> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://documentation.astera.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://documentation.astera.com/project-management-and-scheduling/project-management/astera-project-and-project-explorer.md).
# Astera Project and Project Explorer
In Astera 2026, all work is organized within projects. This project-first model replaces the previous approach where individual artifacts — such as Dataflows, Workflows, and Shared Actions — could be created independently of a project. Every item you create now lives inside a project, making it easier to organize, manage, and deploy your work.
This article covers how to create a new project, navigate the *Project Explorer* panel, and add items to your project.
## Getting Started with the Project-First Experience
Open your Astera Client, the *Project Explorer* panel prompts you to either create a new project or open an existing one. You cannot create individual artifacts without first having a project open.
## Steps to Create a New Project
1. To create a new project, first select the type of project you want to create:
* **Integration Project:** Creates an empty project with no pre-defined folders. Ideal for building an integration project from scratch.
* **Data Warehousing Project:** Creates a project configured for data warehousing workflows.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Depending on your license, the relevant project types will be visible
{% endhint %}
2. Once decided, use one of the following methods to create your new project:
* In the *Project Explorer* panel, click the button for *Integration Project* or *Data Warehousing Project*.
* Or navigate to the *Toolbar* and click on the create new project shortcut and select your desired project
* or go to the menu bar and navigate to: *Project > New* and select your desired project
2. Navigate to the folder where you want to save your project, provide a name (e.g., `SampleProject`), and click *Save*.
3. Your project now appears in the *Project Explorer* panel.
## Opening an Existing/Recent Project
To open an existing project, use one of the following methods:
* In the *Project Explorer* panel, click *Open Project*.
* or go to the menu bar and navigate to: *Project > Open*
Locate the `.cprj` file on your system and click *Open*.
Alternatively, if you want to open a recently opened project you can navigate to *Project > Recent Projects* and select a recently opened project from there.
### Project Explorer Options
There are several options in the Project Explorer panel such as:
* *Create a New Project* : Creates a new project in the selected directory.
* *Open Project* : Shows a list of all recently opened projects for the user to select from.
* *Close Project* *:* Closes a currently open project.
* *Refresh Project* *:* Refreshes and synchronizes changes within the project.
* *Verify Project* *:* Verifies design time errors of the project (such as missing fields, syntax errors in the expressions, etc.).
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** It does not verify the runtime errors.
{% endhint %}
* *Verify, build and publish project catalog to the server* : Verifies the project catalog, then builds and publishes it to the server.
* *Build and publish project catalog to the server* : Builds the project catalog and publishes it directly to the server.
* *Build project catalog and save as a \*.Cat plugin* : Builds the project catalog and saves it locally as a `.Cat` plugin file.
## Adding Items to a Project
### Add a New Item
* You can add a new item to your project in two ways:
* **From the Toolbar:** Once a project is open, click the *Add New Item* shortcut in the Toolbar, choose the item type, provide a name, and click *Add*.
* **From the Project Explorer:** Right-click on the project name (or a folder within the project) in the *Project Explorer* panel and select *Add > Add New Item*.
* *Add New Item* window will open. Choose the item type from the available options, provide a name (e.g., `SampleDataflow.Df`), and click *Add*.
* The new item now appears inside your project in the Project Explorer.
### Add a New Folder
1. Right-click on the project name in the Project Explorer and select *Add > Add New Folder*.
2. The new folder appears in the project. To rename it, right-click the folder and select *Edit > Rename* or just click on the folder name to rename it.
## Adding Existing Items or Folders to a Project
### Add Existing Items
1. Right-click on the project name in the Project Explorer and select *Add Existing Items*.
2. Locate the item in your directory, select it, and click *Open*.
3. The item now appears as part of your project in the Project Explorer.
### Add Existing Folder
Follow the same steps above but select *Add Existing Folder* from the right-click context menu instead. Locate the folder in your local directory and click *Open* to add it to the project.
This is how you can create and manage projects in Astera using the Project Explorer panel and Toolbar shortcuts. All artifacts — Dataflows, Workflows, Shared Actions, and more — are now created and organized within a project, ensuring a consistent and structured workspace.
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://documentation.astera.com/project-management-and-scheduling/project-management/astera-project-and-project-explorer.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.