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Managing channels
=================

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Channels are locations where Navigator and conda look for packages.

You can search and browse packages and channels on
`Anaconda Cloud <https://anaconda.org>`_.

NOTE: Navigator and conda only search for packages in active channels. 
You can temporarily disable a channel by making it inactive.

EXAMPLE: Let's say you want to look for packages on the "Milagro" channel 
of Anaconda Cloud. All three of these channel variations will look for 
packages in the same place on Cloud:

* By URL--https://anaconda.org/milagro.
* By conda URL--https://conda.anaconda.org/milagro.
* By name--milagro.

On the **Environment** tab, click the Channels button to open the 
Channels Manager.

.. _navigator-add-channel:

Adding a channel
================

#. Click the Add button.

#. Type or paste the channel name, the URL, or the conda URL.
  
   NOTE: A URL can also contain an access token parameter and value. A 
   URL will automatically be transformed to a conda URL.

#. Click the Save button.

Making a channel active or inactive
===================================

Active channels are included when you search for packages and other assets.

All channels that are active in the conda configuration file ``.condarc`` 
are active by default in Navigator. So if you're not used to thinking 
about channels, there's no need to change the default.

Active channels show a check mark to the left of the channel name. 

To make a channel active or inactive:

#. Select or clear the checkbox next to the channel name.
#. Click the Update Channels button.

Deleting a channel
==================

#. Click the trash can icon next to the channel name.
#. Click the Update Channels button.

.. _navigator-copy-paste-channel-name:
