---
uid: application-development.applications-and-solutions.about-solutions
description: "A Solution is a container for Intent Architect Applications, represented by an .isln file, with tools for organizing and managing module updates."
---
# About Solutions

Solutions in Intent Architect serve as a collection of one or more [Applications](https://docs.intentarchitect.com/docs-md/application-development/applications-and-solutions/about-applications/about-applications.md).

They are represented by an `.isln` (Intent Solution) file on the disk-drive. With Intent Architect you can only open Solution files and not Application files; so if you want to open an Intent Architect Application, you have to do that through the context of a Solution.

## Solution Explorer

The Solution Explorer is visible on the left side of Intent Architect.

![Solution Explorer](images/solution-explorer.png)

_Applications are shown as children on the solution in the tree view._

## Managing Applications

At the top of the Solution Explorer, or the context menu, you will find these commands that can be performed:

### Create New Application

Create a new Application such as in the [Tutorial: Building an Application with Intent Architect](https://docs.intentarchitect.com/docs-md/tutorials/building-an-application/building-an-application.md).

### Add Existing Application

Browse for an existing Application located outside your current Intent Architect solution and add it to this Solution.

> [!NOTE]
> It will not import the content into this Solution but will merely make a reference to that location.

### New Folder

Create a Solution Folder for organizing your applications as desired within them.

## Managing Modules at a Solution level

Through the context menu on the solution, the `Manage Modules...` option can be used to see a solution wide view of all installed modules. This view can be useful for updating modules across all applications at once.

## Solution Settings

Change Settings of the Solution such as its name or icon.

## Package as Sample

The solution is packaged as a Sample which can be uploaded to an Intent Architect module repository and appear under the "Explore Samples" section on the new Application screen:

![Create New Applications(s) - Explore samples](images/explore-samples.png)