Difference between Libraries and Folders with Shortcuts

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  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 x64 (Build 7057)
       #1

    Difference between Libraries and Folders with Shortcuts


    I'm very unclear on the purpose of "libraries" in Windows 7. It seems to me that the same structure could be duplicated in Windows 7 and earlier versions by simply creating a folder (as a "library") and putting the relevant shortcuts to other folders or files in that folder.

    Given that, the whole library system just seems redundant, and it sometimes even gets in the way. Do libraries have any other purposes or advantages over shortcuts of which I am unaware? Thanks.
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  2. Posts : 445
    Vista Ult 64bit - Windows 7 Ult 7264 64bit
       #2

    I thought the same thing originally, that these Library things really had no use for me.
    After using them for awhile tho, I have completely changed my mind on this and now I'm looking for other things that I can use the Library base XML as a template for other tasks.

    Say you had some Pictures stashed around your machine in different locations, for different reasons. Like me, I have many areas where I have folders of different types of pictures scattered thru 3 OS's. Adding these folders to the Pictures Library offers fast easy access to all my pictures no matter where they are, and they're quickly available from the Start menu or the Explorer pane in any window.

    I'm strictly using the Library functions now and I would miss it terribly if it were not there now. Doing this by adding shortcuts to a folder is a very clunky and unproductive way to attempt accomplishing the same thing, without really succeeding.
    Work with them awhile and hopefully you'll see the power of these libraries.
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  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 x64 (Build 7057)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Interesting. Since Windows 95, I've been organised my files into folders based on their type: Pictures, Games, Work, etc. Although sometimes the line between such divisions is sometimes blurred, I still almost never lose anything. I suppose that thus far, I've simply found that an organised file system is all I need.

    There are a few other ambiguities about libraries:
    * If you copy or save a new file into the root of a library, where does it go on your HD?
    * How aware are other programs of the library system? For example, if you are used to having two sets of items (say data files) in a library, they may be in very different locations on your HD. It seems to me this could make it hard for you to find them if you need to access them through a program that has no knowledge or access to libraries.

    My personal experience tells me that libraries may lead to much confusion (and frustration) for some end-users who believe that files are in their library, but do not know the real location of such files. Sure, technical users such as ourselves get the idea easily enough, but many end-users are unlikely to read documentation, visit forums, or even Google such things. Such users may think that libraries are just another place to store stuff on their computers, and think nothing more of it. I just think of my poor grandmother or aunt who simply don't grasp many very fundamental computing concepts needed to use computers properly and efficiently. They understand just enough to get by, but no more. Ideally, this is how computers should be. Unfortunately, when the slightest thing goes wrong, they haven't the faintest idea where to even start.

    Anyway, all this to say that I'm afraid making lots of files and folders *look* like they're all grouped together when they're really not at all is very risky business. Even if you educate users about libraries the first time they use them, people will forget. However, I suppose there's no way to make a system work for everyone, especially one with a global audience like Windows.
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  4. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 RC1
       #4

    Similar to a music player for example. You can drag music from wherever into iTunes and sort/organize your "library" how you like.

    So yeah, I see the application, but still don't see myself using it that often. I prefer REAL organization--my music folders are a case-in-point, where they're all organized by artist and whatnot, not just in the music player library.
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  5. Posts : 2,913
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #5

    Ouizardus said:
    * If you copy or save a new file into the root of a library, where does it go on your HD?
    You can define the default save location for each library. Just right click on the library, select properties, and choose the save location.
    * How aware are other programs of the library system? For example, if you are used to having two sets of items (say data files) in a library, they may be in very different locations on your HD. It seems to me this could make it hard for you to find them if you need to access them through a program that has no knowledge or access to libraries.
    AFAIK, you can't/don't select a library as any type of save location. You still have to choose a directory, so there isn't any confusion for the applications.
    My personal experience tells me that libraries may lead to much confusion (and frustration) for some end-users who believe that files are in their library, but do not know the real location of such files. Sure, technical users such as ourselves get the idea easily enough, but many end-users are unlikely to read documentation, visit forums, or even Google such things. Such users may think that libraries are just another place to store stuff on their computers, and think nothing more of it. I just think of my poor grandmother or aunt who simply don't grasp many very fundamental computing concepts needed to use computers properly and efficiently. They understand just enough to get by, but no more. Ideally, this is how computers should be. Unfortunately, when the slightest thing goes wrong, they haven't the faintest idea where to even start.

    Anyway, all this to say that I'm afraid making lots of files and folders *look* like they're all grouped together when they're really not at all is very risky business. Even if you educate users about libraries the first time they use them, people will forget. However, I suppose there's no way to make a system work for everyone, especially one with a global audience like Windows.
    Just like any new technology, it will take time for people to understand and use libraries. I don't subscribe to the idea that a computer has to be the easiest thing to use - the user has to take the time to read about how the computer works. If you made an operating system that even the least computer savvy person could use, only the least computer savvy person would use it. It's too bad that more people don't look at the library window, see the question mark in the corner, and click on it. A nice explanation of how libraries work lurks just beneath the surface.
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  6. Posts : 4,573
       #6

    Ouizardus
    Last Activity: 05-05-2009

    I agree, It's too bad that more people don't look at the big picture.

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  7. Posts : 8,398
    ultimate 64 sp1
       #7

    kegobeer said:
    AFAIK, you can't/don't select a library as any type of save location. You still have to choose a directory, so there isn't any confusion for the applications.
    good post, apart from this bit above - you can save into a library, but it will go into the place specified in the first part of your post.

    i didn't grok libraries either at first, but i'm slowly learning how to use them more - jump-lists too...
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  8. Posts : 2,913
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #8

    Thanks for the clarification, mickey. I haven't attempted to do any saving from applications, so I was going from memory. I use libraries all the time. I now hit the Win key and start typing what I want. Since I do a lot of downloading, I created a download library and assigned different folders to it. I hit the Win key, type "down", the download library appears, and I have access to every folder assigned to that library. Sweet.
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  9. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 Ultimate RTM
       #9

    Ouizardus said:
    I'm very unclear on the purpose of "libraries" in Windows 7. It seems to me that the same structure could be duplicated in Windows 7 and earlier versions by simply creating a folder (as a "library") and putting the relevant shortcuts to other folders or files in that folder.

    Given that, the whole library system just seems redundant, and it sometimes even gets in the way. Do libraries have any other purposes or advantages over shortcuts of which I am unaware? Thanks.
    Using shortcuts would not be that similar; using symbolic links would. I like the concept of libraries, but I can't get them to work in a way that works well for me.

    1. I've set up a custom set of columns for my Music folder, and I made it the default for Music folders in Folder Options/View. (It is "optimized" for Music.) However, my Music library refuses to respect my columns. It always displays Name, Contributing Artists, Album, #, and Title. I've tried "optimizing" the library for "General Items" and then back to "Music", but no joy; it goes back to the original set of columns instead of the ones I designated for Music.

    2. I have folders <profile>/Books/Manuals/Guitar and <profile>/Guitar. I created a library "Guitar" and added these folders to it. They both appear in the library as "Guitar", which is less than useful. I want to rename them in the library (and only in the library), but this is not possible.

    3. Choosing a different view (say, icons vs. details) for a library can affect other libraries. The views are not fully independent.

    If I'm missing something here, please fill me in, because I'm about to give up on libraries.
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  10. Posts : 2,913
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #10

    dhar890723 said:
    Using shortcuts would not be that similar; using symbolic links would. I like the concept of libraries, but I can't get them to work in a way that works well for me.

    1. I've set up a custom set of columns for my Music folder, and I made it the default for Music folders in Folder Options/View. (It is "optimized" for Music.) However, my Music library refuses to respect my columns. It always displays Name, Contributing Artists, Album, #, and Title. I've tried "optimizing" the library for "General Items" and then back to "Music", but no joy; it goes back to the original set of columns instead of the ones I designated for Music.
    AFAIK, libraries don't respect views of the folders that belong to the library.
    2. I have folders <profile>/Books/Manuals/Guitar and <profile>/Guitar. I created a library "Guitar" and added these folders to it. They both appear in the library as "Guitar", which is less than useful. I want to rename them in the library (and only in the library), but this is not possible.
    I have several folders with the same name in a library, but since the entire path is dispayed, I am not confused by the names. If you want different folder names, give them different names.
    3. Choosing a different view (say, icons vs. details) for a library can affect other libraries. The views are not fully independent.
    That hasn't happened to me. All of my libraries have different views. I can change the view of the Music library, and it does not affect any other libraries. It might have something to do with whatever version of Windows 7 you are using - if you enter your system specs, we'll know for sure.
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