File Browser to save Files

This file browser can be used to locate a graph or graph status file for saving. Graph files contain a term representation with the structure of a graph, but without layout informations (e.g. node coordinates). They should have the suffix .daVinci. On the other side, a status file contains the graph, the layout informations with the position of graph nodes and edges and most of the current user interface settings. Status files can be used to restore a previous daVinci session. They should always have the suffix .status. Before saving a graph, you need to specify the format using the Type option button. The default format is 'status file'.

The browser has two views, one for the Directories and one for the Files in the current directory. The current directory is the one shown in the Selection field. To navigate through the directories, double-click on the elements in the Directories view. By clicking on '..', you move to the parent directory. To choose a file, either select it in the Files view and press the Save push button or simply double-click it. To save a new file, you need to enter the filename in the Selection field. The browser beeps when you try to access a file or directory for which you do not have permissions. Before overwriting an existing file, the browser asks the user to confirm.

The file browser window can also be used mouseless with keyboard operations.

Dialog Items of the File Browser

• Filter
  Shows the filter expression currently applied to the Files view. The filter can either be selected with the Types option button or by manually typing an arbitrary shell expression here.

• Directories
  A list to show the directories inside the current directory (which is displayed in the Selection field). Double-click on the list elements to navigate through the directories. '..' moves to the parent directory.

• Files
  A list to show the files inside the current directory (which is displayed in the Selection field). Select one of the list elements and press the Save push button to save a daVinci graph- or status to a particular file. You can accelerate this by double-clicking a file. To save a new file, you need to enter the filename in the Selection field.

• History
  Used to go back to a previously visited directory or to the home directory of the user.

• Types
  Used to specify the saving format, either graph or status. This also reduces the number of elements in the Files view by applying a filter expression.

• Show hidden
  Select this check button to see hidden files and directories.

• Selection
  This text entry field shows the current selection which is modified when you browse through the directories. The browser usually suggests an appropriate initial selection. You can also edit the selection field by hand: If the entered selection is a directory, the browser will move to that directory, otherwise a save action is performed with the specified file.

• Save
  Push button to save the choosen file specified in the Selection field. If the file already exists, the browser will ask the user to confirm overwriting.

• Cancel
  Push button to close the file browser without performing any action.

• Help
  Push button to start the online help system with this page.