Library customize question

harleynut97 · 17 Sep 2011

Hi, I'm new to this forum and to Windows 7. I have a question regarding the new library feature in W7.

I would like to create a library that would capture all of my Photoshop files in one nice place. They are scattered at all different locations within many different folders. on my harddrives. Can you create a library by based on extension name, and have windows add any file with that extension into a library that I would create?

Photoshop uses .psd as the extension. I've done a search before in XP by typing in *.psd and it pulled all the files up, I was wondering if it is possible to then create a library and "send" all those files to the library. I do not want to copy the files, I just want to use the library to easily access and review. It is important that the original PS file remains in the original folder that it was saved in because Photoshop uses file directories to keep track of things internally. In other words, I can't break the original link string.

What the library would offer me is quick access to all my PS files. Any thoughts on how I could do this would be helpful. Thanks in advance - Carl

seavixen32 · 17 Sep 2011

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Useful information on Libraries here: Windows 7 Libraries: Walkthrough

And here: Libraries - Include a Network Folder

Barman58 · 17 Sep 2011

Windows libraries are folder based so to do what you wish you would have to add each folder to the library - this may or not be practical dependent on the amount of folders you have and the time you have to spare for the task.

What you can do is create a search and save it for future use - something like *.PSD should list all basic PS files, (you may need to add extra filespecs to include any other variants you wish to include -

Once you have the search created you can group by folder which will provide a list of the folders for adding to a library if you wish to go that way, but you can also sort by file name, date Etc.. which may be enough for what you need

harleynut97 · 17 Sep 2011

Hey Barman, thanks for the suggestion. If I can do the search within the newly created library folder and it will allow me to add the folders to the library that would work. I could group the files as you suggested and set the view settings. If I would have to manually add each folder than it wouldn't be worth the effort because I have a couple thousand PSD files probably tucked away in at least a couple hundred folders.

Thanks to Seavixen for sending the links on the libraries...I'll be sure to check them out - Carl