/Reference		Use this command and one of the following options to copy the selected item(s) to the clipboard: Absolute Path: copies the full path(s) of the selected item or items. File Name: copies only the filename to the clipboard. Path From Content Root: copies the path relative to the directory that contains the application content files. Path From Source Root: copies the path relative to the Sources Root. Path From Repository Root: copies the path relative to the project repository. GitHub Repository URL: copies the path relative to the project repository on GitHub. Toolbox URL: if you have AppCode Toolbox installed, you can insert the copied path in the browser to open the Toolbox application with the selected project. Copy Reference (`⌃ ⌥ ⇧ C`): copies the reference of the selected item including the line number.
Copy Relative Path	`⌃ ⌥ ⇧ C`	Use this command to copy a relative path to the selected item to the clipboard.
Paste	`⌃ V`	Insert the contents of the clipboard into the selected location.
Find Usages	`⌥ F7`	Search for the usages of the selected item. (The Find Usages dialog will open.)
Inspect Code		Use this command to run code inspection for the selected item.
Refactor		Perform one of the refactorings available for the selected item.
Bookmarks		Add the selected item to an existing or new list of bookmarks.
Reformat Code	`⌃ ⌥ L`	Reformat the source code in the selected file or in all files in the current directory. See also, Reformat and rearrange code.
Delete	`⌦`	Delete the selected item. Use with care!
Override File Type		Change the type of the selected file, for example, to Plain Text to exclude it from project, so it is ignored by inspections, code completion, navigation, and so on. The file will be indicated with a special icon and shown as plain text in the editor. For more details, see Exclude files.
Exclude from Xcode project		Use this command to delete a file from the project structure. The file won't be displayed in the Project view but still will be available in the Files view. To return the file into the project, in the Files view, right-click the file and select Add to Xcode Project.
Manage Targets		Use this command to add a file to a specific target.
Project Settings	`⌃ ⌥ ⇧ S`	Use this command to open the Xcode-compatible project settings.
Run '<item_name>'	`⌃ ⇧ F10`	Run a test configuration.
Debug '<item_name>'	`⌃ ⇧ D`	Debug a test configuration.
Run '<item_name>' with Coverage		Use this command to run a test configuration with code coverage.
Profile '<item_name>'		With this command you can attach a profiler to the current run/debug configuration.
Reveal in Finder		Use this command to navigate too the selected file in Finder.
Open in Terminal		Use this command to open the directory corresponding to the selected item in the embedded local terminal.
Local History		View local history for the selected file or directory, or to create a label for the current version of your project.
Synchronize '<item_name>'		Synchronize the view in the tool window with the view saved in the file system. If you change a file or directory contents externally, AppCode, under certain circumstances, may not be aware of the corresponding changes unless you use this command.
Open in Right Split		Split the editor into two parts and show the file in the right section. For more information, refer to Split screen.
Compare With	`⌃ D`	Compare the selected file or directory with another file or directory. See Compare files, folders, and text sources and Differences viewer for folders.
Mark Directory As		Use this command to mark a selected directory as project sources and headers or library files or exclude it from indexing. The command is available in the Files view.
Create Gist		Use this command to share code by using gists.

File status highlights

If VCS integration is enabled for the current project, AppCode uses colors to denote VCS file status in the Project tool window.

You can configure VCS file status colors on the Version Control | File Status Colors page of the IDE settings ⌃ ⌥ S.

The table below lists default file status colors and their meanings in some of the color schemes.

Color	File Status	Description
#0A7700	Added	The file in the active changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository.
#0EAA00	Added in not active changelist	The file in an inactive changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository. This file status is available if the Highlight files from non-active changelists option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#FF0000	Changelist conflict	The file in an inactive changelist has been modified in the active changelist. In this case, a new dialog will open prompting you to resolve the changelist conflict. This file status is available if all options are enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#0A7700	Copied	If a file is a copy of another file, its metadata is tracked, and such a file is marked as copied.
#616161	Deleted	The file is scheduled for deletion from the repository.
#773895	Deleted from file system	The file has been deleted locally, but hasn't been scheduled for deletion, and it still exists in the repository.
#8AA4C8	Have changed descendants	If a file is modified, the IDE will recursively highlight all directories containing that file. This status is available if the Highlight directories that contain modified files in the Project tree option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Confirmation.
#3264B4	Have immediate changed children	If a file is modified, the IDE will highlight its parent directory. This status is available if the Highlight directories that contain modified files in the Project tree option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Confirmation.
#B28C00	Hijacked	[Perforce, ClearCase, VSS] The file is modified without checkout.
#727238	Ignored	A file is intentionally untracked by VCS.
#7503DC	Merged	The file is merged by your VCS as a result of an update.
#FF0000	Merged with conflicts	During the last update, the file has been merged with conflicts.
#FF0000	Merged with property conflicts	During the last update, the IDE has detected differences between the properties of the local file and its server version.
#FF0000	Merged with text and property conflicts	Text and property conflicts happen when two or more developers modify the same lines of a file and the same file properties.
#0032A0	Modified	The file has changed since the last synchronization.
#0047E4	Modified in not active changelist	The file in an inactive changelist has been modified. This file status is available if the Highlight files from non-active changelists option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#7C7C00	Obsolete	The file should no longer be in your working copy of the repository.
#007C7C	Renamed	Since the last update, the file has been renamed.
#08978F	Switched	[SVN] The file is taken from a different branch than the whole project.
#993300	(Unknown) Unversioned	The file exists locally, but is not in the repository, and is not scheduled for addition.
None (default color)	Up to date	The file hasn't been changed.

Color	File Status	Description
#629755	Added	The file in the active changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository.
#629755	Added in not active changelist	The file in an inactive changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository. This file status is available if the Highlight files from non-active changelists option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#D5756C	Changelist conflict	The file in an inactive changelist has been modified in the active changelist. In this case, a new dialog will open prompting you to resolve the changelist conflict. This file status is available if all options are enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#0A7700	Copied	If a file is a copy of another file, its metadata is tracked, and such a file is marked as copied.
#6C6C6C	Deleted	The file is scheduled for deletion from the repository.
#6C6C6C	Deleted from file system	The file has been deleted locally, but hasn't been scheduled for deletion, and it still exists in the repository.
#6897BB	Have changed descendants	If a file is modified, the IDE will recursively highlight all directories containing that file. This status is available if the Highlight directories that contain modified files in the Project tree option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Confirmation.
#6897BB	Have immediate changed children	If a file is modified, the IDE will highlight its parent directory. This status is available if the Highlight directories that contain modified files in the Project tree option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Confirmation.
None (default color)	Hijacked	[Perforce, ClearCase, VSS] The file is modified without checkout.
#848504	Ignored	A file is intentionally untracked by VCS.
#9876AA	Merged	The file is merged by your VCS as a result of an update.
#D5756C	Merged with conflicts	During the last update, the file has been merged with conflicts.
#D5756C	Merged with property conflicts	During the last update, the IDE has detected differences between the properties of the local file and its server version.
#D5756C	Merged with text and property conflicts	Text and property conflicts happen when two or more developers modify the same lines of a file and the same file properties.
#6897BB	Modified	The file has changed since the last synchronization.
#6897BB	Modified in not active changelist	The file in an inactive changelist has been modified. This file status is available if the Highlight files from non-active changelists option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
None (default color)	Obsolete	The file should no longer be in your working copy of the repository.
#3A8484	Renamed	Since the last update, the file has been renamed.
None (default color)	Switched	[SVN] The file is taken from a different branch than the whole project.
#D1675A	(Unknown) Unversioned	The file exists locally, but is not in the repository, and is not scheduled for addition.
None (default color)	Up to date	The file hasn't been changed.

Color	File Status	Description
#62CC47	Added	The file in the active changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository.
#62CC47	Added in not active changelist	The file in an inactive changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository. This file status is available if the Highlight files from non-active changelists option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#FF6666	Changelist conflict	The file in an inactive changelist has been modified in the active changelist. In this case, a new dialog will open prompting you to resolve the changelist conflict. This file status is available if all options are enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
#62CC47	Copied	If a file is a copy of another file, its metadata is tracked, and such a file is marked as copied.
#ED864A	Deleted	The file is scheduled for deletion from the repository.
#ED864A	Deleted from file system	The file has been deleted locally, but hasn't been scheduled for deletion, and it still exists in the repository.
#4FF0FF	Have changed descendants	If a file is modified, the IDE will recursively highlight all directories containing that file. This status is available if the Highlight directories that contain modified files in the Project tree option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Confirmation.
#4FF0FF	Have immediate changed children	If a file is modified, the IDE will highlight its parent directory. This status is available if the Highlight directories that contain modified files in the Project tree option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Confirmation.
None (default color)	Hijacked	[Perforce, ClearCase, VSS] The file is modified without checkout.
#A9B837	Ignored	A file is intentionally untracked by VCS.
#ED94FF	Merged	The file is merged by your VCS as a result of an update.
#FF6666	Merged with conflicts	During the last update, the file has been merged with conflicts.
#FF6666	Merged with property conflicts	During the last update, the IDE has detected differences between the properties of the local file and its server version.
#FF6666	Merged with text and property conflicts	Text and property conflicts happen when two or more developers modify the same lines of a file and the same file properties.
#4FF0FF	Modified	The file has changed since the last synchronization.
#4FF0FF	Modified in not active changelist	The file in an inactive changelist has been modified. This file status is available if the Highlight files from non-active changelists option is enabled in Settings/Preferences \| Version Control \| Changelists.
None (default color)	Obsolete	The file should no longer be in your working copy of the repository.
#4FF0FF	Renamed	Since the last update, the file has been renamed.
None (default color)	Switched	[SVN] The file is taken from a different branch than the whole project.
D1675A	(Unknown) Unversioned	The file exists locally, but is not in the repository, and is not scheduled for addition.
None (default color)	Up to date	The file hasn't been changed.

File colors

Files that belong to different scopes (production files or test files, for example) can be highlighted in different colors in the Project tool window, search results, and editor tabs.

To each scope, you can assign its own color. For more information, refer to Associate scopes with colors.

Scope highlighting in the editor tabs and search results

Last modified: 10 August 2022