File Management

Learn how to effectively organize, navigate, and manage your files and workspace in Lokus.

Understanding Your Workspace

Workspace Concept

Your workspace is the root folder that contains all your notes and projects. When you open a folder in Lokus, it becomes your workspace and appears in the sidebar for easy navigation.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Choose a Location: Select a dedicated folder for your notes
Open in Lokus: File → Open Folder or drag folder to Lokus
Organize Structure: Create logical subdirectories
Access Anywhere: Workspace remains accessible across sessions

Recommended Structure

My Notes/
├── Daily Notes/
├── Projects/
│   ├── Project Alpha/
│   └── Project Beta/
├── Resources/
├── Ideas/
└── Templates/

File Operations

Creating Files and Folders

New File

Command Palette: ⌘K → "new file" → Enter
Keyboard: ⌘N
Menu: File → New File
Sidebar: Right-click → New File

New Folder

Command Palette: ⌘K → "new folder" → Enter
Sidebar: Right-click → New Folder
Menu: File → New Folder

File Navigation

Opening Files

Command Palette: ⌘K → type filename → Enter
Sidebar: Click on any file
Recent Files: ⌘K shows recently accessed files
Quick Open: ⌘O for system file dialog

Sidebar Navigation

Expand/Collapse: Click arrows next to folders
Quick Filter: Start typing to filter visible files
Scroll: Navigate large folder structures
Drag & Drop: Reorganize files and folders

File Management Operations

Renaming

Right-click on file → "Rename"
Type new name (keep .md extension for Markdown files)
Press Enter to confirm

Moving Files

Drag and Drop: Drag files to new locations in sidebar
Cut and Paste: Right-click → Cut, then Paste in destination
Command Palette: Use move commands for specific operations

Copying Files

Right-click → Copy → navigate to destination → Paste
Duplicate: Copy and paste in same folder, rename accordingly
Backup: Copy important files to backup locations

Deleting Files

Right-click → Delete
Keyboard: Select file, press Delete key
Confirmation: Lokus will ask for confirmation before deletion
Recovery: Check your system's trash/recycle bin to recover

File Types and Support

Markdown Files (.md)

Full Support: Complete editing, preview, and formatting
Live Rendering: See formatting as you type
Syntax Highlighting: Code blocks and special syntax
Export Options: HTML, PDF, and other formats

Text Files (.txt)

Plain Text: Simple text editing without formatting
Fast Loading: Efficient for large plain text files
Code Editing: Basic syntax highlighting for code files
Cross-Platform: Universal compatibility

Other File Types

Code Files: Syntax highlighting for .js, .py, .ts, etc.
Images: Preview and reference in notes
Documents: Limited support for viewing
Binary Files: Generally not supported for editing

Workspace Organization Strategies

By Project

Workspace/
├── Client Work/
│   ├── Client A/
│   └── Client B/
├── Personal/
│   ├── Learning/
│   └── Ideas/
└── Archive/

By Content Type

Workspace/
├── Meeting Notes/
├── Research/
├── Documentation/
├── Daily Journals/
└── References/

By Time Period

Workspace/
├── 2024/
│   ├── Q1/
│   ├── Q2/
│   └── Daily/
├── 2023/
└── Archive/

GTD (Getting Things Done)

Workspace/
├── Inbox/
├── Projects/
├── Someday Maybe/
├── Reference/
└── Archive/

Advanced File Management

Bulk Operations

Multi-Select: Hold ⌘ (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) to select multiple files
Range Select: Hold Shift to select ranges
Batch Operations: Apply operations to multiple selected files
Folder Operations: Operations on folders affect all contents

File Searching

Global Search: Search across all files in workspace
Filename Search: ⌘K for quick file finding
Content Search: Find text within files
Filter by Type: Show only specific file types

External Integration

Finder/Explorer: Right-click → "Reveal in Finder/Explorer"
Terminal: Right-click → "Open in Terminal"
External Apps: Right-click → "Open with..."
Cloud Sync: Works with Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive when workspace is in synced folder

File Management Best Practices

Naming Conventions

Descriptive Names: Use clear, searchable filenames
Date Prefixes: 2024-03-15-meeting-notes.md for chronological sorting
Consistent Format: Establish and stick to naming patterns
Avoid Special Characters: Use hyphens instead of spaces in filenames

Folder Structure

Logical Hierarchy: No more than 3-4 levels deep
Clear Categories: Each folder should have a distinct purpose
Regular Cleanup: Archive or delete outdated content
Index Files: Create index.md files in folders to explain contents

File Hygiene

Regular Backups: Keep backups of important files
Version Control: Consider Git for important projects
Archive Old Content: Move completed projects to archive
Link Maintenance: Check and update internal links regularly

Troubleshooting File Issues

Common Problems

Files Not Showing

Check File Types: Ensure files have supported extensions
Refresh Workspace: Close and reopen folder
Check Permissions: Verify read permissions on files
Hidden Files: Lokus shows all visible files in folder

Can't Save Files

Check Permissions: Ensure write access to folder
Disk Space: Verify sufficient free space
File Locks: Close other applications using the file
Path Length: Very long paths may cause issues

Performance Issues

Large Folders: Consider organizing into subfolders
Many Files: File watching may slow down with thousands of files
Large Files: Break very large files into smaller sections
Network Drives: Local drives perform better than network locations

Recovery Strategies

System Backups: Use your system's backup features
Cloud Storage: Automatic backup through cloud sync
Version History: Some cloud services provide version history
Export Regularly: Export important content to multiple formats

Integration with Other Tools

Cloud Storage

Setup: Point Lokus workspace to cloud-synced folder
Automatic Sync: Changes sync across devices
Conflict Resolution: Handle sync conflicts manually
Offline Access: Files available when offline

Version Control

Git Integration: Initialize Git repository in workspace
Track Changes: Version control for important projects
Collaboration: Share and collaborate on documents
Branching: Use branches for different versions

External Editors

Specialized Tools: Use external editors for specific file types
Round-trip Editing: Edit externally, view in Lokus
File Watching: Lokus detects external changes
Workflow Integration: Part of larger content creation workflow

Next Steps

Master Command Palette for faster file operations
Learn Search Basics to find content quickly
Explore Templates for consistent file creation
Check Keyboard Shortcuts for efficient file management

Good file management is the foundation of an effective note-taking system. Invest time in setting up a logical structure that will serve you well as your content grows.

Markdown Support Workspace Basics