The Libraries feature is great, but I would like to be able to add web folder locations to libraries. That would really tie everything together for me and sell me on the Libraries design completely.
This is a great suggestion. I’ve just shared this idea with my team-mates. After we finish the articles we have in the pipeline, we will definitely investigate more about this and, hopefully, come back to you with a great article.
Thank You!
TheBigOldDog
14 years ago
It’s unfortunate that it seems to be folder oriented rather than content oriented. For example, I’d want the “pictures” library to contain all of the photos on a machine regardless of the particular folder location.
For that you can use search folders. Hmm, that’s another good idea. We will experiment to see if you can integrate search folders in libraries and then you can have the concept you desire.
Did this idea of search folders in libraries ever see the light of day or was it technically impossible?
Michael
14 years ago
Is it possible to get just ‘My Documents’ (all my documents) to show when I click ‘Documents’ in the Start Menu? I deleted ‘Public Documents’ but I still have to make two clicks to get to my documents. Does this make sense?
James
14 years ago
Hello,
I used Windows Enabler (google it) in order to copy my original, ideal profile to the default user profile. As a result, the libraries for a new user profile are pointing to the original profile. I know that when logging in with a new profile, I can right-mouse on each folder and click “restore defaults,” but now I really need a registry key that accomplishes the same task. I want it to run in the startup folder, so that upon first logon, the libraries are set to the new user. How do I do this?
“If you changed the settings of a library and you want to revert back to its initial settings, click on ‘Restore Defaults'”
eparico
14 years ago
Just installed Windows 7 yesterday and so far, so good. After reading this tutorial and doing some experimentation, it seems that multiple folders cannot be added to the library at the same time. Are there any workarounds for this?
The tutorial is self explanatory and easy to follow. What I’m saying is that I can add a single folder to the library at a time but not multiple folders. I have several folders of pictures that I want to add to my library but do not want to have to add each one individually. I attempted to add more than one in a single try and could not….
PeteJacobsen
14 years ago
Your summary statement says “libraries are a great feature that can come in handy in many scenarios”. Could you give some examples of these scenarios that aren’t handled with normal folders?
I don’t yet see the value of libraries, given that I will still have to maintain my (real) folder structure. I don’t think it would have been included if there weren’t good uses, so I’d like some suggestions.
1. Libraries are by default shown in any “Save as” menu. And it makes saving the files i download where i want much easier/faster.
2. Folders that form a library are automatically indexed by Windows. Therefore, they show up in searches without me being required to set them manually to be included in the search index.
3. If you have a small hard disk and you save your documents also on a memory stick, external hard disk or some other location, then they can all be part of the same library, with 1 click i open them all at once. I don’t have to remember the exact location of everything.
I’ve tried using the popular script to disable Windows Libraries because I hate them. They create numerous additional steps for locating and saving files, not to mention confusion and unnecessary duplication. When I ran the script, it simplified things greatly, like going back to XP (which worked so well), but a lot of my folders & files disappeared. I had to restore my system to a previous point to locate my files so I’m back struggling with finding the files I download, videos I upload from my camera and wasting a lot of time attempting to rearrange file locations and ignore duplicate file listings. When I create a new folder to sort & work with files, libraries gets me so confused I usually give up. I’m seriously considering a MAC for my next computer because of Windows Libraries.
Don Smy
13 years ago
I have removed Windows 7 and gone back to XP – solely to get rid of the Libraries feature in Exlorer.
In my view, Libraries are an additional complication I can live without.
What used to achieved with a single Click – now takes multiple clicks.
A giant leap backwards for the average user who wants simplicity when trying to access Copy or Move Folders & Files.
Trying to organize my Folders & Files just after I copied them from Backup to Win 7 was a nightmare I can live without.
If I ever go back to Win 7 – my first act will be to try and find a 3rd Party Program to use for file handling.
Anyone know of such a Utility ?
I really don’t understand why you think Libraries are a complication.
You can just ignore them if you don’t like them or, if you take the time to set them up, you will actually do things with less clicks. And I’m speaking here from experience. I literally love libraries in Windows 7 and for me they are a productivity improvement.
Moving back to Windows XP is not a wise choice for a long time now. Windows XP is less secure and has many drawbacks compared to Windows 7. If you want to, let us know what exactly is your problem with Libraries. What exactly you don’t like/understand about them?
Regarding 3rd party programs for file handling – try Total Commander. It’s an awesome program. You can find it here: http://www.ghisler.com/
A library being a collection of pointers to folders makes me wonder:
(1) can two libraries point to the same folder
(2) in backing up using Windows 7 backup, if I give library containing some particular folder, and also give the folder itself, does backup make two copies of the folder?
(3) If I back up all of my libraries, and there are folders that aren’t in any library, I suppose they won’t be backed up. If that’s true then I would like to back up my individual folders like I’ve done all along to make sure I get them all, but if I do that and later restore, will I restore the library structure?
(4) If I ignore the library mechanisms in Windows 7, will file-related operations behave just like they did in XP?
Tim Turner
13 years ago
Much too complicated and confusing. In XP I had one My Docs directory now there are at least three possible locations. I also now have to email everything I want to my other computers as Windows 7 does not recognize XP on my network. I’ve spent a week trying to follow the instructions to set it up and cannot get it to work. You’d think a Windows OS would work with a Widows OS.
Go to the ‘Network and Internet’ section of our site. There you will find lots of articles on network interoperability between operating systems, including Windows XP.
I’m sure those guides will help you.
Anonymous
13 years ago
I am a long-time user of use much software across the board and have always looked askance at the many attacks against Microsoft Windows and it’s other software, typically coming from Mac extremists, of which I was one in the early 80’s, until I converted to Windows and the much greater range of software, capability and universal applicability/usage that it provides. Yet I despised the advent of the “My(folders)” structures that Windows brought about and simply bypassed them with my own more efficient hierarchical partitioning and folders structuring, hoping for improvement in future versions. I was hoping for a redesign of that silly system in Windows 7 yet, notwithstanding the many other fine improvements made in Windows 7, the whole system of that silly structuring worsened with libraries, more complexity, and with a denigrated files explorer system compared with XP. I’m so frustrated with Microsoft’s continuation of this dumb down effort, cumbersome and silly approach that I really would like to see a flock towards Mac at least until Microsoft gets the point. I though, won’t be doing that for reasons of software and marketability, however; it feels good to make the point here. LIBRARIES AND FORCED STRUCTURES OF WINDOWS 7 ARE INSANE !!!
I agree that it’s frustrating to have everything dictated like that, I have my own system of organization that makes more sense to me for my situation.
Karl
13 years ago
Hi,
I just got a Windows 7 OS on a new laptop and also have an old Dell with XP. I want to network documents and photos etc. After hours of trial and error i finally see that Homegoup only works on 7. So then I copy all photos in pictures to Public pictures so I can access them that way and lo and behold I see duplicates of all the files in Pictures. OK… I read that this will happen because it wants to show me all the the library locations where the folders are stored and because they have the same name they pair up on the screen. Fine…I then go to finish loading the rest of my folders and 500gb hard drive is full!!!! I don’t have more than 200gb of photos so both Pictures and Public pictures must be full sized files. So, it’s back to the drawing board again.
I already have my photos distributed amongst hundreds of folders. I’ts a pain and I wish I had windows 7 ten years ago but now I have to integrate this mess and so If I can put all my photos in Public pictures FIRST!!! I assume then all future photo downloads will go there FIRST by default just as all my old downloads went to one place. I also assume because they are Public, I should be able to find these on my networked XP computer. Then I can start to build any virtual libraries THAT DON”T use the full file space from here forward.
In the meantime I’m a little concerned about how to delete the duplicated folders to free up some space. The right-side duplicates show the Public path. Should I just keep these and delete the rest or will something else that is not explained in the help documents happen that I won’t like?
My last question is ….where are the paper instruction booklets and why are help menus so incredibly useless most of the time? They should be co-created by people who NEED to use them and formally updated in a web based information gathering system that is not just a hit and miss forum.
You don’t need to duplicate your Pictures to be able to share with Windows XP computers. You can share things directly from the original location of the Pictures folder and delete the contents of the Public folder.
To learn how to share things, check out this article: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/sharing-between-windows-xp-and-windows-7-computers
We have plenty of articles on interoperability. Also, we will publish very soon also a book on the topic which covers things in detail.
Thanks, I’ve read all that a dozen times without satisfactory results. Luckily I have found the new free App. Dropbox, so now I can at least share files from Windows 7 to Windows XP relatively easy. I’ve given up on the Libraries thing, I just don’t like it, can’t locate my files half the time and when we change user profiles, most of them aren’t there, have to return to share them etc etc etc.
I don’t want to have to right click on a file to find out where the file actually is. In Windows XP, I knew I was looking at it. Even when I insert a flash Drive, Windows 7 behaves differently every time, sometimes prompting me to rename or choose a location, sometimes just dumping them into my Videos folder or Pictures folder. Then if I want to insert the same drive into Windows 7 to see the same files, it says it can’t read them. Just too many things that make me unhappy about Windows 7. I just can’t reinvest all that time I took to master XP. I don’t like Windows 7 UI.
Anna Carmike
13 years ago
so, by accident i deleted my pictures library after making a new one i notice at the top it says ‘My Pictures C:UsersName
but in my documents it doesn’t have that at the top.
Is there anyway to get rid of that?
Or make it so when i hit pictures it automatically goes to my pictures?
Can you share a screenshot to understand better what the problem is? I did not understand the problem you are having.
Anonymous
13 years ago
Windows 7 Document library is a nightmare. If I arrange my spreadsheets by Folder I can see everything but if I arrange by Name or Date Modified some files don’t appear. And I’m referring to files I was working on/saved/closed just before arranging by the latter two views. What’s up with this? it’s frightening.
Anonymous
13 years ago
Unfortunately it does not support drag and drop 🙁
Rich
12 years ago
“Make sure you have the ‘Details pane’ enabled (Organize->Layout->Details Pane). Select the file or files and change their properties.”
The ‘Details pane’ has *nothing* to do with the ability to select files. It’s just another name for the status bar at the bottom of the window.
Anonymous
12 years ago
Libraries break the folder metaphor and the semantics of copy/paste and miserably fails to hide it, somewhat…
Consider the scenario:
Have two folders: ‘private’ and ‘public’ in a librarie say ‘MyLib’, default save being in ‘private’ folder
Then add two files ‘private.rtf’ and ‘public.rtf’ respectively in ‘private’ and public ‘folder’.
Display your wonderful MyLib and try this:
Copy/Paste ‘public.rtf’ -> you get 2 ‘public.rtf’ (!!!)
Copy/Paste the new ‘public.rtf’ -> You get a ‘public – Copy.rtf’
Copy/Paste the old ‘public.rtf’ -> You are asked if you want to replace the ‘public.rtf’
Copy/Paste ‘private.rtf’ -> You get a ‘public – Copy.rtf’
Different results for apparently identical actions…
Then
Close the MyLib Window
Reopen the MyLib Window
Try to delete the new ‘public.rtf’ -> Actually you cannot because you have no way to tell them apart…
Well done !
It is so confusing, I hardly see the point of having this “great feature”.
NMLiz
12 years ago
I’d like to create new libraries with the same structure as the default libraries–i.e. “My XXX” and “Public XXX”, but there does not seem to be any way currently to do this.
I’m not sure I understand very well what you want to do. If I got it right, you want to create new libraries? That’s easy to do – simply read this tutorial.
Or maybe you want the new libraries to show up in a separate section in Windows Explorer, and be called something else rather than Libraries?
Steven Montgomery
12 years ago
Thank you! Not sure how I did it but had changed the properties from Documents to General and that meant the items in some of the libraries were not in an alphanumeric order. Changed back to Optimize for Documents and it fixed the issue. Only place on the many I looked at that explained this feature!
Melody Pfeifer
11 years ago
Is there ANY way to re-arrange the “order” of my photos within a folder. This used to be very easy but I can’t figure out how to do it now?
Suddenly, I have unusual files and envelopes stored in “Pictures” and don’t know how or why they have been placed there. Some of them can’t be erased. Not sure how it happened and how to correct it.
Hi. Can you share a screenshot to better understand what exactly you are seeing.
paul
11 years ago
Libraries are a worthless redundant clutter. The time tested legacy file structure of drives, directories and sub directories is simple, and efficient. Libraries only add confusion to that system.
The ability to add a short cut to any point in the directory structure for jumping to frequently used directories allows a good and very flexible degree of customization to be made by the user.
Is there a way to eliminate libraries from the system to get rid of the clutter and confusion they create and not destroy the integrity of the file system?
Well, I don’t wish for a better experience. I use my computer for business and prefer to organize my files in the way that suits my business most efficiently. The MS concept of organization may make it easier for some who may like icons and don’t understand directories but not for those who appreciate a flexibility to interact with their information that is suited to the particular business they operate. MS should have left the file system alone. I am glad MS does not hold patents for the Dewey Decimal System. If they did we may be researching electronic standards in the science fiction section of a library.
I am not sure how Libraries forbid you from using folders and creating your own folders tree. You can simply not use them if you are so “turned off” by this feature.
Also, libraries have nothing to do with file systems. Reading your comments I think you have some knowledge gaps that, when filled, would at least make you less adamant.
marni
9 years ago
Typical Microsoft behavior:
Get a good idea, then run out of energy halfway through implementation.
This reminds me of Launchy- a great idea, that, after 15 years, STILL requires manual indexing.
Library’s fatal flaw is that it requires you to add every ****’ing folder manually.
…I don’t use Launchy or library.
Robb
9 years ago
I am using Windows 8.1 on a new computer. Currently, the default save location is my “Documents Library”. Right now, it is more convenient for me to use my “Pictures Library” to save everything. But when I try to change the default, I cannot. The “Set Save Location” is grayed out in the “Pictures Library”, as well as the “Video Library”. It’s very frustrating.
Why is it grayed out? How can I fix it so that I can make my “Pictures Library” the default for all saves, whether I’m logged on or others (public)?
I am thankful for any help.
JonSteve
9 years ago
why can I not delete from librariesmy pictures when I want to? Why do I have to go to the real folder under C:UsersStevePictures to actually delete files or folders?
This is a blasted damn nuisance…
Bob
9 years ago
Really basic question: Since libraries are like shorcuts, and are not the actual files containing the data, what is the incentive for saving actual files to a library? What happens to the data? (I’ve been looking for the answer, but the tutorials I’ve seen so far gloss over this.)
volkan
8 years ago
I store my folders in cloud drive in my external hdd and ,for example for image organizing, I put all of them in one folder and name it “Disorganized Images” after than, I created another folder named “Organized Images” and then make so many folder in it and “named those folders like tags” and put my “image shortcuts” in them. One file in multiple folder. Libraries can beat that? I don’t see any point for “libraries”. Maybe it is so sophisticated for people like me maybe libraries just made for MS people. I wish you just improve “shortcut abilities”. like, for example, you shift click and shortcut would behave like original file: copying shortcut copy original path or deleting it delete original file. But this could be so simple and not worth it. isn’t it? 🙂
Libraries are just something else to learn to use!
Jeff Lentz
5 years ago
To your point about Libraries showing up in the Save dialog box, “so you can quickly save it to the appropriate library”. Therein is the exact problem with Libraries – you don’t know where your files just went. Sure, they still show up in Libraries, but you’ve no idea where you saved them. And why would I want my vacation pictures showing up with my work photos anyway? It’s just more clutter on the left side bar to scroll through.
Each library has a default save location/folder, so you know where it went.
EA
5 years ago
I’ve read every comment on here from 2009 thru 2018. Ciprian, you’ve been the one constant 🙂 Kudos. You can count me among those that don’t “get” libraries. And its not for not trying. I’ve tried a lot. You state if we don’t want to use them, we can simply ignore them. But they add clutter, and clutter reduces mental efficiency. The principle is simple — if I don’t use it, I don’t want to see it on my screen! I have a highly organized folder hierarchy that works well for me.
Now if I understand correctly, I could duplicate Library functionality without using Libraries, simply by creating custom folders and populating them with shortcuts to the folders I want to put in them. Is this correct? (Notwithstanding the indexing and other such “benefits” that Libraries purportedly offer — which I think have alternative ways of being configured).
Bottom line — we should be given a choice via a simple configuration as a Setting. Either I wish to use Libraries. Or I don’t. One click and many people’s problems are solved.
I have a new Windows 10 laptop and I have spent (wasted) about 3 hours trying to learn about Libraries (this time around, on top of about 3 hours about a year ago) because I am not certain if they are a necessary topic to learn. It kinda seems like they’re not, but there are those damn Libraries popping up in all those File Explorer windows and other dialog boxes, distracting me from what I’m really there to see.
For a person who is not interested in developing a hierarchical system, and perhaps does not generate many files, yes the Libraries might make sense. And while I remain open to how Libraries MIGHT be useful in some scenarios, they seem to pose a GREAT RISK as evidenced by some of the stories on this thread. And I don’t understand this risk.
You politely told one individual perhaps he would feel less adamant about Libraries if some of his knowledge gaps were filled. But therein lies the problem. Even 6 hours of study on this topic has left me with many such gaps. And I ain’t dumb.
There’s also this disconnect between Libraries as a description of a place that merely points you to places where actual files reside, and a place that some apps direct you by default as a place to save files!
I have a deep folder hierarchy. Sometimes I have to plug thru maybe 7 levels of folders to get to a file. Yes, that’s a bit tedious. But that’s a tiny price to pay for the sake of being excellently organized!
Now, if a Library can help me access that file that’s 7 folders deep more quickly, I’m interested. I just don’t understand how it can do that. Perhaps it gives me an alternative way to organize the same data in a much flatter hierarchy. Maybe just 1 or 2 folders deep. But searching thru 100’s or 1000’s of files in a flatter hierarchy doesn’t sound appealing. Am I missing something?
And then there’s the risks of all the uncontrollable file duplicating that others here have noted. Can you see why many of us aren’t fond of Libraries?
I understand why you are not fond of libraries. Considering all the information that you have shared, I think that you are better off hiding them.
Just use your own organization system. My personal opinion is that libraries were made to help unorganized users but they were not simple enough to understand. 😉
kandy
5 years ago
I just can’t seem to organize anything. Libraries keep changing my files into folders. so i have to open a folder then open the file
Libraries are not changing your files into folders. You just need to have at least a folder to put your files into. It is that simple!
irving
5 years ago
Your article was exhaustive in ways to manipulate libraries in various operating systems. The one thing, unfortunately, that you left out was how to RESTORE a library that has been accidentally deleted. Sorry.
Sharon
4 years ago
A system update .. was performed and all my pictures im the library was deleted. I do not know how to get them back . pictures shod not be deleted from librarires by Windows updates for any reason
Duncan Rigden
3 years ago
In Windows 7 I LOVED Libraries. I am so annoyed and frustrated with them in Windows 10. All the default shown such as date changed etc, i cannot alter or remove any of them. they just come back. I got a computer like windows coz it was NOT making me work ITS way, but because I could configure it to work mine. Currently i am taking folders OUT of libraries and putting short cuts to the individual files on desktop as this is slightly less annoying. Basically, you have removed the very reason I USED Libraries in Windows from the Windows 10 operating system. Sadly I have to use this OS as my HARDWARE needs it. Currently wishing I was on Apple.
DD
3 years ago
Looked promising so I added a library. However once I added my first folder, the contents of the folder are now shown both when I click on the Library folder and when I click on the folder itself (shows the same thing). I would have thought when selecting the Library folder it would show the folder I added and not its contents. Also, once I added the firsts folder, the option to add folders went away so I cannot add another folder.
The Libraries feature is great, but I would like to be able to add web folder locations to libraries. That would really tie everything together for me and sell me on the Libraries design completely.
This is a great suggestion. I’ve just shared this idea with my team-mates. After we finish the articles we have in the pipeline, we will definitely investigate more about this and, hopefully, come back to you with a great article.
Thank You!
It’s unfortunate that it seems to be folder oriented rather than content oriented. For example, I’d want the “pictures” library to contain all of the photos on a machine regardless of the particular folder location.
For that you can use search folders. Hmm, that’s another good idea. We will experiment to see if you can integrate search folders in libraries and then you can have the concept you desire.
Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Did this idea of search folders in libraries ever see the light of day or was it technically impossible?
Is it possible to get just ‘My Documents’ (all my documents) to show when I click ‘Documents’ in the Start Menu? I deleted ‘Public Documents’ but I still have to make two clicks to get to my documents. Does this make sense?
Hello,
I used Windows Enabler (google it) in order to copy my original, ideal profile to the default user profile. As a result, the libraries for a new user profile are pointing to the original profile. I know that when logging in with a new profile, I can right-mouse on each folder and click “restore defaults,” but now I really need a registry key that accomplishes the same task. I want it to run in the startup folder, so that upon first logon, the libraries are set to the new user. How do I do this?
“If you changed the settings of a library and you want to revert back to its initial settings, click on ‘Restore Defaults'”
Just installed Windows 7 yesterday and so far, so good. After reading this tutorial and doing some experimentation, it seems that multiple folders cannot be added to the library at the same time. Are there any workarounds for this?
What do you mean they cannot be added? This tutorial shows you exactly how to do it.
The tutorial is self explanatory and easy to follow. What I’m saying is that I can add a single folder to the library at a time but not multiple folders. I have several folders of pictures that I want to add to my library but do not want to have to add each one individually. I attempted to add more than one in a single try and could not….
Your summary statement says “libraries are a great feature that can come in handy in many scenarios”. Could you give some examples of these scenarios that aren’t handled with normal folders?
I don’t yet see the value of libraries, given that I will still have to maintain my (real) folder structure. I don’t think it would have been included if there weren’t good uses, so I’d like some suggestions.
Some of the things i personally like:
1. Libraries are by default shown in any “Save as” menu. And it makes saving the files i download where i want much easier/faster.
2. Folders that form a library are automatically indexed by Windows. Therefore, they show up in searches without me being required to set them manually to be included in the search index.
3. If you have a small hard disk and you save your documents also on a memory stick, external hard disk or some other location, then they can all be part of the same library, with 1 click i open them all at once. I don’t have to remember the exact location of everything.
This might also help: http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Dan/Windows-7-Find-and-Organize-Part-1-The-User-Experience
I’ve tried using the popular script to disable Windows Libraries because I hate them. They create numerous additional steps for locating and saving files, not to mention confusion and unnecessary duplication. When I ran the script, it simplified things greatly, like going back to XP (which worked so well), but a lot of my folders & files disappeared. I had to restore my system to a previous point to locate my files so I’m back struggling with finding the files I download, videos I upload from my camera and wasting a lot of time attempting to rearrange file locations and ignore duplicate file listings. When I create a new folder to sort & work with files, libraries gets me so confused I usually give up. I’m seriously considering a MAC for my next computer because of Windows Libraries.
I have removed Windows 7 and gone back to XP – solely to get rid of the Libraries feature in Exlorer.
In my view, Libraries are an additional complication I can live without.
What used to achieved with a single Click – now takes multiple clicks.
A giant leap backwards for the average user who wants simplicity when trying to access Copy or Move Folders & Files.
Trying to organize my Folders & Files just after I copied them from Backup to Win 7 was a nightmare I can live without.
If I ever go back to Win 7 – my first act will be to try and find a 3rd Party Program to use for file handling.
Anyone know of such a Utility ?
I really don’t understand why you think Libraries are a complication.
You can just ignore them if you don’t like them or, if you take the time to set them up, you will actually do things with less clicks. And I’m speaking here from experience. I literally love libraries in Windows 7 and for me they are a productivity improvement.
Moving back to Windows XP is not a wise choice for a long time now. Windows XP is less secure and has many drawbacks compared to Windows 7. If you want to, let us know what exactly is your problem with Libraries. What exactly you don’t like/understand about them?
Regarding 3rd party programs for file handling – try Total Commander. It’s an awesome program. You can find it here:
http://www.ghisler.com/
Also, there is a guide on how to disable libraries: http://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-libraries-feature-in-windows-7/
Thank you very much for the link to disable Libraries. I will certainly try it.
A library being a collection of pointers to folders makes me wonder:
(1) can two libraries point to the same folder
(2) in backing up using Windows 7 backup, if I give library containing some particular folder, and also give the folder itself, does backup make two copies of the folder?
(3) If I back up all of my libraries, and there are folders that aren’t in any library, I suppose they won’t be backed up. If that’s true then I would like to back up my individual folders like I’ve done all along to make sure I get them all, but if I do that and later restore, will I restore the library structure?
(4) If I ignore the library mechanisms in Windows 7, will file-related operations behave just like they did in XP?
Much too complicated and confusing. In XP I had one My Docs directory now there are at least three possible locations. I also now have to email everything I want to my other computers as Windows 7 does not recognize XP on my network. I’ve spent a week trying to follow the instructions to set it up and cannot get it to work. You’d think a Windows OS would work with a Widows OS.
Go to the ‘Network and Internet’ section of our site. There you will find lots of articles on network interoperability between operating systems, including Windows XP.
I’m sure those guides will help you.
I am a long-time user of use much software across the board and have always looked askance at the many attacks against Microsoft Windows and it’s other software, typically coming from Mac extremists, of which I was one in the early 80’s, until I converted to Windows and the much greater range of software, capability and universal applicability/usage that it provides. Yet I despised the advent of the “My(folders)” structures that Windows brought about and simply bypassed them with my own more efficient hierarchical partitioning and folders structuring, hoping for improvement in future versions. I was hoping for a redesign of that silly system in Windows 7 yet, notwithstanding the many other fine improvements made in Windows 7, the whole system of that silly structuring worsened with libraries, more complexity, and with a denigrated files explorer system compared with XP. I’m so frustrated with Microsoft’s continuation of this dumb down effort, cumbersome and silly approach that I really would like to see a flock towards Mac at least until Microsoft gets the point. I though, won’t be doing that for reasons of software and marketability, however; it feels good to make the point here. LIBRARIES AND FORCED STRUCTURES OF WINDOWS 7 ARE INSANE !!!
I agree that it’s frustrating to have everything dictated like that, I have my own system of organization that makes more sense to me for my situation.
Hi,
I just got a Windows 7 OS on a new laptop and also have an old Dell with XP. I want to network documents and photos etc. After hours of trial and error i finally see that Homegoup only works on 7. So then I copy all photos in pictures to Public pictures so I can access them that way and lo and behold I see duplicates of all the files in Pictures. OK… I read that this will happen because it wants to show me all the the library locations where the folders are stored and because they have the same name they pair up on the screen. Fine…I then go to finish loading the rest of my folders and 500gb hard drive is full!!!! I don’t have more than 200gb of photos so both Pictures and Public pictures must be full sized files. So, it’s back to the drawing board again.
I already have my photos distributed amongst hundreds of folders. I’ts a pain and I wish I had windows 7 ten years ago but now I have to integrate this mess and so If I can put all my photos in Public pictures FIRST!!! I assume then all future photo downloads will go there FIRST by default just as all my old downloads went to one place. I also assume because they are Public, I should be able to find these on my networked XP computer. Then I can start to build any virtual libraries THAT DON”T use the full file space from here forward.
In the meantime I’m a little concerned about how to delete the duplicated folders to free up some space. The right-side duplicates show the Public path. Should I just keep these and delete the rest or will something else that is not explained in the help documents happen that I won’t like?
My last question is ….where are the paper instruction booklets and why are help menus so incredibly useless most of the time? They should be co-created by people who NEED to use them and formally updated in a web based information gathering system that is not just a hit and miss forum.
Thanks to anyone who can help.
You don’t need to duplicate your Pictures to be able to share with Windows XP computers. You can share things directly from the original location of the Pictures folder and delete the contents of the Public folder.
To learn how to share things, check out this article: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/sharing-between-windows-xp-and-windows-7-computers
We have plenty of articles on interoperability. Also, we will publish very soon also a book on the topic which covers things in detail.
Thanks, I’ve read all that a dozen times without satisfactory results. Luckily I have found the new free App. Dropbox, so now I can at least share files from Windows 7 to Windows XP relatively easy. I’ve given up on the Libraries thing, I just don’t like it, can’t locate my files half the time and when we change user profiles, most of them aren’t there, have to return to share them etc etc etc.
I don’t want to have to right click on a file to find out where the file actually is. In Windows XP, I knew I was looking at it. Even when I insert a flash Drive, Windows 7 behaves differently every time, sometimes prompting me to rename or choose a location, sometimes just dumping them into my Videos folder or Pictures folder. Then if I want to insert the same drive into Windows 7 to see the same files, it says it can’t read them. Just too many things that make me unhappy about Windows 7. I just can’t reinvest all that time I took to master XP. I don’t like Windows 7 UI.
so, by accident i deleted my pictures library after making a new one i notice at the top it says ‘My Pictures C:UsersName
but in my documents it doesn’t have that at the top.
Is there anyway to get rid of that?
Or make it so when i hit pictures it automatically goes to my pictures?
Can you share a screenshot to understand better what the problem is? I did not understand the problem you are having.
Windows 7 Document library is a nightmare. If I arrange my spreadsheets by Folder I can see everything but if I arrange by Name or Date Modified some files don’t appear. And I’m referring to files I was working on/saved/closed just before arranging by the latter two views. What’s up with this? it’s frightening.
Unfortunately it does not support drag and drop 🙁
“Make sure you have the ‘Details pane’ enabled (Organize->Layout->Details Pane). Select the file or files and change their properties.”
The ‘Details pane’ has *nothing* to do with the ability to select files. It’s just another name for the status bar at the bottom of the window.
Libraries break the folder metaphor and the semantics of copy/paste and miserably fails to hide it, somewhat…
Consider the scenario:
Have two folders: ‘private’ and ‘public’ in a librarie say ‘MyLib’, default save being in ‘private’ folder
Then add two files ‘private.rtf’ and ‘public.rtf’ respectively in ‘private’ and public ‘folder’.
Display your wonderful MyLib and try this:
Copy/Paste ‘public.rtf’ -> you get 2 ‘public.rtf’ (!!!)
Copy/Paste the new ‘public.rtf’ -> You get a ‘public – Copy.rtf’
Copy/Paste the old ‘public.rtf’ -> You are asked if you want to replace the ‘public.rtf’
Copy/Paste ‘private.rtf’ -> You get a ‘public – Copy.rtf’
Different results for apparently identical actions…
Then
Close the MyLib Window
Reopen the MyLib Window
Try to delete the new ‘public.rtf’ -> Actually you cannot because you have no way to tell them apart…
Well done !
It is so confusing, I hardly see the point of having this “great feature”.
I’d like to create new libraries with the same structure as the default libraries–i.e. “My XXX” and “Public XXX”, but there does not seem to be any way currently to do this.
I’m not sure I understand very well what you want to do. If I got it right, you want to create new libraries? That’s easy to do – simply read this tutorial.
Or maybe you want the new libraries to show up in a separate section in Windows Explorer, and be called something else rather than Libraries?
Thank you! Not sure how I did it but had changed the properties from Documents to General and that meant the items in some of the libraries were not in an alphanumeric order. Changed back to Optimize for Documents and it fixed the issue. Only place on the many I looked at that explained this feature!
Is there ANY way to re-arrange the “order” of my photos within a folder. This used to be very easy but I can’t figure out how to do it now?
I recommend this tutorial: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/explaining-windows-explorer-views/
Suddenly, I have unusual files and envelopes stored in “Pictures” and don’t know how or why they have been placed there. Some of them can’t be erased. Not sure how it happened and how to correct it.
Hi. Can you share a screenshot to better understand what exactly you are seeing.
Libraries are a worthless redundant clutter. The time tested legacy file structure of drives, directories and sub directories is simple, and efficient. Libraries only add confusion to that system.
The ability to add a short cut to any point in the directory structure for jumping to frequently used directories allows a good and very flexible degree of customization to be made by the user.
Is there a way to eliminate libraries from the system to get rid of the clutter and confusion they create and not destroy the integrity of the file system?
I think your issue is more about not really understanding libraries, they purpose and how they can actually help get a better computing experience.
Maybe we should publish some articles on the subject and explain things in a better way than Microsoft ever did.
Well, I don’t wish for a better experience. I use my computer for business and prefer to organize my files in the way that suits my business most efficiently. The MS concept of organization may make it easier for some who may like icons and don’t understand directories but not for those who appreciate a flexibility to interact with their information that is suited to the particular business they operate. MS should have left the file system alone. I am glad MS does not hold patents for the Dewey Decimal System. If they did we may be researching electronic standards in the science fiction section of a library.
I am not sure how Libraries forbid you from using folders and creating your own folders tree. You can simply not use them if you are so “turned off” by this feature.
Also, libraries have nothing to do with file systems. Reading your comments I think you have some knowledge gaps that, when filled, would at least make you less adamant.
Typical Microsoft behavior:
Get a good idea, then run out of energy halfway through implementation.
This reminds me of Launchy- a great idea, that, after 15 years, STILL requires manual indexing.
Library’s fatal flaw is that it requires you to add every ****’ing folder manually.
…I don’t use Launchy or library.
I am using Windows 8.1 on a new computer. Currently, the default save location is my “Documents Library”. Right now, it is more convenient for me to use my “Pictures Library” to save everything. But when I try to change the default, I cannot. The “Set Save Location” is grayed out in the “Pictures Library”, as well as the “Video Library”. It’s very frustrating.
Why is it grayed out? How can I fix it so that I can make my “Pictures Library” the default for all saves, whether I’m logged on or others (public)?
I am thankful for any help.
why can I not delete from librariesmy pictures when I want to? Why do I have to go to the real folder under C:UsersStevePictures to actually delete files or folders?
This is a blasted damn nuisance…
Really basic question: Since libraries are like shorcuts, and are not the actual files containing the data, what is the incentive for saving actual files to a library? What happens to the data? (I’ve been looking for the answer, but the tutorials I’ve seen so far gloss over this.)
I store my folders in cloud drive in my external hdd and ,for example for image organizing, I put all of them in one folder and name it “Disorganized Images” after than, I created another folder named “Organized Images” and then make so many folder in it and “named those folders like tags” and put my “image shortcuts” in them. One file in multiple folder. Libraries can beat that? I don’t see any point for “libraries”. Maybe it is so sophisticated for people like me maybe libraries just made for MS people. I wish you just improve “shortcut abilities”. like, for example, you shift click and shortcut would behave like original file: copying shortcut copy original path or deleting it delete original file. But this could be so simple and not worth it. isn’t it? 🙂
cool, i just learned something new, thanks
Happy to hear that. 😉
Libraries are just something else to learn to use!
To your point about Libraries showing up in the Save dialog box, “so you can quickly save it to the appropriate library”. Therein is the exact problem with Libraries – you don’t know where your files just went. Sure, they still show up in Libraries, but you’ve no idea where you saved them. And why would I want my vacation pictures showing up with my work photos anyway? It’s just more clutter on the left side bar to scroll through.
Each library has a default save location/folder, so you know where it went.
I’ve read every comment on here from 2009 thru 2018. Ciprian, you’ve been the one constant 🙂 Kudos. You can count me among those that don’t “get” libraries. And its not for not trying. I’ve tried a lot. You state if we don’t want to use them, we can simply ignore them. But they add clutter, and clutter reduces mental efficiency. The principle is simple — if I don’t use it, I don’t want to see it on my screen! I have a highly organized folder hierarchy that works well for me.
Now if I understand correctly, I could duplicate Library functionality without using Libraries, simply by creating custom folders and populating them with shortcuts to the folders I want to put in them. Is this correct? (Notwithstanding the indexing and other such “benefits” that Libraries purportedly offer — which I think have alternative ways of being configured).
Bottom line — we should be given a choice via a simple configuration as a Setting. Either I wish to use Libraries. Or I don’t. One click and many people’s problems are solved.
I have a new Windows 10 laptop and I have spent (wasted) about 3 hours trying to learn about Libraries (this time around, on top of about 3 hours about a year ago) because I am not certain if they are a necessary topic to learn. It kinda seems like they’re not, but there are those damn Libraries popping up in all those File Explorer windows and other dialog boxes, distracting me from what I’m really there to see.
For a person who is not interested in developing a hierarchical system, and perhaps does not generate many files, yes the Libraries might make sense. And while I remain open to how Libraries MIGHT be useful in some scenarios, they seem to pose a GREAT RISK as evidenced by some of the stories on this thread. And I don’t understand this risk.
You politely told one individual perhaps he would feel less adamant about Libraries if some of his knowledge gaps were filled. But therein lies the problem. Even 6 hours of study on this topic has left me with many such gaps. And I ain’t dumb.
There’s also this disconnect between Libraries as a description of a place that merely points you to places where actual files reside, and a place that some apps direct you by default as a place to save files!
I have a deep folder hierarchy. Sometimes I have to plug thru maybe 7 levels of folders to get to a file. Yes, that’s a bit tedious. But that’s a tiny price to pay for the sake of being excellently organized!
Now, if a Library can help me access that file that’s 7 folders deep more quickly, I’m interested. I just don’t understand how it can do that. Perhaps it gives me an alternative way to organize the same data in a much flatter hierarchy. Maybe just 1 or 2 folders deep. But searching thru 100’s or 1000’s of files in a flatter hierarchy doesn’t sound appealing. Am I missing something?
And then there’s the risks of all the uncontrollable file duplicating that others here have noted. Can you see why many of us aren’t fond of Libraries?
I’m all ears if I’m missing something here.
I understand why you are not fond of libraries. Considering all the information that you have shared, I think that you are better off hiding them.
Just use your own organization system. My personal opinion is that libraries were made to help unorganized users but they were not simple enough to understand. 😉
I just can’t seem to organize anything. Libraries keep changing my files into folders. so i have to open a folder then open the file
Libraries are not changing your files into folders. You just need to have at least a folder to put your files into. It is that simple!
Your article was exhaustive in ways to manipulate libraries in various operating systems. The one thing, unfortunately, that you left out was how to RESTORE a library that has been accidentally deleted. Sorry.
A system update .. was performed and all my pictures im the library was deleted. I do not know how to get them back . pictures shod not be deleted from librarires by Windows updates for any reason
In Windows 7 I LOVED Libraries. I am so annoyed and frustrated with them in Windows 10. All the default shown such as date changed etc, i cannot alter or remove any of them. they just come back. I got a computer like windows coz it was NOT making me work ITS way, but because I could configure it to work mine. Currently i am taking folders OUT of libraries and putting short cuts to the individual files on desktop as this is slightly less annoying. Basically, you have removed the very reason I USED Libraries in Windows from the Windows 10 operating system. Sadly I have to use this OS as my HARDWARE needs it. Currently wishing I was on Apple.
Looked promising so I added a library. However once I added my first folder, the contents of the folder are now shown both when I click on the Library folder and when I click on the folder itself (shows the same thing). I would have thought when selecting the Library folder it would show the folder I added and not its contents. Also, once I added the firsts folder, the option to add folders went away so I cannot add another folder.