# Overview of the Platform User Interface

Before you begin, set up a DNAnexus Platform account here: <https://platform.dnanexus.com/login>

### Basic Structure

#### The Platform

There are several ways to interact with the platform. All of these will be covered in future lessons/ courses/ documentation.

We are going to be focused on the user interface (highlighted in green), also known as UI.

![](/files/xirBmddaSb7P6rkmPVau)

#### Projects

This information can also be found in the [Project Section of the Documentation](/overview-of-the-platform/setting-up-a-project.md) for the Platform

First, what is a project?

* It is a collaborative workspace
* The smallest unit of sharing on the platform
* A place to store objects that are made on the platform
  * Examples of these objects can be files, applets, and workflows
* A place to contain details of running jobs/ analyses and their results

#### Folder Usage

* The user folder is the storage area for your output files
* You can add more folders into your user folder for organization (maybe one for data, each project, etc. This is however you and your organization/ company wants to do this)

#### Status of a Data Object

![](/files/hy6qdyxPHEtsimJmW1E9)

Data can be in one of 3 states

* Open: initial, empty state, awaits upload
* Closing: uploading, not instantaneous
* Closed: Finalization completed, available for next steps

### Creating Folders

1. Log into the [DNAnexus platform](https://github.com/DNAx-corp/Academy_Examples/blob/main/Overview_Platform/platform.dnanexus.com)
2. When you login, you will see a list of projects that you are a part of.
3. Navigating to a project
   1. We have prebuilt projects for you
   2. In your project space, select "DNAnexus Academy 101"

      ![](/files/gbxUaTHSL3nm9cwuGKHx)
4. Navigate to the users folder and use Add > New Folder

   ![](/files/9fbzIacBhZPO0rT6xuvw)

### Copying Files

* Copying means from one project to another project
* You cannot copy within the same project because of the file ID.

![](/files/vCamyszTrkTrCzevEoV2)

### Resources

[Key Concepts](https://documentation.dnanexus.com/getting-started/key-concepts)

[User Interface QuickStart Guide](https://documentation.dnanexus.com/getting-started/ui-quickstart)

[Full Documentation](https://documentation.dnanexus.com/)

To create a support ticket if there are technical issues:

1. Go to the Help header (same section where Projects and Tools are) inside the platform
2. Select "Contact Support"
3. Fill in the Subject and Message to submit a support ticket.


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