Help me understand Libraries and where folders are actually located

Microslop · 23 Feb 2015

About a month ago I created a new Library. I gave the new library the generic name 'Audio' to distinguish it from 'Music' since I wanted somewhere to put my dictation notes, podcasts and recorded interviews and class lectures. I only have one or two music files under the 'Music' library and hardly ever use it.

A couple of weeks ago I had another music file and just happened to open the 'Music' library and noticed a folder that had the same files as one of the folders in the 'Audio' library. In fact, when I clicked open the folder in the 'Music' library, I noticed all the folders and sub-folders were exactly the same as the ones under the 'Audio' library. At first, I thought they were duplicate folders, but when I clicked on the 'Open folder location' of the Music folders, they were located as being under 'My Music'. So now I'm not sure what's going on since I never put the audio folders in the My Music folders.

So how did they get there? And why?

In the left navigation pane, the main folder in the Audio library I created has a (C: ) after the folder name. While the same (duplicate?) folder in the My Music folder (within the Music library) does not.

Questions:

1. Are these duplicate folders, or are they the same folders?

2. I only want my audio files in one place...the new library I named Audio. I don't want them duplicated or viewable in the Music library. I tried to delete them, but anything I do to the folders in one library happens to the folders in the other library. They seem to be linked, either that, or they are the same folder. How do I get rid of the audio folders in the Music library?

3. When a new library is created, and folders are placed under that new library, are those folders actually located there? Or are they located somewhere else, and merely viewable under the new library?

Thanks.

DMHolt57 · 23 Feb 2015

Libraries are 'jump points' to file types that are similarly associated. Five types of Library optimization are available from the properties. Music, Video, Documents, Pictures, and General files. Your files may be in C:\User\yourname\MP3s, but you add a jump point [shortcut] in the Music Library and it knows to handle the file as an audio file, etc. You can set how the files are accesed and viewed by setting the optimization type. Does that help?

Microslop · 23 Feb 2015

Yes, the files are also in my username folder. The files types are .flac files.

So just by moving .flac files into the Audio library, Windows automatically assigns them to the My Music folder by default?

Microslop · 24 Feb 2015

I don't understand....

lehnerus2000 · 24 Feb 2015

Libraries are like creating a folder and then adding shortcuts inside it.
Note:
It is not exactly the same.

You can change the default save folder:

Right click on a Library (e.g. Documents)
Choose "Properties"
Click on the desired folder in the list
Click the "Set save location" button

If I wanted to change my default save location from "Documents" to "Public Documents", I would:

Highlight "Public Documents"
Click the "Set save location" button

Help me understand Libraries and where folders are actually located-library-set-save-location.png

Note:
The tick indicates which folder is the default save location.

paul1149 · 24 Feb 2015

You might have more control if you use Favorites rather than Libraries.

Microslop · 24 Feb 2015

The idea behind my creating a New Library was to have those files and folders ONLY in that new library, and not in two or three other directories. I want my audio files only in my Audio library. Not in My Music, not in User, not in Favorites, not in Default, not in Public folders, etc.

It sounds like Libraries is just a way of viewing a group of existing files and folders that you custom group for that view. It's not really a location. All my original files and folders are actually located in the User directory. They are just being viewed from within other virtual directories. In other words, Libraries are not top-level directories with their own separate location (which I thought they were). That's why I see my audio files mirrored in other directories.

Would this be correct?

Lady Fitzgerald · 25 Feb 2015

Microslop said:

The idea behind my creating a New Library was to have those files and folders ONLY in that new library, and not in two or three other directories. I want my audio files only in my Audio library. Not in My Music, not in User, not in Favorites, not in Default, not in Public folders, etc.

It sounds like Libraries is just a way of viewing a group of existing files and folders that you custom group for that view. It's not really a location. All my original files and folders are actually located in the User directory. They are just being viewed from within other virtual directories. In other words, Libraries are not top-level directories with their own separate location (which I thought they were). That's why I see my audio files mirrored in other directories.

Would this be correct?

Yes.