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Open Project

The Open page provides access to existing Volvicon project files. You can quickly reopen recent projects, browse local folders, or connect to cloud storage providers to access remotely stored projects.

warning

Opening a project closes the current one. Volvicon prompts you to save unsaved changes before proceeding. Save your work to avoid data loss.

Page Layout​

The Open page presents three access methods on the left panel:

OptionDescription
Recent ProjectsPreviously opened project files, sorted by most recent access
ComputerBrowse local folders and file system
Add a PlaceConnect to cloud storage providers for remote project access

Opening Recent Projects​

The most efficient way to resume work on a known project.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → Open
  2. Ensure Recent Projects is selected in the left panel
  3. Locate your project in the list
  4. Double-click the project entry to open it
  5. The backstage closes and the project loads
tip

Recent project entries display both the filename and full path, helping you distinguish between projects with similar names stored in different locations.

note

The recent projects list has a configurable maximum size. Projects beyond this limit are no longer displayed but remain accessible through Computer. Adjust the limit with Items to show in recently used files list on the General page of Preferences.

Browsing Local Folders​

Use this option when the project isn't in the recent list or you need to navigate to a specific location.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → Open
  2. Select Computer from the left panel
  3. Choose a recent folder from the list, or click Browse to open the file dialog
  4. Navigate to and select the project file
  5. Click Open to load the project

Recent Folders​

The Computer view displays recently accessed folders derived from your recent project history. Common locations (Documents, Desktop, Home) appear automatically if no recent history exists.

This list helps you quickly access frequently used project directories without navigating through the full folder hierarchy.

Opening from Cloud Storage​

Access projects stored with cloud providers directly from Volvicon.

Four providers are supported: Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Box.

Adding a Cloud Provider​

  1. Navigate to File → Open.
  2. Select Add a Place from the left panel. The Cloud Storage page opens.
  3. Click Add a Place... to open the Add a Place dialog.
  4. Pick a provider from Available cloud storage providers and confirm. Volvicon opens your web browser so you can sign in and grant access.
  5. On success the provider is listed under Currently configured providers and appears in the cloud browser.

Reopen the same dialog later to review your connections, or select one and use Remove Selected to disconnect it. Removing a connection deletes the saved credentials for that provider from this computer.

Opening a Cloud-Hosted Project​

  1. Navigate to File → Open → Add a Place
  2. Browse the cloud provider's file structure
  3. Double-click the project file to download and open it
  4. A progress dialog shows download status
  5. After successful download, the project opens automatically
note

Cloud-hosted projects are downloaded to a temporary location, opened, and the temporary file is cleaned up after loading. The original cloud file remains unchanged until you explicitly save back to cloud storage.

Handling Download Issues​

If a cloud download fails or is canceled:

  • Network interruption: Verify your internet connection and retry
  • Authentication expired: Re-authenticate with the cloud provider
  • File permissions: Confirm you have read access to the cloud file

Partial downloads are automatically cleaned up. You can safely retry the download.

Integrity Verification on Open​

Volvicon performs a fast integrity verification when you open a project. It compares the embedded integrity manifest against the actual contents of the .vvcx file to detect missing, added, or modified files.

This is the second of two checks. The project format version is checked first, and each check has its own dialog, answered separately. For the whole sequence, see What is checked when a project opens.

If any integrity issue is detected, a Project Integrity Warning explains what was found and lists affected files when available. You can:

  • Yes: Open the project anyway (recommended only if you trust the file source)
  • No: Stop opening and investigate the issue. No is the default.

If the project does not contain integrity data (for example, older projects or files modified outside Volvicon), you will see a separate warning indicating the manifest is missing.

tip

If you receive integrity warnings for shared projects, ask the sender to re-save the project in the current version of Volvicon to regenerate the manifest.

Troubleshooting​

Project Not in Recent List​

  • The recent list has a maximum size; older entries are removed
  • System privacy tools or clearing browser history may remove recent file tracking
  • Use Computer → Browse to manually navigate to the project

Project File Cannot Be Opened​

  • Verify the file extension is a valid Volvicon project format
  • Confirm the file is not corrupted (try opening a backup if available)
  • Check that you have read permissions for the file location

Version Compatibility Warning​

If you see a warning stating the project was created with a newer version of Volvicon:

  • Recommended: Update Volvicon to the latest version before opening
  • Alternative: Click Yes to attempt opening anyway (some features may not load correctly)
  • Ask the project creator to save a compatible version if data loss is unacceptable
info

Projects created with older versions of Volvicon always open without warnings in newer versions. Backward compatibility is fully maintained.

Cloud Project Download Fails​

  • Verify internet connectivity
  • Re-authenticate with the cloud provider if the session expired
  • Check available disk space for the temporary download
  • Ensure firewall settings allow Volvicon to access the internet

Workflow: Opening a Project from a Network Drive​

  1. Navigate to File → Open → Computer
  2. Click Browse to open the file dialog
  3. Navigate to the network location (e.g., \\server\projects\)
  4. Select the project file
  5. Click Open
tip

For projects stored on network drives, ensure the connection is stable before opening. Intermittent network access during project operations can cause data issues.

  • Home - Quick access to recent projects from the landing page
  • Save - Saving changes to the current project
  • Save As - Saving to new locations including cloud storage
  • New Project - Creating projects from data files