remix-project/apps/remix-ide/docs/file_explorer.md

File Explorers
=============

To get to the File Explorers module - click the file explorers icon.

![](images/a-file-explorer1.png)

The basic files explorer lists all the files stored in your browser's **browser storage**.
You can see them in the **browser** folder. 

**Important Note:** Clearing the browser storage will **permanently delete** all the
solidity files stored there. This is an inherent limitation of a browser-based IDE.  However, if you want to store files outside of the browser and on your computer's filesystem, use [Remixd](remixd.html) or use the [desktop version of Remix-IDE](https://github.com/ethereum/remix-desktop/releases/). RemixD enables you to have access to a selected folder on your hard drive. Remix Desktop is a version of Remix-IDE in an Electron app.

You can rename, remove or
add new files to the file explorer.

![](images/a-file-explorer-buttons.png)

We will start by reviewing the icons in the image above.

The book icon - **A.** is the link to the module's documentation.

The icons to the right of the **browser** file explorer in the image above only appear for browser storage. 

Create new File
---------------

The icon marked **B.** above. Creates a new file.

Publish to Gist
---------------

The icon marked **C.** above. Publishes all files from the browser folder to a gist.  Only file in the root of **browser** will be published.  Files in subfolders will not be publish to the Gist.
Gist API has changed in 2018 and **requires** users to be authenticated to be able to publish a gist.

Click [this link](https://github.com/settings/tokens) to Github tokens setup and select Generate new token. Then check the **Create gists** checkbox and generate a new token.

Take the token and paste it in Remix's **Settings** module in the **Github Access Token** section. And then click Save. Now you should be able to use the feature.

Create a folder
---------------

The icon marked **D.** above.  Creates a new folder in **browser** file explorer.

Context Menu (Right Click)
-----------------------------
Right click on a file or a folder and the **context menu** will appear. 

![](images/a-file-ex-rt-click.png)

You can rename or delete a selected file or a folder. You can also create a folder. 

To create a file with the context menu, right click on a folder to get the **Create File** option. A file will be created inside that folder. 

![](images/a-file-ex-rt-click-folder.png)

The functionality of the context menu also works with RemixD (which gives you have access to a folder on your hard drive).  

**Note:** When working with RemixD, you need to open and close the **localhost** folder to refresh the view.