What programs are you referring to and how do they not integrate correctly?
"A Lot" was a bad choice of words.
I only have about 80 installed programs, but it happens often enough to annoy me.
There are probably 1000s of programs that do work correctly.
On my PC: WMP goes "berserk", if you add folders to the "Libraries".
No matter what options you set, it always attempts to load every file in the "Libraries", into its own database.
In my case: 80 GB of music + 69000 pictures + 900 GB of videos.
Winamp randomly selects the "Documents Library" or "Music Library".
Programs that are/were seemingly "optimised" for XP don't know how to deal with "Libraries".
I have several other programs (I rarely use, hence I can't name them now) which will open to the default "Library" location, but won't navigate into sub-folders.
WMC handles "Libraries" correctly (i.e. it lets you choose what to add and it respects your choices).
MS Office lets you choose default directories (thus bypassing any issues).
So, then you can search them.
I can't (maybe that works on your PC, it doesn't on mine).
On my PC: Turn Indexing Off.
Open "My Documents" and add a text file.
1
Open "My Documents" in the "Documents Library".
Search for the text file.
It won't be found.
2
Open "My Documents" (the real location).
Search for the text file.
It will be found.
Therefore opening the "Documents Library" (by default) isn't as useful as opening "My Documents" itself.
I add content to them just like I add content to any other folder on my system. I'm not sure how adding content to a Library specifically is more painful. Can you explain?
On my PC:Each folder must be added to the "Library" individually (i.e. I can't open a folder and select a group of sub-folders and just add them to a "Library").
To add 20 folders to a Library, takes 20 operations.
Using the "old method", if I select a group of folders and drag them to "My Document", I can easily get Windows to create links to all of them, in one operation.
I'm not going to spend weeks, individually clicking on 11000 folders, just so that I can add them to the appropriate "Library".
What does an Enterprise Network setting have to do with using Libraries?
It's the IT departments job to organise the folder structure on the users PCs (i.e. make network resources available).
Users may also be required to store certain files in specific folders (on their PCs).
These folders could be gathered together in a "Project X Library".
What does the Favorites folder have to do with Libraries? They both serve particular purposes, each being different. I'm not sure how using Favorites would serve to better organize files into Pictures, Movies, and Documents. Can you explain?
Put your Pictures, Movies, and Documents folders into the Favourites?
"Libraries" don't help:
- The disorganised user.
- The organised user (who has an existing file structure with lots of folders and files).
What benefit(s) do they offer over the "old method"?
Disorganised users are still going to just accept the default directory that is offered to them (or save everything on the Desktop).
"Libraries" could help:
- New users who want to be organised and who don't have large amounts of folders and files to re-organise.
- The semi-organised user (who wants to become organised) who has a small number of folders and files that need to be re-organised.
The best advice anyone can offer about customising a PC OS is:
Backup your system & data, BEFORE you start tinkering.
You explaining your reasoning behind the statements of how Windows 7 Libraries don't work in various situations/settings has nothing to do with design decisions, it's just backing up your claims. Without background or reasoning behind them it could mislead people into thinking there are/aren't issues that may or may not exist. We have enough statements on here regarding Windows 7 Libraries and Search without any background as to reasoning or information behind them (which most are obviously just opinions due to lack of understanding). This is part of the reason for the perpetuation of this "Windows 7's Libraries/Search suck(s)" mentality.
You gave TCO the Linux fanboy's standard response, RTFM (they never answer the OP's original questions).
Why should he have to use his PC the way that you and MS demand?
I did not demand that he remove the "Libraries" or "Command Bar".
If TCO wants to remove the "Libraries" or "Command Bar" that is his choice.
He asked if there was a way to disable/remove the Command Bar and I provided links.
I pointed out that he wasn't the only person, who doesn't like "Libraries" (do an Internet search).
I then listed my annoyances and opinions on "Libraries".
I haven't deleted the "Libraries" from my OS,but I don't find them particularly useful.
I should have added ():
Backup your system & data, BEFORE you start tinkering.