Last week , I compose a tip on how to make OS X always use expanded Save dialogs . In the associated forum thread , the conversation got a bit off track , and there was some discussion on saving filing cabinet in general . A poster complained about the number of software that are writing files into his Documents folder , making it very punishing for him to blot his files within the peck of other entries .
Though this may seem like a modest complaint , it ’s definitely an O X irritant . OS X has a well - organized structure for applications to work with , yet many importune on using the Documents leaflet to store their datum . For instance , the Documents folder on my Dual G5 contains folder named Acrobat , ArcSoft , EvoCam , Goliath Editing Folder , and probably 20 others that I know I did n’t create . Now it very well may be that Apple ’s developer software documentation tells developer that this is a expert affair to do — so I ’m not blaming the applications for save their datum into the Documents folder . However , I do blame Apple for then explaining in Mac Help ( my emphasis bring ):
If it ’s for my personal use , what ’s all that cruft doing in there ? It ’s nothing but frustrating , examine to regain the fistful of folders you make amongst all the rest of the stuff that various applications make . So today ’s tip is round-eyed , yet plain one that not everyone has considered : ditch the Documents brochure . That ’s right ; just finish using it .
I did this long ago , as I realized that the applications had put more stuff into Documents than had I. Since your drug user have the entire Users folder , you could create whatever folder structure you care , anywhere within that Users folder . Apple even contradicts itself to support this architectural plan , recommending elsewhere in Mac Help :
On my G5 , I created one folder , Rob ’s Stuff , at the same horizontal surface as Documents , Movies , etc . Within that , I then create my usual power structure of folders to further orchestrate thing . ( If you have more than one toilsome crusade or partition , of course , you may create this structure elsewhere . ) I then moved all my Indian file out of Documents and into my newfangled bodily structure , and said good-bye to Documents forever . Well , nearly forever . I do visit when I have to employ something that some app stored there , but that ’s it . To make accessing your new “ Documents ” folder slowly , drag the unexampled folder into your Finder ’s Sidebar or toolbar area — access is now but one click off .
This is a battle not worth waging ; let the system win this round , and create your own folder structure outside of Documents — I’ve never had any issues using this setup . However , I do n’t know how well it would form with an automated tool like Apple ’s Migration Assistant ( for move data to a Modern Mac ) . If you do practice such an app , just check that it ’s copied all your data across before you delete the originals .
