Reclaiming My Documents

[TC]

I'm fed up with programs that put application data in My Documents.

I keep my files extremely well organized. All my data is stored in My
Documents in a folder structure that makes sense to me. I've used
Tweak UI to move "My Music", "My Pictures", and other Windows folders
out of My Documents and into the subfolder where I want them. I'm very
happy with my organization, and I don't want anything to disrupt it.

That's why it makes me mad when I install a new program and it creates
its own folder under My Documents. Until recently, I've managed to
keep My Documents fairly pure by reconfiguring, hacking, or
uninstalling programs that abuse it. Unfortunately, I've been fighting
a losing battle. More and more often, I'm encountering programs that
generate folders under My Documents, and don't let you move them. Two
recent examples are Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft SyncToy.

I haven't found a solution to this problem. I've tried replacing My
Documents with my own root folder, but I've found that Windows
Explorer won't let you replace My Documents (It is the one special
folder which always appears at the top of the folder list). I've also
tried hiding the errant folders, but they seem to become visible
unexpectedly in file dialogs and other places.

Has anyone found a good way to deal with this?


-TC

 

[BillW50]

In TC typed on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:25:12 -0700 (PDT):

I'm fed up with programs that put application data in My Documents.

I keep my files extremely well organized. All my data is stored in My
Documents in a folder structure that makes sense to me. I've used
Tweak UI to move "My Music", "My Pictures", and other Windows folders
out of My Documents and into the subfolder where I want them. I'm very
happy with my organization, and I don't want anything to disrupt it.

That's why it makes me mad when I install a new program and it creates
its own folder under My Documents. Until recently, I've managed to
keep My Documents fairly pure by reconfiguring, hacking, or
uninstalling programs that abuse it. Unfortunately, I've been fighting
a losing battle. More and more often, I'm encountering programs that
generate folders under My Documents, and don't let you move them. Two
recent examples are Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft SyncToy.

I haven't found a solution to this problem. I've tried replacing My
Documents with my own root folder, but I've found that Windows
Explorer won't let you replace My Documents (It is the one special
folder which always appears at the top of the folder list). I've also
tried hiding the errant folders, but they seem to become visible
unexpectedly in file dialogs and other places.

Has anyone found a good way to deal with this?

Well I made my own document folder and let those programs have the other
one. But it sounds like you don't like that idea. Another idea that you just
might not like either is making a C:\My Documents folder and don't add
anything to it yet. Then use Computer Management (compmgmt.msc) on an unused
partition and mount that drive/partition into that folder. So let's say that
drive/partition is drive E. Then your documents could be saved to either to
C:\My Documents or E:\ and it is all the same place.

--
Bill
Gateway Celeron M 370 (1.5GHZ)
MX6124 (laptop) w/2GB
Windows XP Home SP2 (120GB HD)
Intel(r) 910GML (64MB shared)

 

[RMD]

I'm fed up with programs that put application data in My Documents.

I keep my files extremely well organized. All my data is stored in My
Documents in a folder structure that makes sense to me. I've used
Tweak UI to move "My Music", "My Pictures", and other Windows folders
out of My Documents and into the subfolder where I want them. I'm very
happy with my organization, and I don't want anything to disrupt it.

That's why it makes me mad when I install a new program and it creates
its own folder under My Documents. Until recently, I've managed to
keep My Documents fairly pure by reconfiguring, hacking, or
uninstalling programs that abuse it. Unfortunately, I've been fighting
a losing battle. More and more often, I'm encountering programs that
generate folders under My Documents, and don't let you move them. Two
recent examples are Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft SyncToy.

I haven't found a solution to this problem. I've tried replacing My
Documents with my own root folder, but I've found that Windows
Explorer won't let you replace My Documents (It is the one special
folder which always appears at the top of the folder list). I've also
tried hiding the errant folders, but they seem to become visible
unexpectedly in file dialogs and other places.

Has anyone found a good way to deal with this?


-TC

I have a folder named "My Documents archive" where I keep my own
particular idiosyncratic file system.

Things go initially into "My Documents" and every fortnight or so I
move everything into the archive folder files.

I also copy the archive file to another drive so it is safely backed
up too.

Works for me.

Ross

 

[Gerry]

TC

I share your frustration. Your post just might stir me up enough to try
to work out a solution.

In my situation I use Sage, an Accounts Package, to send data to Excel
2000. The data is put into a template, which if renamed and saved is
placed in My Documents. However, you can change the Default Location for
the template in Excel by selecting Tools, Options, General, Default File
Location. Similarly in Word 2000 the option to change can be found at
Tools, Options, File Locations.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[TC]

TC

I share your frustration. Your post just might stir me up enough to try
to work out a solution.

In my situation I use Sage, an Accounts Package, to send data to Excel
2000. The data is put into a template, which if renamed and saved is
placed in My Documents. However, you can change the Default Location for
the template in Excel by selecting Tools, Options, General, Default File
Location. Similarly in Word 2000 the option to change can be found at
Tools, Options, File Locations.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just have to settle for a less-
than-ideal solution, and replace My Documents with my own root folder.
Is there any way to make file dialogs default to the folder I choose?

-TC

 

[BillW50]

In TC typed on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:16:49 -0700 (PDT):

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just have to settle for a less-
than-ideal solution, and replace My Documents with my own root folder.
Is there any way to make file dialogs default to the folder I choose?

You mean through Explorer? Or through other means? Like through a shortcut?
Or you can make a folder on the desktop and that pops up in Explorer and it
is only another click or two to get there.

 

[Gerry]

TC

Please read my earlier post.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~