Opening Existing Projects in Flex
First, you might think there would be an option as soon as you opened the IDE to open "Recent Projects" but there isn't.
Second, you might think there would be an option at least in the File menu to “Open Project”, but there isn't.
Ok, so stop reading this for a second and look at Flex, do you see a panel called Flex Navigator? You do?? Then why are you reading this, double click your project and get to work! : )
If you’re like me and you don’t see this silly little panel you’ll have to enable it!
Open the Flex Navigator, by selecting Window > Flex Navigator this will open a little panel with a list of your existing/recent projects. A few of my projects were closed (I did that before I closed the panel at some point) so they had a blue suitcase looking icon next to the name... just double click the project and your back to work.
I feel kinda stupid for not digging deeper to find the answer with the product, but... in the end it comes down to a usability issue that Adobe should at least consider.
I've been playing with Flex for about a year, on and off, but never long enough at any given point to let what I was learning sink in, however I think it’s a great tool for web and RIA developers. The last week or so I’ve been back into it, working on a bunch of little projects, trying different things and just tinkering.
But I just got a little annoyed about something that you would think should be simple as can be. I’m not sure if it warrants a post on the blog or not, but only because I didn’t find much help elsewhere (another typical Flex annoyance) maybe this will help another poor soul that finds themselves in the same situation.
Now I'm sure that while I was playing around and learning the new interface that I closed this pane by mistake, or maybe on purpose thinking there’s a simple intuitive way to open a project again if I need to, but it might make sense for Adobe to add a menu item for Open Project in the File menu, even if all it does is open the Flex Navigator.
If I’m just missing something even more obvious, please let me know!!
Unbelievable waste of time trying to figure out how to open an existing project - thank you for explaining Mike Hommé - this is the most counter intuitive project opening I have ever seen..........
I couldn't agree with you more. But this one issue aside, as with all Adobe products, I'm impressed by Flex and look forward to working it into more upcoming projects.
Happy this helped!
THANK YOU for the post. Now that I see it, I feel very stupid, but thank you for posting this.
so, what you're saying is that flex doesn't have any way of opening a project that isn't sitting in it's special folder on my computer... even though i can create a project in a different location?
ok, i figured out how to make this work. i had to create a new project and just point it to the same location as my existing project.
Thanks for the post that turned up on my google search. I though I was missing this as well. It does not seem to be much of an issue but is a bit of a pain if you download a sample project. Instead of just opening the sample project, instead having to create a new project, deleted the contents, cut/paste the sample project files. Maybe We're too used to Visual Studio.
Right, Flex is pretty new still and I wouldn't consider this an "issue" just an annoyance. Adobe creates great products of course and I have been using them for many years, just wish they ran on Linux; only thing holding me back from a switch to Linux (at least at home). If any Dev or Usability folks see this, maybe something to consider for the future.
Glad it helped!
I did face the same problem today as you mentioned. But there is a workaround albeit an easy one.
1. Go to Window > Flex Navigator.
2. Select the radio button for archive project(if you have it in zip) and browse for it, else browse for a folder by selecting the second radio.
3. Just do finish..
Hope it helps
I do understand the IDE much better since posting this and I think you're reply explains a scenario that's is a bit different than mine, but either way I'm glad I was able to help you (if I did) :) ...thanks for posting.
Ohh sorry forgot to mention a step in between
1 ..
1.5 Rt click and do an import.
2 ..
3 ..