Managing the Folder Tree

Owned by Autumn Wilkins (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jun 04, 2012 by Cody Smith (Unlicensed)Version comment
2 min read

Folders may contain subfolders, templates, or both. At any time, one node in the folder tree will be selected. The selected node is indicated by a highlight. In the screenshot below, the CSLA QuickStart template is selected. You can select a node by clicking on it with the mouse. 

You can also move the selection by using the up or down arrow keys, or by typing the first letter of the name of the node.

A folder that can be expanded as indicated by a arrow sign to its left. To expand a folder, click the plus sign, or double-click the folder or its name, or select the folder and click the right arrow or the plus sign on the numeric keypad. A folder that can be collapsed is indicated by a darkened arrow sign to its left. To collapse a folder, click the arrow sign, or double-click the folder or its name, or select the folder and click the left arrow or the minus sign on the numeric keypad.

You can perform a variety of other operations from the CodeSmith Generator Explorer context menus. These menus differ depending on which node you right-click on.

All of your existing Windows Explorer context menu items (E.G., Delete, Rename...) will also be displayed in these context menu's.

You can open a template folder in Windows Explorer by right-clicking on a folder and selecting the Open context menu item.

Context Menu for a Folder

Right-clicking on a folder will bring up a shortcut menu with the following choices:

  • New
    • CodeSmith Generator Template (CSharp): Creates a new template using CSharp as its code-behind language.
    • CodeSmith Generator Template (Visual Basic): Creates a new template using Visual Basic as its code-behind language.
    • CodeSmith Generator Project: Creates a new CodeSmith Generator Project file.
    • CodeSmith Generator map: Creates a new blank CodeSmith Generator Map file.
    • File: Creates a new empty file. By default the file will have a .txt extension.
    • Folder: Creates a new sub-folder.

If you are right-clicking on a template folder shortcut (top-level folder in the tree) the following shortcut menu items will also be displayed:

  • Remove Shortcut. Deletes this folder shortcut from CodeSmith Explorer. This does not delete the underlying files from your hard drive.
  • Include Subfolders. When checked, CodeSmith Generator Explorer will also display subfolders of the target folder. Otherwise, it will only display templates in the target folder of the shortcut itself.

Context Menu for a Template

Right-clicking on a template brings up a shortcut menu with the following choices: