.. _Linked Resources:

Linked Resources
================

.. rst-class:: lead

   **Linked resources** are very similar with file system links, except they are registered in the **.project** file, **not created on the disk**.

To create a linked resource, right click on the project in the **Project Explorer** view and select from the pop-up menu :menuselection:`New --> Linked Resource`. In the wizard you must specify the path the link will point to (for example */apps*) and the linked directory name (for example *apps*):

.. figure:: ../../../images/common/create_new_linked_resource_wizard.png
   :align: center

#. :guilabel:`Target`: the file system path the link will point to;
#. :guilabel:`Name`: the linked directory's name;
#. :guilabel:`Location`: location (inside the selected project) where the link directory will be created.

.. tip:: 
   
   You can also use system variables in the path, for instance:
   ``${DVT_ENV-SYSTEM_VARIABLE_NAME}/work`` equivalent to 
   ``$SYSTEM_VARIABLE_NAME/work`` in a terminal. This way you can share the project with your team and the linked folders will work seamlessly.

.. note::
   
   When you press :guilabel:`Finish`, if the directory the link points to is too big (for example it has more than 3000 children), a *Resource Filter* dialog will pop-up. You can use it to exclude those children that you don't need and that may slow down the platform (you can find out more about it at :ref:`How to create resource filters`).

Linked resources will appear in the Navigator with a small "link" icon:

.. figure:: ../../../images/common/linked_resource.png
   :align: center

.. tip::
   
   You can also use drag & drop from a filesystem navigator (like Nautilus in Gnome, Dolphin in KDE or Explorer in Windows): drag the external folder and drop it on the desired target location (Project or Folder) in the Navigator View. In the dialog that pops-up specify that you want to "Link to files and folders". A linked resource will be automatically created.

.. seealso::

   :ref:`What is a Workspace`
   
   :ref:`What is a Project`

