Library - Include a Folder

How to Include a Folder in a Library in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to add a folder so that it's contents will also be included in the library as well in Windows 7.

   Note

Libraries let you access and arrange items from one or more folders quickly without moving them from their original location. Libraries themselves don't store your files or folders. Instead, they point to different locations on a hard disk or external drive attached to your computer. This gives you easy access to a category of files no matter where they are stored. For instance, if you have music files on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files from within the "Music" library.

For more information about Windows 7 Libraries see:

• Windows 7 Libraries: Frequently Asked Questions
• Understanding Windows 7 Libraries - Windows 7 for Developers - The Windows Blog
• Inside Windows 7:Introducing Libraries

By default, you will have the folder from the C:\Users\(user-name)\(same name as library folder) and C:\Users\Public\(same name as library folder) locations included in a libary.

You can include folders from locations that aren't always accessible by your computer (such as removable drives or networks), but you will not be able to access the contents of those folders unless the drive or network is connected. Although network folders can be included in libraries, searches will likely be slow because the contents of those folders can't be indexed. For more information about Windows 7 Libraries see Understanding Windows 7 Libraries - Windows 7 for Developers - The Windows Blog.

   Tip

The full path to the hidden Libraries folder is below.

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

OR

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

   Warning

• You will not be able to include a library in another library, or include the Computer folder in a library.
• You can only include up to 50 folders in one library parent folder.
• Included folders from external hard drives or USB flash drives are only accessible in the library when the device is connected.
• To be able to search in libraries, the Windows Search service needs to be Started and set to Automatic. Libraries require it's included folders to also be added to the index to be tracked properly even though they will still open properly.

OPTION ONE

Include Folder in Library from the Folder

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.

2. Navigate to the folder you want to include into a library, and select (highlight) it.

3. Click on the Include in library toolbar button, and click on an available library to include the folder in. (See screenshot below)


A) Go to step 5.
OR

4. Right click on the folder and click on Include in Library, and click on an available library to include the folder in. (See screeshot below)

5. The selected folder (step 2) contents will now also be included (linked) in the library (step 3).

6. Close Windows Explorer when done.

OPTION TWO

Include Folder in Library from the Library

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Right click on the User Name button and click on Open. (See screenshot below)

3. Right click on the library (ex: Music) and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

A) Go to step 5. (See right screenshot below step 5)
OR

4. Open the library (ex: Music) that you want to include a folder in. (See screenshot below step 3)
A) Click on the # Library Locations toolbar button. (See left screenshot below)
NOTE: If this is a new or empty library, then you will see the right screenshot below instead. Click on the Include a folder button, and go to step 6.



5. Click on the Add button (left screenshot below), or Include a folder button (tight screenshot below).
NOTE: The right screenshot would be from step 3.

6. Navigate to the folder you want to include in the library, then select the folder and click on the Include Folder button. (See screenshot below)

7. Click on OK. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: If this was a new or empty library (note under step 4A), then you will not see this. The folder will automatically be included instead.

8. The folder (step 6) contents will now be included (linked) in the selected library (step 4).

9. Close the library window when done. (See screenshots below step 4A)

OPTION THREE

Include a Network Folder in Library

1. For how, please see: How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• User Folders in Windows 7 Libraries
• How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7
• How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Included Folder from a Library in Windows 7
• How to Set the Default Save Folder for a Library in Windows 7
• How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Downloads Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Games Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Favorites Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Searches" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Links" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Include in library" in Windows 7 Context Menu
• How to Arrange Folders Included in a Library in Any Order in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Clear Changes made to Library View in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[Brink]

Sorry, Favorites doesn't have a folder tree available since they are just links instead.

I tried adding Favorites as a library folder for this, but Favorites is not allowed to be a Library.

 

[LarryE1946]

Well, drat. Oh well, maybe in final release.

Thanks for trying to help. Really appreciate it.

Regards,

Larry

 

[Brink]

Hi Larry,

Jacee had suggested to me a workaround that may work for you. You can create a new library named My Favorites, and you can copy and paste the shortcuts you want in there to use as Favorites with a folder tree. Afterwards, you can even change the library icon to the star to match. These are two icon locations that you can use for it:

Folder with star:
C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-1020

Star by itself:
C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-1024

 

[LarryE1946]

Well, that looks easy enough. I have to give it a try over the weekend and let you know.

Thank you very much to you Brink and Jacee for all your help. I really like Windows 7, but there's just a few niggles that I don't fully understand yet, but I'm getting there. Can't wait for the full release.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Larry.

 

[whs]

Question: Has anybody figured out how to include a folder that sits on a removable device?

 

[Brink]

Hello Wolfgang,

It appears that it may not be possible. It says this in Help & Support:

However, I get this when trying to do so with a USB flash drive even though it is as it states above.

 

[whs]

Yeah, they are lying. I got the same message and mine appears in Computer. But thanks Shawn for looking at the problem.

 

[Brink]

LOl, yeah someone messed up.

 

[newnottakenname]

Folders

Problem:
When you add folders for your libaries, you add the subfolders, not the folder itself. Is it possible to add the folder, not the contents of the folder?

Extra information:
I am trying to sync my skydrive/school folder with MyDocuments folder. I can not sync the skydrive folder, because there are pictures in the skydrive folder itself, but if I add the school folder, MyDocuments folder gets flooded with folders, because there are a lot of them (unfortunally ).

Thank you,
Newnottakenname

 

[Brink]

Problem:
When you add folders for your libaries, you add the subfolders, not the folder itself. Is it possible to add the folder, not the contents of the folder?

Extra information:
I am trying to sync my skydrive/school folder with MyDocuments folder. I can not sync the skydrive folder, because there are pictures in the skydrive folder itself, but if I add the school folder, MyDocuments folder gets flooded with folders, because there are a lot of them (unfortunally ).

Thank you,
Newnottakenname

Hello Newnottakenname, and welcome to Seven Forums.

When you include a folder to a library, it includes everything in the folder as well. This cannot be changed.

A SkyDrive folder is a network folder, so you should be able to include it using the tutorial below instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4617-libraries-include-network-folder.html

You might also see these tutorials below as well if you do not already have the SkyDrive folder mapped in Windows 7 to be able to include the mapped folder.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165806-windows-live-skydrive-map-drive.html

and

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19765-skydrive-upload-windows-7-desktop.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[newnottakenname]

Thank you very much. I think I will just create a shortcut to the skydrive-folder.
Thanks Again,
Newnottakenname

Footnote:
Currently i'm using the new skydrive-app, which does the most hard work for you:
https://apps.live.com/skydrive

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[IsaacFL]

My Libraries on Different Drive don't work with some Programs

Since I have an SSD on my C: I am using my D: as the storage location for my files.
I went through the process to move my user libraries to the D:, but some programs will not accept libraries unless they are on on c:
I think I must have messed something up, since the libraries are not working.
Here is what I do:
Click on Libraries, in the Left Pane, then New library
in this case I call it Test Lib
I add a location in the library, D:\Users\Public\Documents\O-TOWN REALTY, LLC\
I now have a library.
However, when I try to save anything to the library I get the following:

It changed the D: in the path, to C:?

The MS programs, Office, etc, that I have tried work ok. Others, not so much.
I have tried Quicken, Quickbooks, and in this case I was trying PDFill, PDF printer

Have I screwed up something or is this known behavior?

 

[Brink]

Hello Isaac,

Could you post a screenshot like below showing what the library says it has it's included folders, and what it's set "Save to" folder is? There may be something off here since you say the folder is on D, but the error says it's looking for the folder on C.

I'm thinking that the "Save to" folder for the library had been forgotten to be changed to the D path.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[IsaacFL]

Here is the screenshot:

 

[Brink]

It looks ok. Not sure why it's say C in the error when it shows D here.

Is the D:\Users\Public\Documents\O-TOWN REALTY, LLC folder still there?

Is that folder just one you manually created on D, or did you move the actual C:\Users\Public folders there?

 

[IsaacFL]

I think what I did was to create a new folder then did the move user folders.

 

[Brink]

That could be the problem then. Moving user folders can cause issues like this.

It may be best to move your user folders back to their default location on C. Afterwards, just create a new folder on D, move any files you want into the new folderm and include that folder in the library instead. This way your junction points to your user folders do not get scrambled.

 

[PreyMantas]

# of Folders UNDER Parent

Hi Brink, Happy New Year.

" Warning
You will not be able to include a library in another library, or include the Computer folder in a library.
You can only include up to 50 folders in one library parent folder.
Included folders from external hard drives or USB flash drives are only accessible in the library when the device is connected.
To be able to search in libraries, the Windows Search service needs to be Started and set to Automatic. Libraries require it's included folders to also be added to the index to be tracked properly even though they will still open properly."

In the above warning, item #2 concerning number of included folders (50), does that include "child folder" under the 50 included folder limit?