How to Create a File with a Period Prefix in Windows (.gitignore or .htaccess)

A file with a dot prefix (dot file) is a file whose name begins with a period character (.), such as.gitignore,.htaccess, or.env. These files are typically used to store configurations, preferences, or sensitive information that you don’t want to be displayed publicly. These files are also often hidden by certain operating systems or applications so as not to disturb users.

However, how do I create a file with a period prefix in Windows? And why do you need to create a file.gitignore if you use Git as a version management system? This article will answer these questions completely.

How to Create a File with a Period Prefix in Windows

There are several ways to create a file with a period prefix in Windows, but not all of them are easy and practical. Here are some ways you can try:

1] Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt is a built-in application in Windows that lets you run certain commands to perform different tasks, including creating files. To create a file with a period prefix using Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows + R key, then type “cmd” and press Enter.
2. Move to the directory where you want to create the file with a period prefix. For example, if you want to create a file.gitignore in the C:\Users\user\Documents\project folder, type “cd C:\Users\user\Documents\project” and press Enter.
3. Type the “echo >.gitignore” command and press Enter. This command creates an empty.gitignore file in that directory.
4. To populate the.gitignore file with the content you want, you can use a text editor such as Notepad or Visual Studio Code, or use the “echo” command again by adding content after the “>>“ sign. For example, if you want to add the line “*.log” to file.gitignore, type “echo *.log >>.gitignore” and press Enter.

The advantage of this method is that you don’t need to install additional applications to create files with period prefixes. However, the drawback is that you have to type commands that some users may not be familiar with.

2] Using Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is a built-in Windows application that lets you browse and manage files and folders on your computer. To create a file with a period prefix by using Windows Explorer, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E, or clicking the folder icon on the taskbar.
2. Move to the directory where you want to create the file with a period prefix.
3. Right-click in an empty area, and then select “New > TextDocument”.
4. Name the file with the period prefix and extension you want, such as “.gitignore”. If the message “If you change a file name extension, the file might become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it?”, click Yes.
5. To populate the.gitignore file with the content you want, you can use a text editor such as Notepad or Visual Studio Code.

The advantage of this method is that you don’t need to type any commands to create files with a period prefix. However, the drawback is that you have to change your Windows Explorer settings to see hidden files, including those with periods prefixing.