File Open Dialog

To use the Open File dialog to open a file, you must know the name of the file and where it is stored on your computer (the drive and the folder/subfolder). If you do not know where a file is, see Finding a File.

1	Click File, Open (or press Ctrl+O or click the Open Document button).

2	The Open File dialog will appear on your screen. Browse through the folders shown in the large white box on the left side of the dialog to find the folder and/or subfolder that contains the file you want to open.

•	Click the plus sign to the left of any drive or folder in the left window to expand the display to include any subfolders.

•	Click the minus sign to the left of any drive or folder to contract the display to hide any subfolders

•	Click the folder icon to open it. When opened, the folder icon will change so that it looks like an open folder and the files in the folder (and any subfolders) will be shown in the window on the right.

•	If necessary, use the scroll bar on the right side of the dialog to move through the the area that is visible in the window.

3	In the window on the right of the Open File dialog, click to highlight the file to be opened, then click OK to open the file (or double-click on the file).

Folders and subfolder: You can browse through the drives, folders and subfolders on the left side of the dialog. The display can be expanded or contracted by clicking the icon immediately to the left of the name of the folder. The currently selected subfolder will be shown at the top of the dialog. You can also use this line at the top of the dialog to select a different folder or subfolder. Click the small triangular arrows to open subfolders under any folder and click to select a new subfolder.

Views: The display of folders and files on the right side of the dialog can be changed by clicking Views. The "Details" option gives you the most information about the files and allows you to sort by date, size, type or name of file. In Details View, the files can be sorted by clicking on any of the headings (Name, Date Modified, Type, Size). Click a second time to sort in the reverse order.

File name: Once you have found and clicked on the file you want to open, the name of the file will be displayed in the File name box at the bottom of the dialog.

File Types: If you would like to limit the file types displayed in the dialog, select the file type you are looking for from the drop list in the bottom right corner of the dialog.

Versions: Multiple backup copies of each file are made automatically. To see and/or open one of these backup copies, click the Versions button. For more information, see Automatic Backup.

Read Only: To open a file for reading only, click on the drop down box marked Open and select Open Read Only. When you open a file for reading, you may scroll through the file, select and save blocks of text, and copy selected blocks to another file. You cannot add, delete, or move text in the displayed file. This option protects a file from being accidentally edited and also allows you, in a network environment, to view a file that is already open on another terminal.

You can increase the size of the Open File dialog so that it is easier to see the folders and files. See Resizing the Open File dialog. You can also use the Open File dialog to copy, move, rename and delete files and to create or delete folders. See Manage Files from Open File dialog.

Open File Dialog