Editing files in board package with Arduino IDE

Development Tools IDE 2.x
1

Hello,

I’m not sure if this is the right category for my question.

I’m familiar with the method using the ‘.development’ and ‘library.properties’ files to enable editing of library files. I’m trying to achieve the same thing for a board package. I’d like to edit files in the ‘core’ folder inside the IDE. Is this possible with the Arduino IDE 2.x? I’d appreciate any advice. I know I can edit the files using a different editor, but that’s not an ideal solution.

Thanks

Steffen Urban

2

Hi @stokker15711. You can accomplish this by adding dummy .ino file in the core folder. After that, you can open that file in Arduino IDE, and all the code files in that folder will open as tabs.

To open files from subfolders:

  1. Select File > Preferences... (or Arduino IDE > Settings... for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus.
    The "Preferences" dialog will open.
  2. Check the box next to ☐ Show files inside sketches.
  3. Click the "OK" button.
  4. Click the folder icon in the activity bar on the left side of the IDE window to open the "SKETCHBOOK" view.
  5. You will see a listing of the contents of your sketchbook folder. Click the ❯ icons to the left of the relevant entries to navigate to a code file from the current sketch that you want to open.
  6. Click on the file in the "SKETCHBOOK" view.

The file will open in a new editor tab. You can browse and edit the contents as needed. When you no longer need the tab, click the X icon on the tab to close it.

3

Hi ptillisch,

Thank you very much for your reply. I was hoping there might be a way to edit files in the same IDE window from within a sketch that uses my board package. But at least this way it’s the same editor. I’ve also brought up the Explorer view using Ctrl+Shift+E. I can now work with it very easily.

4

You are welcome. I'm glad if I was able to be of assistance.

Regards, Per