User can open class dictionaries by selecting Open option from File menu or clicking on Open CD button on the Standard toolbar or using keyboard shortcut Ctrl+O. Class dictionary is traditionally supposed to have .cd as filename extension, but it is not necessary. When user selects the filename APStudio searches for its graphical information which must be present in a filename that has extension .gcd. So if user selects program.cd system searches for program.cd.gcd. If it is found it will be read in. If it is not found APStudio builds the graphical image of the class dictionary. In that case it needs some rearrangement.
User can create new class dictionary by selecting New option from File menu or clicking on New CD button on the Standard toolbar or using keyboard shortcut Ctrl+N. APStudio adds a blank canvas to the editor.
User can save the work anytime during the development process. If the class dictionary has changed since it was last saved then APStudio adds asterisk to the window title (see buglist). If this class dictionary was created new then user needs to supply name for it. Once user supplies filename APStudio creates class dictionary file(.cd) and its graphical image file(.gcd). If user didn't create this class dictionary new but modified it then APStudio stores the class dictionary in .apcd file and graphical image in .gcd. User needs to maintain .cd file manually, if desired. (APStudio don't maintain the original order and can't retain comments in the original class dictionary if there were any. That is why APStudio doesn't change the original .cd file). FileSave operation can be initiated by selecting Save option from File menu or clicking Save CD button on the Standard toolbar or using keyboard shortcut Ctrl+S. User can save the class dictionary under different name by using File SaveAs option from File menu. This will create the class dictionary file(.cd) and graphical image file(.gcd) for user and the new class dictionary will become the active class dictionary.