Project Explorer

The Project Explorer allows you to view an manage files associated with your document or application.

Project Explorer Toolbar Icon

Displays properties for the selected Project Explorer item. When a project node is selected, clicking this button invokes the [ProjectName] Property Pages dialog box. If any other node is selected, clicking this button invokes the Properties window, if not already displayed. You can also get properties for a project by selecting it and pressing SHIFT+F4, or by selecting Property Pages on the View menu.

Managing items in Project Explorer

• Opening Files   To open a file, double-click it, or right-click it and select Open.
• Cutting and Copying Files   To cut or copy files, select them and then select Cut or Copy on the Edit menu, or right-click the files and select Cut or Copy.
• Deleting Files   To delete a project, select it and press the DELETE button. To delete a file in a project, select it and press DELETE, or right-click the item and select Delete.
• Adding References   To add a reference to a project, select Add Reference on the Project menu, or right-click References in the project and select Add Reference.
• Exporting Files   To export a file, select it and select Export on the File menu, or right-click the file and select Export.
• Drag and Drop   You can drag and drop files from one project to another. This action moves the file to the drop target location. Pressing the CTRL key while selecting the file copies the file to the specified location.

  Note   The Project Explorer does not support Windows' right-click drag and drop behavior.

• Multiple-selection   You can select multiple items in a project. Select multiple items when you want to perform batch operations (simultaneously opening multiple files for editing, for example) or when you want to determine or edit the properties shared by two or more project items.

  To select contiguous items, click the first item, hold down the SHIFT key, and then click the last item. To select items non-contiguously, press the CTRL key and click the items you want to select.

  When multiple items are selected, the Properties Page displays only the properties shared by all of the selected items.