Solved Libraries

[Powell41]

Good Evening Folks:

I trust everything is good with you all in the forums world.

Firstly let me say that I find Windows 7 suffers from the same disease that Apple's O/S, Noton AV, Nero's burning app, and a host of other programsw suffer from: they believe that your computer is actually theirs and they will force you to run through all their bells and whistles to complete what should be, and once was, a simple task.

A case in point is this stupid Libraries function. I still have no idea what it does or why it is there. I just recently snipped two maps that I can use for a project on which I am working. When I clicked Save As the destination bar attempted to route the snip to Libraries > Pictures. I changed the destination to Documents and saved the snip. Lo and behold it did not show up in Documents, but in Pictures.

I am at the point where I called Dell to find out if I could run Vista on this new machine and was told no, so I may have to go back to my old computer. I want my directories set up as per the Vista system: one for Documents; one for pictures; one for videos; etc. I don't want Lbraries, I can go draw a book from one in town if I need it. I don't want Windows Live anything. I want a machine that operates simply as a tool allowing me to use a word processor, allowing me to access the internet, and allowing me to send and receive e-mail. Nothing more.

If anyone has any solutions as to how I can get Windows 7 to operate the way I want it to, I will be most appreciative.

Regards
Powell Lucas

P.S. Is there any way I can set up Spell Check on this site. It used to work in Vista.

 

[Maguscreed]

spell check is a built in feature of firefox.
Is it possible you were using ff before and are not now?

As for the libraries issue. I have no problem saving files where ever I point too. I do not know why you are experiencing this problem.
I can only assume your av is interfering with the save process somehow.

Don't use nero, it's total bloatware.
here's a 5 megabyte program that will handle almost all standard burning tasks for you.
CDBurnerXP: Free CD and DVD burning software
despite its name it supports dvd features as well as vista and windows 7.

If converting video is a issue for you I can name at least 4 programs that are both free and without bloatware for that purpose as well.

 

[Darryl Licht]

First for your PS regarding Spell check... you need to go to advanced when you post or reply to a post to use it. And you also will need to download iSpell...



As for your complaint regarding Libraries... they are actually a very cool feature once you learn them. I am baffled as to why when you saved a snip and pointed the save to documents that it showed up in pictures... I tried it with the above image and it remained in documents where I told it to save.

More info on Libraries:
Windows 7 Libraries - Organize and Find Files, Folders | TechNet
Inside Windows 7:Introducing Libraries
Get to Know Windows 7 Libraries Inside and Out

 

[Britton30]

Back to OP.
Powell41 open up any library, near the top of the window it will have, say,
Documents Library
2 Locations

If you click the Locations you will see the folder in that particular one. If in the above example there are some folder you don't want/need in Documents you can delete them. This DOES NOT delete the folder, only the library junction point to it. I have mine set to include 1 Location in each default library, i.e, Pictures has only My Pictures. This makes them function as if you're opening the actual folder.

 

[Powell41]

Darryl: Thanks for your reply.

I too ran Nero for about three years when I was using Windows XP and had no problems. My issues arose when I switched to Vista. Nero notified me that they had a new version that was compatible with Vista and for $35.00 I could download it. I did so, three times, and each time it immediately changed every icon on my computer to the Nero logo. This wa strike one, but I lived with it. The program never did run correctly and after a couple of monthe Nero then informed me that they had another updated version that was totally, absolutely compatible with Vista and for another $65.00 I could download it. That was strike two. Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.

 

[Powell41]

Hello Maguscreed:

Thanks for the replt re Firefox. That answers my question.

Regards
Powell Lucas

 

[Powell41]

To all those who replied:

My concern is not about burning systems. I have two installed on my computer and they work just fine. My problem is with Libraries. I have had other replies to previous posts telling me how much I will like Windows 7 once I get the hang of it. I'm really not interested in getting the hang of it. I want it set up exactly like Vist with a simple list of Directories that I can open, modify, or delete files with a click of the button. I don't want my files left in their old location...that's why I move them. I have tried to get the directories to show up by clicking on default and I get nothing. When I click Libraries I get nothing. It sucks. It used to be a very simple process. Now it will require hours of reading just to get it to work. Who needs it!!

Regards
Powell Lucas

 

[Britton30]

Well it's like getting a new car, all the knobs and stuff are in a different place than the old car. If you're not willing to learn the new one....I said how to configure Libraries. It is a computer, it needs input.
I'm sure if you bought a Vista disk you would be able to install it.

 

[Powell41]

Britton 30:

Thanks for the reply and you may be correct. I do have a Vista disk and, in spite of what Dell says, I think I'll give it a try as soon as I finish this reply.

Regards
Powell Lucas

 

[pincushion]

MS doesn't seem to have dealt with the issue of those of us who want to run our systems as we want to. Like yourself I don't use Libraries other than the real sort and you'll find ways to eliminate them from Explorer and dialogues if you peruse the Tutorials on this site - sorry I'm too lazy to find them for you. I have never used My documents and other such pointers (long-time XP user) and have always created my own data space, finding it easier to back-up and I always know where the actual data resides.

Apart from that I quite like Windows 7 even if I have to emasculate it to have it run as I want it to. Nice to know that Norton NIS seems to keep me safe from all the nasties even if that too has to be tamed.

I put it down to aiming for the lowest common denominater and would have switched to Linux ages ago if I thought it had as much to offer as most MS systems do which unfortunately I don't believe is the case.



ps I didn't initially like IE 9 but I don't mind it at all now even if I tend to use other browsers for much of the time.

 

[dsperber]

If anyone has any solutions as to how I can get Windows 7 to operate the way I want it to, I will be most appreciative.

In the "save as..." dialog, you can just navigate down through "Computer" instead of using the "Libraries" to set the target location for where you want to save whatever it is that you want to save. You are manually pointing to a target folder, just as you always did with 98, XP and Vista.

You can even "close up" the Libraries item in the dialog, so that it won't be expanded the next time you use it.

So, in "save as...", just navigate through Computer -> C -> Users -> <username> -> My Documents, etc. (if you want to put it there) or you can navigate to any other drive or folder on any hard drive (not necessarily under Users on C).

You are not obligated to use Libraries.

 

[seavixen32]

One of the first things I do when I buy a new computer is create a partition purely for my own personal pictures, music, videos and Microsoft Office documents.

It is done with no ifs, buts, whys or wherefores - it just gets done.

I too, found Libraries confusing, so creating my own default save location suits me and protects my personal data when Windows decides to go walkabout.

 

[Bill2]

You can change the default location of libraries by moving user folders or user profile. Set it to what you want, that gives you the convenience of having stuff saved where you want without cluttering the windows partition or having to navigate to the desired folder in the save location dialog box.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location.html

 

[kado897]

On the other hand you can just use libraries to gather together similar items in different folders, partitions or drives while still keeping their separate identity in the file system. It makes sense to me.

 

[SundRance]

Libraries are pretty handy once you understand how they work. Still and all:

How to Disable “Libraries” Feature in Windows 7? - Tweaking with Vishal

I DID use the tutorials to diable Homegroup and did change some other things about Windows 7, but all in all, I think it's the best OS Microsoft has ever created and I find it way better than Vista.

Best Wishes,
Rªnce

 

[Powell41]

Hi Pincushion:

Many thanks for your reply. Perhaps you can answer my question.

I have just reloaded my O/S after trying to install Vista on this computer and so I'm stuck with Windows 7 unless I go back to my old machine. The problem I have is that I have no idea what the Libraries do. I've read through the Windows 7 for Dummies section on Libraries, I've read through the Tutorials on this site, and I've gone on line to get info. None of them tell me in plain language what Libraries is all about. I'm sitting here with five discs full of saved files and I don't have the faintest notion about where to install them. Do I click on Documents in the Start menu to set it up in the Library? Do I do the same thing for Pictures and Music? (even though I don't keep my on my computer I'd like to know where downloaded files are stored) What about a file for Videos? Do I make up a folder for this somewhere else and transfer it to Libraries. I tried this previously and nothing happened. When I clicked on Libraries I got a message telling me to open a library? I get the same thing now. When I open Documents from the Start menu it shows two items. When I then click on Libraries in this window I get a message telling me to open a library. What library? There's no library listed. I've already had two very large files disappear into never-never land. I figure Windows 7 decided on its own that I should send these files to some village chietain in Zamboanga. From the looks of it, I'll have to run everything from my discs because I have no idea what the system is going to do with them.

Regards
Powell Lucas

 

[whs]

Powell, I think you read too much into those Libraries. They are just a colection of pointers (like an index) to folders. A standard system would come with e.g. a Pictures Library pointing to the folders of My Pictures and to Public Pictures.

If you store something to the Pictures library, that is the same as storing it to My Pictures which is the default folder. If, however, you have additional folders in the library or if you want to store to the Public Pictures, you have to select those specificly.

The default folder has a checkmark in Library Properties as you can see in my picture. What you can also see it that I have another My Pictures folder in a seperate data Partition D.

Libraries are very convenient when you have your data spread all over the place in seperate folders. They serve as common repository.

 

[Britton30]

Libraries is a junction point or shortcut to a folder, file, or groups thereof, whatever you add to them. They contain nothing at all but point to thing which do.

 

[kado897]

There are four libraries set up by default in seven. Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos. Each act as a collection of two folders, your documents etc and Public Documents etc. As mentioned previously the libraries themselves do not contain the files they merely act as a collection point for the folders which do. These real folders are located in the file system in your user folder as My Documents, my Pictures, My Music and My videos. These are the default folders which store files you add to the library. As mentioned earlier there is a corresponding set of public folders in the libraries. You can add any other folder you like to a library (there are some restrictions with flash drives and network locations), if you have a need to and similarly you can remove any of the default folders from a library. You can also create libraries of your own for any purpose you need.

 

[Powell41]

Libraries the sequel

Good Day Folks:

I have been wrestling with the Libraries function on this system ever since I started running Windows 7 about a week ago and I think I've finally figured out what it does. However I would like confirmation because I can't believe that anyone, even Microsoft, could be so stupid.

In Vista, when you opened an app, for example Documents, a side pane would open listing all the other apps in your Users directory and in the 'C' drive. From there you could switch apps with one click or move files between apps. Is this essentially what the Libraries function does?

If so, I am amazed that Microsoft laboured so long only to produce VistaBloat. What used to be a simple one click system now requires you to set up your folders using an additional step for each folder just to open the files in that folder, not to mention having to set up folders individually in the 'C' drive if you want to move files permanently from one folder to another. This is simply a fancy variation on the original DOS only obscured with a whole lot of jargon.

If the above is the case, the engineers and programmers could have put their time to better use coming up with a new version of Pong.

Regards
Powell Lucas