Environment > Getting Started > Start the IDL Command Line from Windows Explorer

# Start the IDL Command Line from Windows Explorer

Because the concept of the current directory plays such an important role in IDL, you have the option to open a new command line session from a folder in Windows Explorer. When you do this, the IDL command line opens with the selected folder as IDL's current directory.

To open the IDL command line from Windows Explorer:

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder that you want to set as your current IDL directory.
2. Right-click the folder name to open a pop-up menu.
3. From the pop-up, choose "IDL Command Line".

The IDL command line opens with the selected folder as the current directory.