Files

IDL source files have the ".pro" extension. The IDL Workbench can host many different types of editors, but .pro files are edited using the IDL .pro file editor.

Opening a Source Code File

To open a .pro file and load it in an editor:

  1. Select File → Open File.
  2. On the Open File dialog, browse for the file or enter the file path in the File name box, and click Open.

    3. A .pro file editor view appears in the IDL Workbench, loaded with the file.

    Note
    If you open an image or data file rather than a .pro code file, IDL automatically creates variables for you. See Importing Data into the IDL Workbench for additional details.

Creating a New Source Code File

To create a new .pro file, select File → New IDL Source File or click the new_file_icon.gif icon.

Saving a Source Code File

By default, the IDL Workbench saves files in a project in the current workspace. To save a .pro file you are working on in the IDL Workbench:

  1. Click inside the editor containing the file you wish to save.
  2. Select File → Save. If the file has not yet been saved in the IDL Workbench, you will be prompted to choose a project that will contain the file.

To save a .pro file you are working on outside the workspace (that is, in a directory that is not a workbench project directory):

  1. Click inside the editor containing the file you wish to save.
  2. Select File → Save to External Location... You can save the file in any directory available on your system, but the file will not be included in an IDL project.