Data File Handling

The topics described here define operations performed on data files as files. The process of writing a complete data file with commands is covered in the section on the i Editor pane — which is designed for that purpose.

Create

Use the menu command File ‣ Add New Data File (or its keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + N). This will open an Add New Data File dialog opened to the current project file’s folder. Specify a file name and press the Open button in this dialog to open the newly created file in an i Editor pane.

Open or Call

Files not in the Project

Use the menu command File ‣ Open into Project (or its keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + O). In the ensuing i Open Into Project dialog, navigate to and select the desired file. Use the option buttons at right to indicate whether the data file selected should be opened (simply loaded into an Editor pane) or called (loaded and executed). If the dialog’s default “Determine by extension” option is used, the data file will be opened (not called). Data files opened this way are added to the project.

Files in the Project

The method above will work for files already in the project. However, a simpler method for opening data files within the project is to use the i Project pane. Double click the data file on the “Data Files” list to open; right-click and choose “Call” to open and execute.

Also review the command program call, which can be used to call a data file at the Console’s command prompt.

Rename

  • With the pane containing the data file active, use the menu command File ‣ [filename] ‣ Rename, ([filename] is the name of the file, which will be shown on the menu).
  • If part of a tab set, right-click the tab for the file and pick Rename from the context menu.

Renaming this way with either technique ensures that the file will remain connected to the project. If renamed outside the program (for instance, in the system’s default file browser), the project’s link to the file will be broken.

Duplicate

  • With the pane containing the data file active, use the menu command File ‣ [filename] ‣ SaveAs, ([filename] is the name of the file, which will be shown on the menu).

Close

  • With the pane containing the data file active, use the menu command File ‣ [filename] ‣ Close, ([filename] is the name of the file, which will be shown on the menu).
  • If part of a tab set, right-click the tab for the file and pick Close from the context menu.
  • In the project pane, right-click on the file in the “Data Files” list and pick Close in Editor
  • With the pane containing the data file active, press the “close” button ( || ) on the toolbar.

Print

  • With the pane containing the data file active, use the menu command File ‣ [filename] ‣ Print, ([filename] is the name of the file, which will be shown on the menu).

Un-hide

  • Go to the Documents window and select the item (which will be unchecked) to show it.