# File Explorer setting and removing rootDir

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/file-explorer-setting-and-removing-rootdir/10139>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [June 16, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/file-explorer-setting-and-removing-rootdir/10139 "2015-06-16T20:12:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![drewdin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/drewdin/32/3363_2.png) [@drewdin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drewdin)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/file-explorer-setting-and-removing-rootdir/10139/1 "2015-06-16T20:12:42Z")

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I have an application that is allowed to run on any machine with a specific folder structure, if the required folders are missing I want the file explorer to be blank.

I used scripting and os.path.exists(filePath) on the property change but when i set the rootDir to an empty string it still looks at the root (c:)

Is there any way to keep the file explorer empty when there is no folders and populate when they are there.

I don’t want to set it invisible, just blank out the file explorer so nothing can be selected.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![jpark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e57/32.png) [@jpark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jpark)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/file-explorer-setting-and-removing-rootdir/10139/2 "2015-06-16T20:44:49Z")

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Can you put a label component in front of the file explorer that has a white background and the same border?  
The label will only be visible when the Root directory property of the file explorer is blank.

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**Author:** ![drewdin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/drewdin/32/3363_2.png) [@drewdin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drewdin)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/file-explorer-setting-and-removing-rootdir/10139/3 "2015-06-16T20:57:14Z")

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Thanks for the suggestion, i would prefer that as the last available option. I hate to hide objects behind each other but if thats all i can do, ill do it.

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**Author:** ![dave.fogle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dave.fogle](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/dave.fogle)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/file-explorer-setting-and-removing-rootdir/10139/4 "2015-06-23T16:48:27Z")

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Unfortunately there is no way to do this due to how the component is written. Your best option is going to be the one that @jpark suggested.