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Files Management in SoftyFlow

The Files section in SoftyFlow provides a comprehensive file management system that allows users to upload, organize, view, and manage various types of files within their projects.

Overview​

The file management interface displays all uploaded files in a structured table format, providing detailed information about each file including metadata, creation dates, file types, and access permissions.

File Upload​

Uploading Files​

  1. Click the "Upload a File" button in the top-right corner
  2. Select files from your local system
  3. Choose visibility settings:
    • Public: File can be accessed by others
    • Private: File is only accessible to you
  4. Click upload to complete the process

Supported File Types​

The system supports various file types with dedicated icons:

  • CSS files (.css) - Styling documents
  • PDF files (.pdf) - Document files and templates
  • JavaScript files (.js) - Script files
  • Images (.png, .jpeg, .tif, .gif) - Image files
  • Generic files - All other file types

File Information Display​

File Table Columns​

Name​

  • Displays the filename with an appropriate file type icon
  • Icons are color-coded based on file type for easy identification
  • Clicking on a file name opens the file for editing or preview

Metadata​

  • Visibility Tags:
    • Public (red tag) - File is publicly accessible
    • Private (green tag) - File is private
  • Source Tags:
    • IDE (blue tag) - File created within the IDE
    • User (blue tag) - File uploaded by user
  • Storage Tags:
    • S3 (yellow tag) - File stored in S3 bucket

Created At​

  • Shows the upload date and time
  • Formatted for easy readability

Content Type​

  • Displays the MIME type of the file
  • Helps identify file format and handling requirements

Size​

  • Shows file size in bytes
  • Useful for storage management

File Operations​

Viewing Files​

  • Click the View button (eye icon) to open the file
  • PDF templates open in a special preview mode
  • Other files open in a new tab for viewing/downloading

Copying File URLs​

  • Click the Copy button to copy the file's direct URL
  • Useful for sharing or embedding files
  • Success notification confirms the URL has been copied

Deleting Files​

  • Click the Delete button (trash icon)
  • Confirmation dialog prevents accidental deletion
  • Files are permanently removed from the system

Basic Filters​

  • Name: Search files by filename
  • Visibility: Filter by Public or Private files
  • Date Range: Filter files by creation date range

Advanced Filters​

Click "More Filters" to access additional options:

  • Content Type: Filter by specific MIME types
  • Clear all filters using the "Clear filter" option

Filter Behavior​

  • Filters are applied in real-time
  • Multiple filters can be combined
  • Results update automatically as you type

Pagination and Sorting​

Pagination​

  • Navigate through large file collections
  • Configurable items per page (default: 10)
  • Page navigation at the bottom of the list

Sorting​

Files can be sorted by:

  • Name (filename)
  • Created At (upload date)
  • Content Type (file type)
  • Size (file size)
  • Metadata (visibility and tags)

Click column headers to sort in ascending or descending order.

Special File Types​

PDF Templates​

  • Files with .PDFtemplate extension receive special treatment
  • Generate PDFs with variables and dynamic content
  • Access through the "Create a PDF" button
  • Preview functionality shows generated PDF output

IDE Files vs User Files​

  • IDE Files: Created within the SoftyFlow IDE environment
  • User Files: Uploaded directly by users
  • Different handling and processing based on source

File URLs and Access​

Public Files​

  • Accessible via direct URL: /uploads/{fileId}/name/{filename}
  • Can be shared with external users
  • No authentication required for access

Private Files​

  • Restricted access based on user permissions
  • Require authentication to view
  • Secure file handling

Best Practices​

File Organization​

  1. Use descriptive filenames for easy identification
  2. Set appropriate visibility (Public/Private) based on content sensitivity
  3. Regularly review and clean up unused files
  4. Use content type filtering to locate specific file types quickly

Storage Management​

  1. Monitor file sizes to optimize storage usage
  2. Delete obsolete files to maintain system performance
  3. Use date filters to identify old files for cleanup

Security Considerations​

  1. Mark sensitive files as Private
  2. Regularly audit Public files for security compliance
  3. Use appropriate file naming conventions to avoid conflicts

Troubleshooting​

Upload Issues​

  • Ensure file size is within system limits
  • Check file type compatibility
  • Verify network connection for large uploads

Access Problems​

  • Verify file visibility settings
  • Check user permissions for private files
  • Ensure correct file URLs are being used

Performance​

  • Use filters to reduce dataset size for faster loading
  • Consider pagination for large file collections
  • Regular cleanup improves system responsiveness