Set up and use Workspaces

Workspaces let you save and instantly restore named tab layouts — perfect for switching between project contexts without manually reopening folders every time.

Time: ~3 minutes
Skill level: Beginner

The scenario

You work on multiple projects throughout the day. Each project needs its own set of tabs: source code folder, assets, docs, and maybe a remote server. Instead of navigating from scratch every time you switch context, save each layout as a named Workspace and restore it in one keystroke.

Step-by-step

1. Open the tabs you need for a project

Press Ctrl + T to open new tabs and navigate each one to the folder you want. Arrange them in whatever order makes sense:

  • Tab 1: Source code root
  • Tab 2: Build output / dist
  • Tab 3: Assets folder
  • Tab 4: Remote SFTP connection

Set the view mode (Ctrl + 1 through 4) for each tab as needed — Workspaces remember each tab’s view mode independently.

2. Save the Workspace

Press Ctrl + Shift + S (or go to Settings → Workspaces → Save current layout).

Type a descriptive name, e.g. Project Alpha. Click Save.

3. Restore the Workspace later

Press Ctrl + Shift + W to open the Workspace picker. Select Project Alpha and press Enter.

SPAN Finder replaces the current tab layout with the saved one — all tabs, paths, and view modes exactly as you left them.

Tip: Workspaces also appear in the sidebar under the Workspaces section. Click any workspace there to restore it instantly.

4. Create multiple Workspaces

Repeat for each project or context. There’s no limit to how many you can save.

Suggested workspace names:

  • Work — Project Alpha
  • Work — Project Beta
  • Personal
  • Downloads cleanup

5. Manage Workspaces

Go to Settings → Workspaces to:

  • Rename a workspace
  • Delete a workspace
  • Restore a workspace from the list

Tips

  • Auto-save on exit — SPAN Finder saves an _autosave workspace whenever you quit. If you close the app accidentally, this lets you recover your last session even if you hadn’t explicitly saved a workspace.
  • Startup behavior — In Settings → General → On startup, choose to restore the last session automatically, open a blank tab, or open a specific workspace.
  • Multiple windows — Each window can have its own active workspace. Open a second window with Ctrl + N and restore a different workspace in it.
  • Workspaces save split view — If you have Split View enabled in a tab, the workspace remembers both pane paths.

See also