# Snapshot Views

In previous versions of Ghidra, there were basically two types of component views: main views and subordinate views. Main views are the primary working views such as the Listing view and the Bytes view. Subordinate views, such as the Symbol Table and Data Type Mangager, show more specific information and are complimentary to the information displayed in the main views. The main views are connected to each other - cursor location changes in one view cause the other views to follow along.

Ghidra main views now have corresponding Snapshot views. A snapshot view is similar to its related main view, but it is disconnected. It does not respond to movements in other views and navigating within a snapshot view does not cause other views to move. The main view can then navigate to other programs and locations, but the snapshot view will remain at its same location unless the user navigates within the snapshot view. Most actions that work on a connected view also work in its corresponding snapshot view. Each snapshot view has its own navigation history, while the connected views all share a single navigation history.

## Creating a Snapshot View

Snapshot views are created by first viewing the desired information in the connected view. Views that support snapshots will have the Create Snapshot action () on the local toolbar. Pressing this icon will create a snapshot view of the same type (a Code Viewer will create a Code Viewer snapshot, a Decompiler will create a Decompiler snapshot, etc.) configured exactly the same as the creating view. The main view can then navigate to other programs and locations, but the snapshot will remain at its same location unless the user navigates within the snapshot view.

## Snapshot Views, Windows, and Actions

> Snapshot views can be docked with normal views or they can live in their own windows. Global menu and toolbar actions have been changed to accommodate snapshot views. Global actions now operate on whatever component has focus (the component whose header bar is colored blue). For example, if you have the connected Listing View and a snapshot Listing View, both docked in the same window, global actions such as Go to Next Instruction will navigate the normal view if it has focus or the snapshot view if it has focus. If neither has focus, the action will be disabled.

> Note, this is different from previous versions of Ghidra. Previously, the Go to Next Instruction action would always navigate the (one and only)
> Listing View, even if, for example, the Symbol Tree has focus. Now, if the Symbol Tree has focus, the Go to Next Instruction action is disabled.

> Since global actions now work on the active component (the component that has focus) within its window, many global actions can appear in multiple windows. For example, the undo/redo actions will appear in any window containing a Listing View, a Decompiler View, or a Bytes View.