Creating links in workspace

Links make it easier for you to find and organize files and folders in your Workspace. A link references to the original file that can be stored in your workspace or on the external data store (eNode).

Contents of this guide

In this guide, you will learn about links - a mechanism that allows you to create a shortcut that references the original file or folder stored in the other location.

We show you how to add a link to the file stored on the external data store (eNode). eNode link gives easy access to the file stored on an external data store without the need to copy it to your Workspace. As a result, you can access the file as if you had it in your workspace but the file does not use your Workspace storage space.

We also demonstrate how to create a Workspace link. A workspace link is a shortcut that points to a file or directory within your Workspace. A workspace link makes it easier to find and organize files and folders inside your Workspace.

Link to the file stored on the external data store (eNode)

You can add files from external data stores to your workspace directly from the Data Search or from the file viewer. Both Data Search and file viewer allows you to add a file as a copy (Add to workspace action) or as a link (Add to workspace as link action). Add to workspace as link creates a link in your workspace that points to the file stored on an external data store. A link gives easy access to the external file without the need to physically copy it to your Workspace. As a result, you can access the file as if you had it in your workspace but the file does not use your Workspace storage space.

Creating an eNode link

Creating a link to eNode file directly from the Data Search:

Go to Data Search (Figure 1.1)
Find the file you want to add
Click the MORE button and select Add to workspace as link action (Figure 1.1)
Select the directory where the link should be added e.g. the Project-B directory (Figure 1.3)

Creating a link to eNode file directly from the file viewer:

In the file viewer click ACTIONS button and select Add to workspace as link action (Figure 1.2)
Select the directory where the link should be added e.g. the Project-B directory (Figure 1.2)

The link was added to the selected directory (e.g. Project-B directory). The link is marked with a special "link icon" (Figure 1.4). In the File information menu, you can see the information that link points to a file from an external data store (Figure 1.4). You can also see that the link does not add up to the workspace storage space as its size is 0B.

Figure 1.1. Creating a link to eNode file from the Data Search

Figure 1.2. Creating a link to eNode file from the file viewer

Figure 1.3. Selecting the directory where the link should be added e.g. the Project-B directory

Figure 1.4. Workspace view of the created link and File information view

Advantages and disadvantages of eNode links

Advantages:

A link to the file does not add up to the workspace storage space compared to the file added as a copy
A link points to the most up-to-date version of the file e.g. when the new events are added to the Catalog you will work on the newest version of the file.

Disadvantages:

A link may become broken (see Broken eNode links section)
Operations on a link that points to the file on the eNode may be slower than on a file added as a copy. When using a link the file must be downloaded from an external eNode. As a result, visualizations and applications that use eNode links may feel slower than those operating on standard files.

Broken eNode links

A link to the file stored on the external data store (eNode) will break if:

The original file is deleted.
If there is a problem with the connection to the external data store e.g. temporary outage of the external data store server

Workspace link

A workspace link is a shortcut that points to a file or directory within your Workspace. Workspace links make it easier to find and organize files and folders.

A link to the file can be used just like an original file e.g it can be used as an input for the compatible applications and visualizations. Links can be used to “store” multiple copies of the same file in different places but still reference one file. These copies remain up to date and do not add up to your workspace storage space, since they always point to the same file.
A link to the directory gives a reference to manage the content of the original directory. The directory link can be expanded just like the original directory to reveal its content. Everything you do inside the link of the directory is interpreted as if you were doing it inside the original directory. The content of the link to the directory is automatically updated whenever the content of the original directory changes.

Creating a Workspace link

Figures 2.1-2.5 show how to create a Workspace link:

Figure 2.1. Creating a Workspace link: Use the file menu and select Create link action. You can create a link to the file or directory.

Figure 2.2. Creating a Workspace link: Select the directory where the link will be created e.g. Project-A directory

The link to the catalog.mat file was created in the Project-A directory.

The link is marked with a special "link icon" as shown (Figure 2.3)
You can open the File information menu for the created link (Figure 2.4) It will show you the information about the original file. You can also see that the link does not add up to the workspace storage space as its size is 0B.
You can repeat the process to create multiple links to the same file. For example, you can use links as shortcuts to the original file in different projects (e.g. Figure 2.5). You can make sure that files are in consistent places without moving or copying the original.

Figure 2.3. Workspace view after creating a link

Figure 2.4. Information about created link

Figure 2.5. Multiple workspace links to the same file

Broken workspace links

A workspace link will break if:

The original file was deleted, renamed or moved
(refers to sharing) You don’t have permission to open the original file.

Figure 2.6. Broken workspace link. After deleting the original file the workspace link is broken. A broken link is indicated by the red "link icon" in your Workspace.

Using links

For most operations file links can be used in the same way as the source files:

when you click on the link in the workspace tree file viewer will show the same content as in the case of the source file
the link can be used as an input for compatible applications in the same way as the source file
- by selecting Use in application / visualization action
- by selecting the link as an input in the application view
using the download action will have the same effect as in case of the source file

Some operations work differently on file links than on source files:

When you use delete, copy or move action for the link only the link itself is affected. The source file will not be deleted / copied or moved.

Adding shared files or folders as link

If someone shares a file with you, and you add it to your workspace as a link, it can be used in the same way as the regular workspace links. Keep in mind that if the owner of the file would delete it or change permission the link may become broken.

To learn about sharing files, directories and applications with other users check out Sharing files and applications guide.