# The Explorer window

The Explorer window has two tabs:

- The Application tab contains the editors for creating and editing your application, and the System folder for setting up FactoryTalk Security.
- The Communications tab contains the communications tree for the development computer. For more information about using the communications tree, see Help for FactoryTalk Linx.

When you open a project, the Explorer window is shown on the left in the main window.

Do one of the following to hide the Explorer window:

- From the View menu, select Explorer Window.
- Click the Show/Hide Explorer Window icon on the toolbar.
- Click the Close button in the top right-hand corner of the Explorer window's title bar.

You can resize the Explorer window by dragging its edges.

Do one of the following to move the Explorer window:

- Click the title bar and drag the Explorer window to a new position or dock it in a new location.
- Double-click the title bar to float the Explorer window in the middle of the display, and then position it. Double click again to return the Explorer window to its last docked position.
- Right-click the title bar and select a docking location, floating, or child mode.

You can view the Explorer window in a number of ways:

- As a docked window. When docked, the explorer is always on top of other windows that it overlaps. You can dock the explorer to any edge of the main window.
- As a floating window. When floating, the explorer is always on top of other windows that it overlaps, but you can move it to different locations in the main window by dragging its title bar.
- As a child window. When the explorer is in child mode, you can minimize the explorer or position other windows in front of it. This mode is particularly useful when you are working in multiple editors or working with the Help open.

To put the explorer in child mode, right-click the Explorer window title bar and select MDI Child. You can see MDI Child as:

- Minimized. The Explorer window shrinks to a title bar at the bottom of the display.
- Maximized. The Explorer window covers the whole screen.
- Restored. The Explorer window assumes a default size on the display.

  Tip: | Double-clicking the title bar when the window is an MDI child maximizes the window. To change its state, that is, to see the title bar, click the Restore Down icon in the top right corner.

The Explorer window lists the folders that contain the FactoryTalk View Studio editors. Some editors, such as the Graphics editor, can have more than one file or component associated with them. When you select one of these editors, its components are shown below.

To change a component name, right-clicking on the name to open the Component context menu and selecting the Rename option. This also changes the name you will see in Windows File Manager or Windows Explorer.

## To open an editor, use one of these methods:

- Double-click on one of the components in an application (for example, a display).
- Drag the editor’s icon from the Explorer to the workspace.
- Right-click the editor’s icon, and then click New or Open.

  Tip: | If the editor can create multiple components, the shortcut menu contains New. If the editor can only open a single component, the menu contains Open.
  --- | ---

- From the Tools menu, select the editor you want to open.

## To open a component, use one of these methods:

- Double-click the component.
- Right-click the component and select Open.
- Drag the component from the Explorer window to the workspace.

## See also

Delete components

Rename components

Remove components

Test applications during development

Back up applications