Why do my files keep disappearing from xcode's project navigator?

Question

The project I'm working on started as a single view application with storyboard, and I've added 2 more view controllers, each with a .m and a .h file. However, every time I save, quit, and then restart, the 4 new files disappear from the project navigator. I have to hit "add files to project" and drag them in manually from the project's folder each time. It's not terribly inconvenient, but it's annoying enough that I've basically just been leaving the project minimized whenever I'm not working on it. Does anyone know what's going on, or how I can force the files to remain in the navigator? This kind of thing has never happened before.

Try clicking the option "Destination: Copy items into destination group's folder" and make sure to also select "Create groups for any added folders". Another question worth asking is: "Are you using any kind of source control?" (Maybe your project file is locked form some reason) — Luc Wollants, Jan 11 '13 at 20:13
Those are both selected. I'm not sure if there's any kind of source control. I haven't set anything personally, but maybe something turned on by itself when I dragged in a couple of files that I downloaded from the internet (and then subsequently deleted)? @LucWollants — classicalpianoguy, Jan 12 '13 at 01:55

score 47 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 24 '14 at 03:21

47

there is a button on the filter bar to "show only recent files"; the icon looks like a clock. You need to toggle this button to show all of your files.

answered Jan 24 '14 at 03:21

Jacko

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For me it wasn't the clock for recent files, but another item I found down at the bottom of the Project navigator by the clock - I had one letter accidentally typed in the search field and so it only showed some of my files – RanLearns Feb 13 '15 at 23:51

score 16 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 13 '17 at 03:56

16

You probably are having a filter to show only recent files. To toggle that,

answered Jul 13 '17 at 03:56

Fangming

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You are a freaking genius :-) – Madhu Avinash Sep 23 '19 at 16:37
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I updated XCode, restarted my machine, but nothing happened. Finally this worked :) – Deepak Sharma Dec 19 '19 at 14:21
That is smart and I am definitely not! – Siddharth Choudhary May 25 '21 at 16:51

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 12 '13 at 01:25

5

There is a button(4th one) on the filter bar- the botton portion of project navigator pane-, where you can toggle between "On/ off " for "Show only files with unsaved changes " . You probably have it "On". click that button and you probably will see the files

answered Jan 12 '13 at 01:25

pylearner

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Nope, that was one of the first things I checked. – classicalpianoguy Jan 12 '13 at 01:56
Was having a heart attack and this saved me, thank you. – pablo escobrah Apr 14 '16 at 09:25

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 31 '15 at 23:16

4

Click on Navigate at the top menu. Then click on "Reveal in Project Navigator."

answered Jul 31 '15 at 23:16

Rupert

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 08 '22 at 14:41

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Well you might have accidentally clicked on the bottom 'show only recent files'.

answered Dec 08 '22 at 14:41

Bilal Khan

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score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 05 '21 at 14:51

This is so weird. I discovered that the reason I could not see files in my project using the Filter was because I had inadvertently collapsed the tree under the base directory of my project, evidently while the Filter was active.

If you close it and then try to filter, it works. But if you close it while filtering is happening, it remembers this going forward. I guess there are scenarios where this would be helpeful...

Why do my files keep disappearing from xcode's project navigator?

6 Answers6