Environment > Projects > Creating Projects

# Creating IDL Projects

By default, project directories are created within the workspace directory. In addition, you can link an existing directory in another location into the workspace, providing all of the benefits of the project mechanism but leaving the actual files in their original location.

Tip: Once your project is created, you can modify any of the project properties using the IDL Project Properties page. This page may be foundright-click on the project in the Project Explorer to bring up the Properties dialog, and then modify the properties under the IDL Project Properties page.

## Default Project

Because projects are integral to the IDL Workbench, a project is created automatically when you first start the workbench. This project, called “Default,” is like any project you create — you can delete or rename it as you like.

The File > Save operation saves files in a project directory. If you delete all projects from a workspace and then attempt to save a file, the workbench will recreate the Default project.

## Creating a Project in the Workspace

To create a project in the current workspace:

1. On the main menu, click File > New Project. The New IDL Project dialog appears.
2. Enter a Name for your new project.
3. Create the new project in the workspace is selected by default.
4. Select Update IDL path when project is opened or closed to include the project’s path in the IDL compilation path.
5. Click Finish. The new project is listed in the Project Explorer view.

## Creating a Linked Project

There are circumstances in which you don’t want all your files stored in the workspace directory. For example, if you have a large number of legacy files residing on a server, it might be inconvenient to copy them to the workspace directory. In this case, you can create a linked project. In a linked project, project metadata resides in the workspace, but the actual directory containing the project files is located elsewhere.

To create a linked project:

1. On the main menu, click File > New Project. The New IDL Project dialog appears.
2. Enter a Name for your new project.
3. Select the Create the new project from an existing directory check box.
4. Enter a path or browse for the project location.
5. Select Update IDL path when project is opened or closed to include the project’s path in the IDL compilation path.
6. Click Finish.