File Management

Lokus provides a comprehensive file management system that lets you organize your notes and folders efficiently. From creating files to bulk operations, every aspect is designed for productivity and ease of use.

Overview

The file management system in Lokus includes:

• Interactive File Tree: Navigate your workspace with a hierarchical tree view
• Context Menus: Right-click actions for quick file operations
• Drag and Drop: Reorganize files and folders intuitively
• Batch Operations: Work with multiple files simultaneously
• File History: Track recently opened and edited files
• Quick Actions: Keyboard shortcuts for common operations
• Smart Filtering: Find files quickly with search and filters

File Tree Navigation

Understanding the File Tree

The file tree is your primary interface for navigating your workspace. It displays all your markdown files and folders in a hierarchical structure.

Key Features:

• Collapsible Folders: Click the arrow icon to expand/collapse folders
• File Icons: Different icons for files, folders, and special file types
• Visual Indicators:
  • Unsaved changes marked with a dot
  • Currently active file highlighted
  • Modified files shown with timestamp
• Nested Structure: Unlimited folder depth support

Navigation Tips:

workspace/
├── Projects/
│   ├── Project A.md
│   └── Project B.md
├── Notes/
│   ├── Daily Notes/
│   │   ├── 2025-10-23.md
│   │   └── 2025-10-22.md
│   └── Meeting Notes.md
└── Archive/
    └── Old Notes.md

Keyboard Navigation

Navigate the file tree without your mouse:

Creating Files and Folders

Creating New Files

There are multiple ways to create a new file in Lokus:

Method 1: Command Palette

1. Press Cmd+K (Windows: Ctrl+K)
2. Type "New File"
3. Press Enter
4. Enter filename

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut

Press Cmd+N (Windows: Ctrl+N)
Enter the filename when prompted

Method 3: Context Menu

1. Right-click in the file tree
2. Select "New File"
3. Enter filename

Method 4: Sidebar Button

Click the "+" button in the file tree header

File Naming Best Practices:

• Use descriptive names: Project-Plan-2025.md instead of doc1.md
• Avoid special characters: /, \, :, *, ?, ", <, >, |
• Use hyphens or underscores for spaces: My-Note.md or My_Note.md
• Keep names concise but meaningful

Creating Folders

Organize your notes with folders:

Quick Folder Creation

Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+N (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+N)

Context Menu Method

1. Right-click in file tree or on a folder
2. Select "New Folder"
3. Enter folder name
4. (Optional) Nested path: "Projects/2025/Q1"

Folder Organization Strategies:

# By Project
workspace/
├── Project-Alpha/
├── Project-Beta/
└── Project-Gamma/
 
# By Date
workspace/
├── 2025/
│   ├── October/
│   └── November/
└── 2024/
 
# By Type
workspace/
├── Meeting-Notes/
├── Ideas/
├── Research/
└── Documentation/
 
# Hybrid Approach
workspace/
├── Active-Projects/
│   ├── Web-App/
│   └── Mobile-App/
├── Archive/
│   └── 2024/
└── Reference/
    └── Resources/

File Operations

Opening Files

Multiple Ways to Open:

1. Click: Single-click in file tree
2. Double-click: Double-click for immediate focus
3. Keyboard: Navigate with arrows, press Enter
4. Quick Switcher: Cmd+P to search and open
5. Recent Files: Access via Command Palette

Opening Multiple Files:

• Files open in tabs at the top of the editor
• Up to 20 files can be open simultaneously
• Tabs show filename and close button
• Active tab is highlighted

Renaming Files

Quick Rename

1. Right-click file in tree
2. Select "Rename"
3. Edit name (keep .md extension)
4. Press Enter

Keyboard Shortcut

1. Select file in tree
2. Press F2
3. Enter new name
4. Press Enter

Important Notes:

• Renaming updates all wiki links automatically
• File references in other notes are preserved
• Undo is available if you make a mistake

Moving Files

Drag and Drop

1. Click and hold file
2. Drag to target folder
3. Release to drop
4. Confirm if prompted

Cut and Paste

1. Right-click file → Cut (Cmd+X)
2. Right-click target folder → Paste (Cmd+V)

Batch Moving:

1. Hold Cmd (Ctrl on Windows)
2. Click multiple files
3. Drag selection to target folder

Deleting Files

Safe Delete (Move to Trash)

1. Right-click file → Delete
2. Or: Select file and press Delete/Backspace
3. Confirm deletion

What Happens When You Delete:

• File moved to system trash/recycle bin
• Can be recovered from trash
• Wiki links to deleted files show as broken
• References remain but are inactive

Permanent Delete

1. Delete file (moves to trash)
2. Empty system trash to permanently delete

Bulk Deletion:

1. Select multiple files (Cmd+Click)
2. Press Delete
3. Confirm batch deletion

Context Menus

Right-click menus provide quick access to common operations.

File Context Menu

Right-click any file to see:

Folder Context Menu

Right-click any folder to see:

Root Context Menu

Right-click empty space in file tree:

Advanced Features

File Properties

View detailed information about any file:

Right-click file → Properties (Cmd+I)

Property Panel Shows:

• Filename: Current name with extension
• Path: Full path in workspace
• Size: File size in KB/MB
• Created: Creation date and time
• Modified: Last modification date
• Word Count: Total words in file
• Character Count: Total characters
• Links: Number of wiki links
• Backlinks: Notes linking to this file
• Tags: All tags in the file

Duplicate Files

Create copies quickly:

1. Right-click file → Duplicate
2. Copy created with " (Copy)" suffix
3. Rename as needed

Use Cases:

• Templates: Duplicate and modify
• Backups: Keep version history
• Experimentation: Try changes without risk

Batch Operations

Work with multiple files at once:

Selecting Multiple Files

Method 1: Click with Modifier

- Cmd+Click (Ctrl+Click): Select individual files
- Shift+Click: Select range of files

Method 2: Select All

Cmd+A (Ctrl+A) in file tree

Bulk Actions Available

Once multiple files selected:

• Move: Drag to folder
• Delete: Remove all at once
• Tag: Add tags to all files
• Export: Export as batch
• Copy: Copy to clipboard

File Recovery

Recently Closed Files

Reopen closed tabs:

Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+T (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+T)

Feature Details:

• Remembers last 20 closed files
• Reopens in same position
• Preserves scroll position
• Maintains edit history

Deleted File Recovery

Files deleted are moved to system trash:

To Recover:

1. Open system trash/recycle bin
2. Locate the file
3. Restore to original location
4. Refresh file tree in Lokus

File Search and Filtering

Quick File Search

Find files instantly:

Press Cmd+P (Ctrl+P)
Type filename or partial match

Search Features:

• Fuzzy matching: Type “pn” to find “Project Notes.md”
• Recent files prioritized
• Shows file path for context
• Navigate with arrow keys

Filter by Type

Show specific file types:

In file tree header:
Click filter icon → Select file type

Available Filters:

• All files
• Markdown only (.md)
• Canvas files (.canvas)
• Recently modified
• Recently created
• Untagged files

Sort Options

Change file tree order:

File Management Tips

Best Practices

1. Use Consistent Naming

Good: "2025-10-23-Meeting-Notes.md"
Bad: "notes1.md"

2. Organize with Folders

Create logical hierarchies
Don't nest too deep (3-4 levels max)
Use descriptive folder names

3. Regular Cleanup

Archive old files monthly
Delete unused notes
Consolidate related notes

4. Leverage Tags

Use tags in addition to folders
Tags for cross-cutting concerns
Folder for primary organization

Performance Tips

Keep File Tree Fast:

• Don’t create too many files in one folder (limit: 1000)
• Use subfolders to organize large collections
• Archive old content regularly
• Close unused tabs to save memory

Optimize Search:

• Use specific search terms
• Filter by file type first
• Use recent files for frequent access
• Create shortcuts for important files

Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

File Operations

Navigation

Selection

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

File Not Appearing in Tree

• Solution: Press F5 to refresh
• Check if file is in workspace folder
• Verify file has .md extension

Cannot Rename File

• Solution: Close file first
• Check file isn’t being edited elsewhere
• Verify write permissions

Drag and Drop Not Working

• Solution: Don’t drag too quickly
• Ensure target folder is expanded
• Try cut/paste instead

File Tree Slow

• Solution: Close unused folders
• Reduce number of open tabs
• Archive old files

Deleted File Still Shows

• Solution: Refresh file tree (F5)
• Restart Lokus
• Check trash for recovery

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

1. Check the Troubleshooting Guide
2. Visit Community Forum
3. Report bugs on GitHub Issues

Related Features

• Workspace Management: Configure your workspace
• Search: Advanced search capabilities
• Tags: Organize with tags
• Export: Export your files

What’s Next?

Now that you understand file management, explore these related features:

• Workspace Management: Customize your workspace layout
• Command Palette: Master all available commands
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn all shortcuts