Displaying All Files in the Project Directory Structure

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Files and folders may reside in the project directory structure without belonging to your project:

  • Removing a file or folder from a Java project still leaves it on the hard disk.

  • Files whose types are not in the project filter may not be added to the project. For more information, see The Project Filter.

In Project Explorer's directory view, you have the option of displaying all files and folders that reside in the project directory structure, even if they do not belong to the project. The icon for each item denotes whether it currently belongs to the project.

To toggle the display of nonproject items in the project directory structure

  1. Set the project view to directory view by clicking the Directory View button in Project Explorer. Only directory view allows you to see the nonproject items that reside in the project directory structure. For more information about views, see Choosing the Project View.

  2. Click the Show All Files button in Project Explorer.

For information about adding a nonproject file or folder to the project, see Adding a File and Adding a Folder, respectively.

The Project Filter

Visual J++ uses a project filter to determine which types of files typically belong to a Java project. The project filter is an inclusive filter, meaning that the extensions in the filter identify valid project files. The following extensions are included in the project filter:

  • .java

  • .asp, .htm, .html

  • .bmp, .gif, .ico, .jpeg, .jpg

  • .avi, .au, .wav

  • .doc, .rtf, .txt, .ppt, .wri, .xls

  • .bat, .cur, .reg, .snd, .tlb, .url

When a file is added to the project directory structure from outside the Visual J++ environment, the project filter is used to determine whether the file actually belongs to the project.

Important   When you add a file within the Visual J++ environment, the file is always added to the project, regardless of its file type.