Solved Can libraries be deleted?

[garza]

Is there a way to permanently delete the libraries in Windows 7. I am a writer. I have thousands of text files in hundreds of folders and never, from the time I started using Windows 2.0, have I had a problem finding a file I want. Create a folder, put in files. Simple. Now when I want to find a file I have to chase around this 'Library' nonsense. 'Useless' is the word that comes to mind. Can I get rid of the Libraries?

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can always delete the libraries, as if you were deleting a normal folder. No one is forcing you to use them, either. I don't, to be honest.

 

[Brink]

Hello Garza,

Sure you can remove libraries if you like. The tutorial below will help show you how to.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/35627-libraries-folder-add-remove-navigation-pane.html

In addition, you may want to do this as well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...der-buttons-open-users-instead-libraries.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[garza]

Windows does appear to be trying to force me to use them.

Normal folders don't come back when you delete them. I even tried shredding them. That didn't work. As soon as Windows detects a file it thinks should be in one of the default libraries, the library folder is created, the file is put there and I get directed by Windows Explorer to a library folder that may or may not have the file I need. I spend half my time now trying to find files with reference material that I need to write an article.

I understand that the techies love the new system. I'm not a techie. A computer is a tool I need to use, and I need that tool to work for me and not against me. What I'm looking for is not a work-around. What I'm looking for is a way to destroy the library system and leave a simple folder and file system, the kind that worked so well for so long.

Microsoft has created the worst possible filing system. I once had a secretary who had to be retrained after lunch. She was better organised than Explorer in Windows 7.

 

[garza]

Thank you, DeaconFrost - I didn't mean to ignore you. I'm a bit frustrated right now. Please forgive.

Brink - I'm on my way now to follow up on your suggestions. Thank you.

 

[whs]

A computer is a tool I need to use, and I need that tool to work for me and not against me.

Why don't you make the libraries work for you. They are such a great tool that was created especially for people like you who have a large number of files.

Make a library per subject area - like area1, area2 area3, etc, - as many as you like. Then you have an easy index and can find your stuff easily. You can still create substructures within each library. In addition it allows you to store and access data that is on all kinds of disks, including USB attached disks.

Go with the times, especially if it makes your tasks easier.

 

[Brink]

Thank you, DeaconFrost - I didn't mean to ignore you. I'm a bit frustrated right now. Please forgive.

Brink - I'm on my way now to follow up on your suggestions. Thank you.

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went.

Libraries could be real helpful though once you get use to them and understand their purpose and how they work. The link above for how to remove libraries also gives you more information about them to help understand them better as well. You might give them a try for a bit to see if they may help you better once you get more famliar with them.

 

[Britton30]

I once had a secretary who had to be retrained after lunch. She was better organised than Explorer in Windows 7.

Was that my ex-wife?:sarc:

Seriously, I found no use for Libraries at first and set them all to point to one folder, say the Video library only points to My Videos folder.

Since I'm on the GFX Team here I was finding myself constantly going to one folder in My Pictures. I created a new Library which points to that folder and voila'! one click access.

 

[DeaconFrost]

You've deleted Libraries and had them return? That's an interesting one, we should look into. I've never had that happen, so I might not be much help. On my company's 30 systems, I delete Libraries for most people because I know they won't use them. Or, I'll help them create useful ones for their purposes.

 

[seavixen32]

Have a look here: Windows 7 Libraries: Frequently Asked Questions

According to the above article: When you delete a Library, you only remove the Library from the Navigations pane of Windows Explorer. Deleting a Library doesn’t actually delete the folders that it aggregates.

In other words, a Library is just a single, convenient viewpoint for folders that are spread all over the place.

On that basis, it seems Libraries can be a useful organisational tool.

 

[Trucidation]

You've deleted Libraries and had them return? That's an interesting one, we should look into.

Like the OP, I don't have a use for libraries either. Not sure whether his libraries literally reappear, but I do recall that once in a blue moon I'd have an app which defaulted it's "File->Open" or "File->Save" options to the standard Win7 libraries.

 

[faisalbinaziz]

Rearrange your libraries

There are two solutions to your problem:
1 - Go to meun bar, click view, then click arrange by, and choose folders. This will arrange the view of all the documents and other stuff in the libraries in the folders in which they actually reside.
2 - If you want to get rid of libraries anyway, then remove them as usual.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Good Idea, Poorly Executed

IMO they are a typical MS idea.
B+ for imagination.
C- for execution.

They'd be more useful:

• If more programs linked to them properly (or could be easily associated with them).
• If they were easier to control.
• If you could add folders in bulk, instead of one-at-a time.

Some examples.
Even though I have a Music Library, when I try to save a playlist (in Winamp) the default save location is the Documents Library.

Also there was a problem with WMP12.
It constantly loaded in all Library locations, despite being told not to.
I don't need 10,000+ pictures being loaded, when I just want to play a mp3.
That's one of the reasons that I use Winamp.

If you have Indexing disabled, you can't perform searches in the Library on local folders.
You have to go to the folder itself.


I have placed Shortcuts (to my most used folders) in the associated Library locations.
When trying to open/save a file, Windows Explorer opens the Document Library, I just use the Shortcut to go to the folder I want, instead of swapping to the "correct" Library location.

IMO, Libraries work best for disorganised people, who scatter their folders about their HDDs at random.
Unfortunately they probably can't use them anyway (they aren't organised enough).

 

[garza]

Britton30 - She later emigrated to the U.S. and was elected to Congress. How do you make a library point to a single folder? That would make it a sort of shortcut, and that would not be so bad.

I have a lot of files but only a few file types - txt for writing, docx for document formatting, png for drawings, and jpg for photos. About 80 percent of my files are txt because I do all my writing with Notepad. I need two master folders - Documents with sub-folders txt and docx, and Images with sub-folders png and jpg. Every file name starts with the date it was created in yymmdd format. Simple, unless you're using Windows 7.

Brink - The system continues to want to use libraries, though now when I open folders I do get the actual folders. But the library files won't go away.

Example: I have a shortcut in Quick Launch that points to a blank docx file. When I have text prepared and ready to assemble into a formatted document I open that blank docx file, copy/paste my text, and save the docx file with a new file name in a folder created for the project the document belongs to. With every version of Windows through XP this was a dirt simple way of working. I always knew where my files were. Now when I try to save the file he system will only open a library folder. I have to hunt around to find where I want it put and sometimes lose track of the file.

DeaconFrost - They won't delete for me. I can make them all vanish, but as soon as I start to save a file, there they are again.

Sorry to be such a bother. I would revert to XP but I don't trust it online anymore and Microsoft has about abandoned it. Besides, with a two for one currency exchange rate, plus having to have someone in the States buy the software and send it down, you're talking about over 500 dollars for 7 plus over a thousand for Office 2010.

Brilliant flash. Office 2010 will run with XP. I have a good XP machine. Everything can be done on that machine except accessing the Internet.

Thanks, all.

 

[MilesAhead]

I found this free utility handy for setting what I want in the Explorer Navigation Pane:

Windows 7 Navigation Pane Customizer: Show, Hide, Rename Items In Windows Explorer Navigation Pane | door2windows

You can do everything it does, without using it. But because I have it I don't have to bother remembering the settings. Just check the boxes.

 

[Britton30]

Britton30 - She later emigrated to the U.S. and was elected to Congress. How do you make a library point to a single folder? That would make it a sort of shortcut, and that would not be so bad.

Ahh, I know 235 like her.

You can create a new library two ways, first this tutorial will add the Add to Library to the right-click context menu of any folder/drive. That will give you a Create Library in a fly-out menu.

Or, open Libraries and click New Library near the top of the window. A New Library will appear awaiting a new name. Double click on it and it will open a dialog asking for item(s) to include and you can browse to them.

 

[Brink]

Brink - The system continues to want to use libraries, though now when I open folders I do get the actual folders. But the library files won't go away.

Example: I have a shortcut in Quick Launch that points to a blank docx file. When I have text prepared and ready to assemble into a formatted document I open that blank docx file, copy/paste my text, and save the docx file with a new file name in a folder created for the project the document belongs to. With every version of Windows through XP this was a dirt simple way of working. I always knew where my files were. Now when I try to save the file he system will only open a library folder. I have to hunt around to find where I want it put and sometimes lose track of the file.

Garza,

That's where a library could be most helpful for to help keep track of everything easier by allowing you to see everything in the library instead of having to hunt for the individual folders.

A library is just a access point where you can see all the files and subfolders that you have in folders that you have included to be displayed in the library. For example, you could included all folders that you have documents saved at in your "Documents" library to be able to see them all in one location (library) instead of having to open each folder to see them.

If you like, you can set one of the included folders as the default save to folder for whenever you save anything in the library folder itself, it actually gets saved into the default save to folder.

While in a library folder, you can also right click on a file or folder and click on "Open file location" or "Open folder location" to open and see that file's or folder's actual location.

 

[seavixen32]

It really is a case of horses for courses.

I don't like Libraries so I don't use them, but that's not to say they're no good.

I have a separate partition on my internal hard drive for all my personal data and every Save location is pointed to that drive, bypassing Libraries altogether.

We all have different ways of doing things, but I can't understand why anyone would want to go back to XP on account of Libraries. Windows 7 and IE 9 are more secure than Windows XP and IE 7 and to lose that security because of one issue seems to be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

If you don't like Libraries, don't use them. It's as simple as that.

 

[whs]

I have a separate partition on my internal hard drive for all my personal data and every Save location is pointed to that drive, bypassing Libraries altogether.

That is where I find libraries of particular interest. I also keep all my user data in a seperate partition (and on my desktops even on a seperate HDD). But rather than moving the default folders to that partition, I created new folders that I "Include" into the respective library.

That has the added advantage that my own folders and those created by the system or some program are clearly seperated - e.g. in the Documents default folder you accumulate quite a lot of program folders over time that are created by various programs.

 

[garza]

How can I avoid using them? Every time I save a docx page it goes to Documents Library, but to a different folder from the one before. I'm spending more time tracking down the pages of a newsletter I'm preparing than I'm spending putting the pages toegether.

The advantages of Windows 7 on the Internet I understand, though I don't use IE except to access SkyDrive. Chrome is for email - I'm using Chrome at the moment replying to a thread notice - and Firefox is for everything else.

Here's the plan. I've already unplugged the XP machine from the Internet. I did that after reading the article in How-to Geek, and the ME machine hasn't been exposed to the 'net for a couple of years now. The XP machine is a Pentium Four, slower than either of my new dual core machines but still capable of running Office 2010. I'll use it to do my work and the Windows 7 machines only for the Internet.

Everyone says how great the library system is, but I'm tired of chasing my files all over the place when with the old filing system everything was so easy to organise. I've been using Windows since 2.0 and I've never lost track of a file until 7 came along with its libraries. I will continue to spend some time trying to understand it, but I'll make no effort to use it at present.

I do thank all of you for your suggestions. You've tried your best to help, and I do appreciate it.