# Linked folders

Give research tools read access to reference PDFs, data, or analysis files without moving the originals.

Your data does not need to live inside the paper. Link an existing folder and use its contents as research context while keeping the original files in place.

## Add a folder

Open **Research workspace** and its **Linked folders** tab. Add a folder from disk, give it a recognizable label, and choose its role: manuscript, references, data, or analysis.

A useful setup is a manuscript in the project, a **References** link to your PDF collection, and a **Data** link to the experiment results.

## Use it in your work

Tell the assistant which linked folder to read and what to take from it:

> Read the measurements in the Data folder. Save a summary table and the analysis script in this project. Keep the original measurements unchanged.

The research tools identify each result by its linked folder and relative path. Opening a linked result shows that source in a read-only preview.

## Keep the manuscript separate

Linked folders provide read access. The manuscript stays the compiler root, and task results are reviewed and applied to the manuscript project. Removing a link does not delete the original folder.

Links refer to locations on this computer. Reconnect them when moving to a different machine. If you need a file to travel with a source archive, copy it into the project deliberately before [exporting](/docs/export/).