--- title: "Using Cloud IDE" date: "2024-02-14T06:18:38+00:00" summary: "Streamline your development process with Cloud IDE's powerful features. Edit code, manage files, and navigate projects effortlessly using the Explorer view, Activity Bar, and Minimap. Boost productivity with side-by-side editing and customizable settings." image: type: "page" url: "/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/cloud-ide/using-cloud-ide" id: "dcc00ab4-78c3-4669-a307-79e5a71f1075" --- Table of contents will be added. Cloud IDE provides an environment that allows you to edit your code, while also allowing you to browse and discover the files in your directory or project. By default, the user interface displays the [Explorer](#ide-explorer-view) view, but additional views are available. For more information about these views, see [Using views to learn more about your environment](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/ui/views). Using the Explorer view ----------------------- The default **Explorer** view enables you to get started with your project. From this view, you can perform the following tasks: * Create, delete, and rename files and folders. * Move files and folders with drag and drop. * Explore all options with the context menu. After opening a folder in the user interface, the contents of the folder are displayed in the **Explorer** view, which contains the following areas: ![Explorer view](https://acquia.widen.net/content/ltv42tvu0o/jpeg/ide_using-the-explorer-view.jpeg?position=c&color=ffffffff&quality=80&u=0b06mk) * **Editor**: Displays the file editing pane. You can open several editors, either vertically and horizontally. * **Sidebar**: Displays different [views](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/ui/views), such as the [Explorer view](#ide-explorer-view), to assist you while working on your project. * **Status Bar**: Displays information about the opened project and the files you edit. * **Activity Bar**: Enables you to switch between views. The activity bar also gives you additional context-specific indicators, such as the number of outgoing version control changes. For more information, see [Activity Bar in the Explorer](#ide-activity-bar). * **Panels**: Displays output or debugging information, errors and warnings, or an [integrated terminal](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/terminal). You can move this panel to the right-hand side of the window for more space. * **Minimap**: Displays a high-level graphical overview of your file’s structure. For more information, see [Using the Minimap](#ide-minimap). Tips for using the Explorer view * To quickly search for a file by name and open it, use the following keyboard shortcuts (based on your operating system) to display the **Quick Open** search bar: * _macOS_: Command+P * _Windows_: Ctrl+P * _Linux_: Ctrl+P * To run a command-line tool in the context of the currently open folder, right-click (Windows/Linux) or Control-click (macOS) the file, and then click **Open in Terminal**. * By default, hidden files and folders (such as `.git`) are excluded from the **Explorer** view. You can configure your Cloud IDE to display these files by adding them to the `files.exclude` setting in the **Files** section of the preferences, as described in [Settings and preferences](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/settings). The **Explorer** view preserves your folder selection, layout, and opened files. If you close your Cloud IDE on a machine and reopen it on the same machine, you can resume work without interruption. However, if you open it on a different machine, the IDE resets the **Explorer** view because the IDE does not preserve its settings across machines. Cloud IDE displays open files as [tabs](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/ui/tabs) at the top of the editor region. To learn more about tabbed headers, see [Managing files by using tabs](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/ui/tabs). ### Activity Bar in the Explorer The **Activity Bar** displays a vertical row of icons on the left-hand side of the user interface. You can navigate between views by clicking the view’s icon in the **Activity Bar**. You can rearrange the order of these icons by dragging them into your desired order. The currently selected view is indicated by a vertical bar. ![Displays the row of icons on the Activity Bar in the user interface](https://acquia.widen.net/content/ouudvqq9pi/jpeg/ide_activity-bar-in-the-explorer.jpeg?position=c&color=ffffffff&quality=80&u=0b06mk) ### Multi-selection in the Explorer You can select more than one file in the **Explorer** view to perform actions (such as deleting, downloading, or copying) on several files or folders. To select files, use the information in the tab that’s based on your local operating system: macOS Windows/Linux * _To select individual files_: Press the Command key while clicking. * _To select a range of files_: Press the Shift key while clicking. After selecting two items, you can select Control while clicking to open the context menu. Click **Compare with Each Other** command to perform a `diff` on the two files you selected. To select _individual files_: Press the Control key while clicking. To select a _range of files_: Press the Shift key while clicking. After selecting two items, you can right-click one of the files to open the context menu. Click **Compare with Each Other** to perform a `diff` on the two files you selected. Outline view ------------ The **Outline view** displays the symbol tree of the currently active editor in Cloud IDE. To display the **Outline view**, click the **Outline view** icon to the right of the **Editor** pane. ![Cloud IDE displaying a pointer to the outline view icon](https://acquia.widen.net/content/3v4vupkmje/jpeg/ide_outline-view.jpeg?position=c&color=ffffffff&quality=80&u=0b06mk) Side-by-side editing -------------------- You can open several editors simultaneously, and then arrange them horizontally or vertically, as needed. If you have already opened files for editing, you can drag the title of any existing [tab](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/ui/tabs) to resize it, or reposition the [tab](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/ui/tabs) to any side of the **Editor** region. When working with more than one file, the **Editor** currently selected as _active_ displays the content of its file. To open a file into a specific **Editor**, click anywhere inside the editor to select it, and then open a file. Using the Minimap ----------------- The **Minimap** displays a high-level overview of your source code to the right of your **Editor** pane, helping you more easily navigate large files. You can click or drag the shaded area to jump to different sections of your file. ![Minimap is displayed next to a code sample](https://acquia.widen.net/content/rl2kpujxpy/png/ide_using-minimap.png?crop=false&position=w&color=ffffffff&u=0b06mk&w=495&h=380) To customize your display settings, configure the following [IDE settings](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/cloud-ide/settings-and-preferences "Settings and preferences") for the **Minimap** option in the **Text Editor** section: * To enable the minimap, select **Enabled**. * To set the minimap location to the left of the **Editor** pane, set the value of **Side** to **left**. ### Using indentation guides You can configure Cloud IDE to display vertical lines as indentation guides to help ensure having consistent indentation levels in your code. Use the following setting in the **Editor** section of the preferences to configure your guides, as described in [Settings and preferences](/acquia-cloud-platform/add-ons/ide/settings): * `"editor.renderIndentGuides": true`: Enables indent guides.