# Ground Control not "seeing" gcode files **URL:** \ **Category:** No Judgement\ **Created:** [March 5, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012 "2019-03-05T20:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SnapShelter](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/snapshelter/32/11958_2.png) [@SnapShelter](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/SnapShelter)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/1 "2019-03-05T20:37:35Z")
Hi all! So we are ready to cut our final sled and I am not able to see any .nc files when I go to “Open File” in Ground Control. It shows an empty directory. I checked and I see the .nc file is there but GC can’t seem to locate anything it thinks it can open (no file in display) I tried a cursory search of the forum but can’t seem to locate this issue anywhere else. Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/2 "2019-03-05T20:41:43Z")
Not to insinuate anything, but are you sure you are looking in the right folder? (assuming windows here) You can navigate to other folders from the Open File window, and the folder address should be visible at the top ---
**Author:** ![SnapShelter](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/snapshelter/32/11958_2.png) [@SnapShelter](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/SnapShelter)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/3 "2019-03-05T20:46:29Z")
Keith, thanks for the note and yes, I am sure I am looking / navigating to the correct location. I AM able to see the gcode test files in the ground control folder - Interesting note - when I relocate my sled.nc to that folder it still shows up in the ‘files’ view but when left on the desktop it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Gero](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/gero/32/17487_2.png) [@Gero](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Gero)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/4 "2019-03-05T20:46:54Z")
Also check that your folder paths have no special characters. MaslowCNC is intended cross-platform and therefore not too tolerant. a --\> C:/user/jack%#the#%ripper/Maslow can have negative impact. ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/5 "2019-03-05T20:55:02Z")
> [@SnapShelter](#): > > it still shows up in the ‘files’ view Which view are you talking about? Have you tried putting your file into the same folder as the test files? (I think that is what you are saying you did… see below) I am having just a little trouble understanding where you are looking when. From what I understand, you know how to navigate to the desktop while in the “Open File” window of GC, and when you navigate there, your file is not listed in the “Open File” window. Is this correct? > [@SnapShelter](#): > > Interesting note - when I relocate my sled.nc to that folder it still shows up in the ‘files’ view but when left on the desktop it doesn’t. I am keying off the above statement. What I am confused about is if you can see the sled.nc in the GC “Open File” window when you put it in the same folder as the test files, what is the problem? I mean aside from it not showing up when on the desktop. ---
**Author:** ![Gero](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/gero/32/17487_2.png) [@Gero](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Gero)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/6 "2019-03-05T20:58:11Z")
Not sure if this applies here, but my guess is that a link to a file will not be followed by GC. If “don’t show file ending for known” is turned on, you might not notice. ---
**Author:** ![SnapShelter](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/snapshelter/32/11958_2.png) [@SnapShelter](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/SnapShelter)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/7 "2019-03-05T20:58:41Z")
I guess what I should have asked is if there is a special paths issue for where I can put my gcode files that GC will read. It appears the _only_ place the files are read are when they are placed in the testgcode folder under GC ---
**Author:** ![Gero](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/gero/32/17487_2.png) [@Gero](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Gero)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/8 "2019-03-05T21:01:30Z")
> [@SnapShelter](#): > > the _only_ place the files are read are when they are placed in the testgcode folder under GC That sounds more like a permission issue. Win$ is not really my field, so will back off. ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/9 "2019-03-05T21:06:16Z")
I have had no problem putting my files into a folder on the desktop and navigating to that folder, and sub-folders within it. That said, I am using a much older version of GC, but I can’t imagine that that kind of functionality would have changed. To be certain I am clear, though, you are able to get to your file? ---
**Author:** ![Jatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@Jatt](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jatt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/10 "2019-03-06T21:25:51Z")
this is most likely to be permissions or a special character somewhere in the file path. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerryYeoman](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/themerryyeoman/32/8009_2.png) [@TheMerryYeoman](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/TheMerryYeoman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/11 "2019-03-07T03:03:38Z")
I can’t save or find anything on my new computer. Edit: I assume I can save them. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Tipping](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/peter_tipping/32/11759_2.png) [@Peter\_Tipping](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Peter_Tipping)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 9:51am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/12 "2019-03-07T09:51:09Z")
I regularly create my NC files on my main Linux box, put them into Dropbox and have absolutely no problems accessing them on the Win 10 laptop the Maslow is connected to. ---
**Author:** ![Jatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@Jatt](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jatt)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/13 "2019-03-08T01:52:04Z")
if your user name contains non basic characters, then you should put them in the \users\public\ directory, and see if you can access them from there ---
**Author:** ![Miken99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Miken99](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Miken99)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/14 "2019-03-12T14:32:09Z")
I am stuck too. Files in dropbox wont view in GC. Files on Maker Made USB wont view. Files in Public folder wont view. See photo of file path, no special characters. I am stuck now not being able to cut the sled. Help please. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/f/fded2e381c802e536b09ae9097bfc59f647b936c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Gero](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/gero/32/17487_2.png) [@Gero](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Gero)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/15 "2019-03-12T14:34:29Z")
How did you receive them? Are they zipped? What ending do they have? Can you post 1 of the files? ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/16 "2019-03-12T14:36:13Z")
> [@Miken99](#): > > I am stuck now not being able to cut the sled. Help please. for the short term, try putting the needed file into the same folder as the gcode test files in GC as SnapShelter did. That way at least you should be able to cut the sled and get going. Does anyone have a take on this issue being related to a change in permissions in newer versions of GC? > [@Gero](#): > > Are they zipped? What ending do they have? Good questions! ---
**Author:** ![Miken99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Miken99](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Miken99)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/17 "2019-03-12T15:22:21Z")
Not zipped. Downloaded from the assembly guide but not .nc files. Put them into the GC test files folder. Can see the .nc test files already there. See screenshot. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/e/e5e75baffcd4a3dc716476bf3798fdbc0be344bc.png) ---
**Author:** ![MartinJ](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/martinj/32/2688_2.png) [@MartinJ](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/MartinJ)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/18 "2019-03-12T15:35:14Z")
Ground Control doesn’t understand how to parse SVG and DXF files. You need to open these with some sort of CAM tool (MakerCam, for instance) and have them processed into .nc files. ---
**Author:** ![Miken99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Miken99](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Miken99)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/19 "2019-03-12T15:38:27Z")
Yep, I am getting there slowly! I had wrongly assumed that the files I downloaded from the sled instructions would already be configured for GC already. ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012/20 "2019-03-12T15:41:38Z")
Unfortunately, since people will use different sizes of end mill, and possibly different materials, posting a CAM file is not generally a great way to go. Fortunately, with the files you have (SVG) you can quickly get your CAM file created using something like MakerCAM or JSCut online if you don’t already have a CAM program. [Next page](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/ground-control-not-seeing-gcode-files/9012.md?page=2)