Features
Project Explorer
Navigate your CODESYS project structure
Project Explorer
The Project Explorer gives you a complete view of your CODESYS project structure directly in PLC Studio AI.
Overview
The Project Explorer shows your project hierarchy in a familiar tree structure:
📁 MyProject
├── 📁 Application
│ ├── 📄 PLC_PRG (PRG)
│ ├── 📦 FB_Motor (FB)
│ ├── 📦 FB_Pump (FB)
│ └── 📄 FC_Calculate (FC)
├── 📁 GVL
│ ├── 📋 GVL_Global
│ └── 📋 GVL_Parameters
└── 📁 DUT
├── 📐 ST_MotorData (STRUCT)
└── 📐 E_State (ENUM)Navigating the Tree
Expanding and Collapsing
- Click the arrow (▶) to expand a folder
- Click again (▼) to collapse it
- Double-click a folder to toggle
Opening Items
- Single-click to select an item
- Double-click to open it in the editor
- Right-click for context menu options
Project Elements
POUs (Program Organization Units)
| Icon | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 📄 PRG | Program | Main program blocks |
| 📦 FB | Function Block | Reusable blocks with state |
| 📄 FC | Function | Stateless functions |
Data Types
| Icon | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 📐 STRUCT | Structure | Custom data structures |
| 📐 ENUM | Enumeration | Named value sets |
| 📐 ALIAS | Type Alias | Alternative type names |
Variables
| Icon | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 📋 GVL | Global Variable List | Project-wide variables |
| 📋 PersistentVars | Persistent Variables | Retain values after restart |
Context Menu
Right-click any item for options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Open | Open in editor |
| Rename | Rename the item |
| Delete | Remove from project |
| Copy Path | Copy the full path |
| View in CODESYS | Focus in CODESYS IDE |
Rename and Delete operations are permanent and will be applied to your CODESYS project. Use with caution.
Search and Filter
Quick Search
Press Ctrl+P to open quick search:
- Type the name of what you're looking for
- Results filter as you type
- Press Enter to open the selected item
Filter by Type
Use the filter dropdown to show only:
- All items
- Programs only
- Function Blocks only
- Functions only
- Data Types only
- Variables only
Working with Multiple Items
Selection
- Click to select a single item
Ctrl+Clickto select multiple itemsShift+Clickto select a range
Bulk Actions
With multiple items selected:
- Open all in tabs
- Compare two items
- Export selected
Sync Status
The Project Explorer shows sync status with CODESYS:
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Green | In sync with CODESYS |
| 🟡 Yellow | Changes pending |
| 🔴 Red | Sync error |
Manual Refresh
If the view seems out of date:
- Click the refresh button (🔄) in the toolbar
- Or press
F5
Tips
Pin Frequently Used Items
Right-click → Pin to keep important items at the top of the explorer.
Use Keyboard Navigation
- Arrow keys to navigate
- Enter to open
- Backspace to go up one level
Create New Items
Right-click a folder → New to create:
- New Function Block
- New Function
- New Program
- New GVL
- New DUT
Limitations
The Project Explorer currently supports:
- ✅ Structured Text POUs
- ✅ GVLs and DUTs
- ❌ Ladder/FBD/SFC (not supported)
- ❌ Hardware configuration
- ❌ Visualization elements