Windows 7: Up and Running

Libraries

In Windows XP and Windows Vista, you have special folders named “My Documents,” “My Pictures,” and so on for storing your files. However, not many people actively used these folders for storing their personal data. Instead, people created their own folders, with names like C:\My project June 2008 and C:\photos\Photos from Japan trip 2007. Although there is nothing wrong with this approach, it makes indexing and searching very time-consuming, not to mention frustrating.

In Windows 7, Microsoft has attempted to address this problem with the concept of Libraries. Conceptually, Libraries are a central repository of all the various folders on your computer. To search for files in your computer, go to the Libraries and navigate the various subfolders contained within it. You can still create an assortment of folders, but you can avoid the chaos by adding a folder to one of your libraries.

Exploring Libraries

The Libraries are found in Windows Explorer. Figure 2-10 shows the application with its four default libraries—Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos.

Figure 2-10. The Libraries in Windows Explorer

When you click the arrow to the left of the Documents library (or double-click its icon), you will observe that there are two folders contained within it (see Figure 2-11): My Documents and Public Documents. These two folders are actual folders located elsewhere on your computer.

Figure 2-11. The ...