File Browser

Navigate and manage your files from the sidebar

Overview

The file browser is your central hub for managing documents in AnySlate. Located in the sidebar, it provides a powerful yet intuitive interface for navigating both local workspace folders and cloud-synced files. Whether you're working on a small project or managing thousands of files, the file browser keeps everything organized and accessible.

The file browser automatically syncs with your file system, reflecting changes made outside of AnySlate in real-time.

Local Files

Access and manage files from any folder on your computer. Add workspace folders to work with your local documents directly in AnySlate.

Add Workspace Folders

Add any folder from your computer as a workspace to access and edit its files.

Tree View Navigation

Expand and collapse folders with a familiar tree view interface.

Create, Rename, Move, Delete

Full file management capabilities directly from the sidebar.

Drag and Drop Support

Move files and folders by dragging them to new locations.

.gitignore Pattern Support

Automatically respects .gitignore patterns to hide unwanted files.

Handles 10,000+ Files

Optimized performance for large projects with thousands of files.

Cloud Files

Store your files in the cloud for seamless access across all your devices. Cloud files sync automatically and are always up to date.

Separate Cloud Browser

Dedicated browser for your cloud-synced files and folders.

Access from Any Device

Your cloud files are available wherever you sign in.

Drag Between Local and Cloud

Easily move or copy files between local workspaces and cloud storage.

Real-time Sync Status

Visual indicators show sync progress and status for each file.

Create Cloud Folders

Organize your cloud files with folders and nested structures.

Sync Status Indicators

Synced - File is up to date

Syncing - Upload/download in progress

Pending - Waiting to sync

Error - Sync failed

Adding Workspaces

Add folders from your computer as workspaces to access their contents in the file browser.

Method 1: Click "Add Folder"

Click the "Add Folder" button in the file browser header. A system dialog will open where you can select any folder on your computer.

Method 2: Drag and Drop

Drag a folder from Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Windows) directly into the AnySlate window to add it as a workspace.

Multiple Workspaces

You can add multiple workspaces simultaneously. Each workspace appears as a separate root folder in the file browser tree.

Removing a Workspace

Right-click on a workspace root folder and select "Remove Workspace" to remove it from AnySlate. This only removes it from the file browser - your files remain safely on your disk.

File Operations

Perform common file management tasks directly from the file browser.

Create New File

Create a new file in the selected folder

Right-click > New File

Create New Folder

Create a new folder in the selected location

Right-click > New Folder

Rename

Rename the selected file or folder

F2 or Right-click > Rename

Delete

Move file or folder to system trash

Delete or Right-click > Delete

Move / Copy

Drag and drop to move, hold Option/Alt to copy

Drag and Drop

Duplicate

Create a copy of the selected file

Right-click > Duplicate

Drag and Drop Tips

Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) while dragging to copy instead of move. A visual indicator shows whether you're moving or copying.

Filtering and Sorting

Quickly find files and organize your view with filtering and sorting options.

Filter

By Name - Type to filter files by name

By Extension - Filter by file type (e.g., .md, .txt)

Sort

Name (A-Z) - Alphabetical order

Name (Z-A) - Reverse alphabetical order

Date Modified - Most recently modified first

Type - Group by file extension

Visibility

Show Hidden Files - Toggle visibility of dotfiles

Show Ignored Files - Toggle files ignored by .gitignore

Quick Filter

Start typing while the file browser is focused to instantly filter files by name. Press Escape to clear the filter.

Context Menu

Right-click on any file or folder to access the full context menu with all available actions.

Action	Description
Open	Open the file in the editor
Open in New Tab	Open the file in a new editor tab
Reveal in Finder/Explorer	Show the file in your system file manager
Copy Path	Copy the full file path to clipboard
Copy Relative Path	Copy the path relative to workspace root
New File	Create a new file in this folder
New Folder	Create a new folder here
Rename	Rename the file or folder
Duplicate	Create a copy of the file
Delete	Move to trash
Upload to Cloud	Upload local file to cloud storage

Pro Tips

Keyboard Navigation

Use arrow keys to navigate the file tree. Press Enter to open a file or expand/collapse a folder. Press Space to preview a file without opening it.

Multi-Select

Hold Cmd/Ctrl and click to select multiple files. Hold Shift to select a range of files. Perform bulk operations on your selection.

Quick Open

Press Cmd/Ctrl + P to open the quick file switcher. Type a file name to instantly jump to any file in your workspaces.

Collapse All

Right-click on any workspace root and select "Collapse All" to quickly collapse all expanded folders in that workspace.