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General Discussion

I can't save index.html in Sublime Text

I can't save the first file in this tutorial in sublime text without purchasing a seventy dollar license. The lesson is asking me to follow along with the instructor exactly and I can't do that because I can't save the file and drop it into the browser.

Is there a workaround?

12 Answers

Brad Halstead
Brad Halstead
5,662 Points

I would just get a free text editor. You don't have to use Sublime, as all text editor's are similar enough for what you need to do the projects etc. You can usually download themes too, so they look similar to sublime, with the dark theme.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_text_editors

although, if you are going to be doing a lot of coding, I would say that sublime is probably worth it.

J.T. Gralka
J.T. Gralka
20,126 Points

You should be able to use an unlicensed copy of Sublime, but you'll have to deal with obnoxious alerts like that from time to time. Are you sure that it doesn't let you save with an unlicensed copy? It seems to me like one would have a hard time evaluating a piece of software if he or she were prohibited from performing basic functions like opening and saving files.

I know when I first downloaded Sublime (admittedly, version 1), it gave me alerts like that all the time (i.e., prompting/suggesting/urging me to purchase a paid version of the software), but I was still able to use an unregistered version...

Of course, as Brad Halstead suggests, you should be able to use a free text editor to do all of your coding. I suggest you look into TextWrangler; it's pretty reliable and provides helpful bracket matching and syntax highlighting for most Web and programming languages.

–J.

Thanks -- this was puzzling to me also. I am new to mac and just got onto Treehouse today. I had to triple check that I had actually installed it, but...seems I have and it still will not save. Trying not to bum out that I ran into an upsell in the second video :)

I'm running the unlicensed version of sublime text 2, about every 10 or 20 saves it asks me to purchase it but i haven't ( i plan to once things start to pay off) but it doesn't stop me from saving at all.

What message is it that comes up when you try to save?

It says "unable to save/index". I opened it from my applications folder so I know I'm not launching it from some temp file. I don't know what to make of it.

Hmm, im not sure. I dunno if its work something as simple as a uninstall and reinstall but that's just a stab in the dark. I wonder if its a recent change that been doing since i have downloaded it. I was Using notepad++ before that, its not a bad text editor but i prefer the feel of Sublime text 2. As Richard says there's a lot of free stuff when it comes to web designing/developing.

Thanks, I downloaded TextWrangler as suggested. I wanted Sublime Text though, it just looks cool!

J.T. Gralka
J.T. Gralka
20,126 Points

My advice is go with TextWrangler, because it's free; but, if you have the bucks to shell out, get a SublimeText 2 license. I can't tell you how much I love SublimeText for all of it's features -- mostly for how lovely it makes workflow.

And, yes. Indeed. SublimeText certainly "looks cool," and it's certainly the hip, cool-kid text editor. But TextWrangler also has some nice looking themes, if I remember correctly. Don't get me wrong, TextWrangler is an astonishingly wonderful editor. Also, don't be afraid to toy around with other free editors. It's really a matter of taste and comfort.

I know, it looks fun...sigh...seventy bucks.

I have a very bad internet spending habit. Just give me a link and I'll click it and pay. I was trying to avoid this...

If it comforts you that's the only "upsell" I've seen in all the HTML and CSS stuff. Prepare for a ton of free tools mentioned to come.

Sorry I can't help I'm using notepad++ on Windows.

Well that's good to know. They don't seem like that kind of an organization, but there's nothing more frustrating than to have to stop and spend seventy dollars to continue your tutorial :)

I dont understand why u are having an issue :( i just tried it on fresh install on mac and it works for me :/

I am having the same problem and I did pay the $70. Any advice?

I figured it out. You have to save it in the Documents folder.

Phil Jones
Phil Jones
13,727 Points

Hi David,

I have an unlicensed version of Sublime Text 2. Also had error message when trying to save an .html file. As you said, saving in the Documents folder worked.

I'm have the same issue i tried to save in sublime text 2 and it was unable to save. i uninstalled and downloaded it again. Still have the error message. I'm not ready to spend 70 dollars yet since I've recently started the web design classes. Any suggestions. I've been using text editor on the mac but its no sublime text 2.

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Jason Perez -

Sublime Text 2 unlicensed will work just fine (as mentioned by countless people on this thread and through this forum).

If you don't like it you can use Text Wrangler on the Mac, it's nice free text editor.

John Chybowski
John Chybowski
5,225 Points

I purchased the Sublime Text license for $70; I am still getting an "Unable to save <filename>" error. At least in my case, it has nothing to do with whether or not the license was purchased. Any other suggestions?

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

The issue is most likely related to the atomic save feature of Sublime Text. A preview of the file conflicts with atomic save so does various other things.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20634684/what-is-sublime-text-doing-when-i-save-a-file

John Chybowski
John Chybowski
5,225 Points

Thanks James. Oddly enough, even after adding "atomic_save": false to the Sublime Text preferences, the files still would not save. I was messing around with Git commands earlier, and manually changing directory names in-between; guess I'll chalk it up to that. My work-around was just to create new files with the exact same text that now can save like normal.