CLion 2018.3 Help

Project Tool Window

View | Tool Windows | Project
Alt+1


This tool window lets you look at your project from various viewpoints and perform the tasks such as creating new items (directories, files, classes, etc.), opening files in the editor, navigating to the code fragment of interest, and more.

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

Views

The tool window provides you with the following views:

  • Project view. In this view, all the project items along with their dependencies (SDKs and libraries) are shown. The emphasis is on the directory structure (though the packages are also shown).

  • Scopes views (Project Files, Problems, etc.). What is shown in the content pane is limited to the corresponding predefined or user-defined scope. In other respects, depending on the currently selected view options, a scope view may resemble the Project view.

The elements of the views are highlighted following the scope-color associations defined in the File Colors dialog and the scope-associated overlay icons, for example:

cl scopeHighLighting

Title bar context menu

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

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

Item

Shortcut

Description

Autoscroll to Source

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

Autoscroll from Source

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

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.

Pinned, Docked, Floating, Windowed, Split Mode

These options let you control general appearance and behavior of the tool window. See Viewing Modes.

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 ( icons general tbShown svg oricons general tbHidden svg).

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

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.

Hide

Shift+Escape

Use this command to hide the tool window.

Title bar buttons

Item

Shortcut

Description

Scroll from Source

Click this icon to navigate from a file in the editor to the corresponding node (file, class, field, method, etc.) in the Project tool window.

This icon is not available if the Autoscroll from Source option is currently on.

icons actions collapseall svg

Ctrl+NumPad -

Use this icon or shortcut to collapse all the nodes.

icons general gearPlain svg

Click this button to open the menu for configuring the current view and changing the tool window viewing modes.

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.

The available options are a subset of the title bar context menu items. Depending on the current view, the menu may include the following options:

icons general hideToolWindow svgShift+Escape Use this icon or shortcut to hide the tool window.

When used in combination with the Alt key, clicking this icon hides all the tool windows attached to the same tool window bar.

Content pane

The content pane shows the project items such as directories, files, etc.

Files marked with blue overlay badges icons modules sourceRootFileLayer are source files (for CMake projects, if a file icon does not have this overlay badge, it means that the file is not included in CMakeLists.txt).

The icons for the main categories (node types) are shown and briefly explained in the following table. The icons used for the main file types are listed in Recognized File Types; the icons for the main symbols (classes, fields, methods, etc.) are shown in Icons and Symbols.

Item

Description

Folder

A folder (directory). Different folder categories have different colors.

  • A plain folder icons nodes folder

  • A source folder icons modules sourceRoot

  • Excluded root icons modules excludeRoot

Library

External Libraries, a category for grouping third party software associated with the project. The node is only shown when the Project view is selected.

Scratches and Consoles

Your scratch files and consoles are grouped under this node.

cl plaintext icon

Files marked as plain text.

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

Alt+Insert

Use this command to create a new item (directory, file, or class). within the selected one (project or directory).

Reload CMake Project

Use this command to reload the CMake project. See details in Reloading Project procedure description.

Cut

Ctrl+X

Use this command to move the selected item or items from the current location to the clipboard.

Copy

Ctrl+C

Use this command to copy the selected item or items to the clipboard.

Paste

Ctrl+V

Use this command to insert the contents of the clipboard into the selected location.

Copy Path(s)

Ctrl+Shift+C

Use this command to copy the full path(s) of the selected item or items to the clipboard.

Find Usages

Alt+F7

Use this command to find the usages of the selected item. (The Find Usages dialog will open.)

Refactor

Use this command to perform one of the refactorings available for the selected item.

Inspect Code

Use this command to run code inspection for the selected item.

Add to Favorites

Shift+Alt+F

Use this command to add the selected item to an existing or new list of favorite items. See Manage Project Favorites.

Delete

Delete

Use this command to delete the selected item. Use with care!

Run '<item_name>'
Debug '<item_name>'

Ctrl+Shift+F10

Run a test configuration.

Local History

Use this command to view local history for the selected file or directory, or to create a label for the current version of your project.

Synchronize '<item_name>'

Use this command to synchronize the selected item with its version saved in the file system.

(If you change a file or directory contents externally, CLion, under certain circumstances, may not be aware of the corresponding changes unless you use this command.)

Show in Explorer

Use this command to open a file browser (e.g. Windows Explorer or Finder) and show the selected item there.

File Path / Directory Path

Ctrl+Alt+F12

This menu shows the path from the file system root to the selected element with individual directories as the menu items.

When you select an item in this menu (e.g. a directory), a file browser (e.g. Windows Explorer or Finder) opens, and the selected item is shown there.

Compare With

Ctrl+D

Use this command to compare the selected file or directory with another file or directory. See Compare Files and Folders and Differences Viewer for Folders.

Compare File with Editor

Use this command to compare the selected file with the file open on an active editor tab. See Compare Files and Folders and Differences Viewer for Files.

Mark Directory As

Use this command to make the selected directory a source root or, to make the directory excluded, etc.

The necessary category for the directory is selected from the submenu.

Mark as Plain Text

Use this command to exclude the selected file from project, so it is ignored by inspections, code completion, navigation, etc. The file will be indicated with a special icon plain text icon and shown as plain text in the editor.

Create Gist

Use this command to share code by using gists.

File status highlights

If VCS integration is enabled for the current project, CLion uses colors to denote VCS file status in the Project tool window. The following table presents information about the meaning of the colors.

Color

File Status

Description

Color sample: dark green #0A7700

Added

The file in the active changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository.

Color sample: green #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.

Color sample: red #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.

Color sample: dark green #0A7700

Copied

If a file is a copy of another file, its metadata is tracked, and such a file is marked as copied.

Color sample: grey #616161

Deleted

The file is scheduled for deletion from the repository.

Color sample: dull purple #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.

Color sample: light grayish blue #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 Show directories with changed descendants option is enabled in Settings/Preferences | Version Control.

Color sample: bright blue #3264B4

Have immediate changed children

If a file is modified, the IDE will highlight its parent directory. This status is available if the Show directories with changed descendants option is enabled in Settings/Preferences | Version Control.

Color sample: light brown #B28C00

Hijacked

[Perforce, ClearCase, VSS] The file is modified without checkout.

Color sample: dark olive #727238

Ignored

A file is intentionally untracked by VCS.

Color sample: purple #7503DC

Merged

The file is merged by your VCS as a result of an update.

Color sample: red #FF0000

Merged with conflicts

During the last update, the file has been merged with conflicts.

Color sample: red #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.

Color sample: red #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.

Color sample: bright navy #0032A0

Modified

The file has changed since the last synchronization.

Color sample: blue #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.

Color sample: Olive #7C7C00

Obsolete

The file should no longer be in your working copy of the repository.

Color sample: teal #007C7C

Renamed

Since the last update, the file has been renamed.

Color sample: dark cyan #08978F

Switched

[CVS, SVN] The file is taken from a different branch than the whole project.

Color sample: brown #993300

(Unknown) Unversioned

The file exists locally, but is not in the repository, and is not scheduled for addition.

Color sample: black None (default color)

Up to date

The file hasn't been changed.

Color

File Status

Description

Color sample: dull green #629755

Added

The file in the active changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository.

Color sample: dull green #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.

Color sample: dull red #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.

Color sample: green #0A7700

Copied

If a file is a copy of another file, its metadata is tracked, and such a file is marked as copied.

Color sample: grey #6C6C6C

Deleted

The file is scheduled for deletion from the repository.

Color sample: dull purple #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.

Color sample: light blue #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 Show directories with changed descendants option is enabled in Settings/Preferences | Version Control.

Color sample: light blue #6897BB

Have immediate changed children

If a file is modified, the IDE will highlight its parent directory. This status is available if the Show directories with changed descendants option is enabled in Settings/Preferences | Version Control.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Hijacked

[Perforce, ClearCase, VSS] The file is modified without checkout.

Color sample: light olive #848504

Ignored

A file is intentionally untracked by VCS.

Color sample: light purple #9876AA

Merged

The file is merged by your VCS as a result of an update.

Color sample: dull red #D5756C

Merged with conflicts

During the last update, the file has been merged with conflicts.

Color sample: dull red #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.

Color sample: dull red #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.

Color sample: light blue #6897BB

Modified

The file has changed since the last synchronization.

Color sample: light blue #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.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Obsolete

The file should no longer be in your working copy of the repository.

Color sample: strong cyan #3A8484

Renamed

Since the last update, the file has been renamed.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Switched

[CVS, SVN] The file is taken from a different branch than the whole project.

Color sample: soft red #D1675A

(Unknown) Unversioned

The file exists locally, but is not in the repository, and is not scheduled for addition.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Up to date

The file hasn't been changed.

Color

File Status

Description

Color sample: green #62CC47

Added

The file in the active changelist is scheduled for addition to the repository.

Color sample: green #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.

Color sample: dull red #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.

Color sample: green #62CC47

Copied

If a file is a copy of another file, its metadata is tracked, and such a file is marked as copied.

Color sample: orange #ED864A

Deleted

The file is scheduled for deletion from the repository.

Color sample: orange #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.

Color sample: vivid cyan #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 Show directories with changed descendants option is enabled in Settings/Preferences | Version Control.

Color sample: vivid cyan #4FF0FF

Have immediate changed children

If a file is modified, the IDE will highlight its parent directory. This status is available if the Show directories with changed descendants option is enabled in Settings/Preferences | Version Control.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Hijacked

[Perforce, ClearCase, VSS] The file is modified without checkout.

Color sample: light olive #A9B837

Ignored

A file is intentionally untracked by VCS.

Color sample: light purple #ED94FF

Merged

The file is merged by your VCS as a result of an update.

Color sample: dull red #FF6666

Merged with conflicts

During the last update, the file has been merged with conflicts.

Color sample: dull red #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.

Color sample: dull red #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.

Color sample: vivid cyan #4FF0FF

Modified

The file has changed since the last synchronization.

Color sample: vivid cyan #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.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Obsolete

The file should no longer be in your working copy of the repository.

Color sample: vivid cyan #4FF0FF

Renamed

Since the last update, the file has been renamed.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Switched

[CVS, SVN] The file is taken from a different branch than the whole project.

Color sample: soft red D1675A

(Unknown) Unversioned

The file exists locally, but is not in the repository, and is not scheduled for addition.

Color sample: white None (default color)

Up to date

The file hasn't been changed.

Last modified: 14 February 2019

See Also