title: How should I organize my Xcode project files?
body: <p>I'm trying to wrap my head around Xcode's file organization - or lack there of.  I can do all I want in project and it looks great with all the "fake" folders and structure. I go look at the file system and boom <em>HUGE</em> mess. I've tried importing files with the <code>Create Folder Reference for any added folder</code> option checked and that works, kinda. I get the structure I want both in Xcode and on the filesystem.</p>
  
  <p>Issues: When I add a file to a folder on the filesystem that is a Folder Reference in Xcode, its not in Xcode when I go look, not even after reloading the project. Files/Subfolders in a Folder Reference can't be moved around in Xcode. When I move them on the filesystem I get red links (can't find the file?) in Xcode.</p>
  
  <p>How do I keep a organized project <strong>and</strong> filesystem? How can I set up a project to just recognize a folder and show its (current and up-to-date) files and subfolders in my project?</p>
  
  <p>Another issue I seem to run into, if I use a Folder Reference  and change a file, the file is not updated in my application unless I do a full clean &amp; rebuild. If I don't use a Folder Reference, <em>all</em> my files are dumped into the Resource folder of the application bundle, not in the nice structure I have in my project.</p>
  
  <p>Should I care at all? Should I just use the fake folders and let everything go everywhere and not care? My application bundle will be a mess, the filesystem will be a mess, but it will all work... I would hope?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Edit:</strong></p>
  
  <p>My biggest reason for wanting an organized filesystem is that the resource files (images, sounds, other datafiles, etc.) are not edited in Xcode. I have to access them in 3rd party apps via the filesystem. If its a mess things are harder to find and maintain in the other 3rd party applications.</p>
  
  <p>Also what happens if I want a structure like the following:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Images/Backgrounds/Name.png</li>
  <li>Images/Icons/Name.png</li>
  <li>Images/Titles/Name.png</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Should I use long filenames rather than folders to organize?</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Images_Backgrounds_Name.png</li>
  <li>Images_Icons_Name.png</li>
  <li>Images_Titles_Name.png</li>
  </ul>