Browse to the location with the files you want to add then click Include folder. Now the files included in that folder will show up in the new library. After you've created some libraries they'll be added to the list to select from. While libraries are a handy new feature, it's not perfect. Not all folders can be added to libraries as Microsoft has stuck some rules on them. You can pretty much add anything from a local drive, including other volumes or partitions.
Things get kind of weird when you're trying to add network and non-indexed locations. Thankfully there's a handy free utility you can use that makes adding network locations a lot easier. Win7 Library Tool is small and straight forward to use.
Just click on the Create a new library button. Then add the network location you want included in the library. Notice this tool will also allow you to easily change the library icon which is a neat additional feature. In this example we've added a home network share that contains music files to a library named MP3 library.
This should help get you started using Libraries in Windows 7, which at first might take some getting used to. Once you understand how they work and start creating your own, you'll find they're actually pretty useful. Once you get going, you'll find the Win7 Library Tool makes adding network locations a snap.
How about you? Do you use libraries in Windows 7? Various search filters can be applied to assist with finding content or narrowing a search. Below is an example of the search filter in the Video Library. For even more search options, click the Organize button near the upper-left corner of the window and select Search and folder options. The Windows Explorer pane is not the only place you can access Search and Libraries.
You will find a Search bar in the Start Menu , along with one click access to popular Libraries. Libraries are collections of content defined by the user. They are the new entry point for accessing your files. Therefore, when Saving items Windows 7 will direct you to Libraries. Libraries have automatic default save folders. Unless specified, your content will be saved in the default folder of the Library it matches.
You are not required to save or access your content through Libraries. The Navigation pane gives you access to Computer , where your folders and drives are stored.
You can still sort through the tiered stacks of folders in the classic way to save and access content. You can also copy Folders from the Navigation pane directly into the Libraries pane based on preference. As we mentioned earlier, you determine what content goes into your Libraries. You can decide to use the default Libraries or create your own. Either way, you will need to take the time to move folders into the Libraries you desire.
You can still continue to access your files in the classic way of sorting through tiered stacks, but you will not be able to take advantage of the convenience of the Search function. It's a new way of accessing your files and may take some customization to work as effectively as you wish. Take some time to reconsider your filing system and how you would like to access your files. Default Libraries. Windows Explorer icon. Details Pane The Details pane allows you to view additional information and add tags and ratings to the currently selected item.
Navigation Buttons Use the Back and Forward buttons to navigate between folders. Toolbar Shortcuts will appear in the toolbar depending on the item types in the Library pane. Hi Leo, it was great reading your article about Libraries as I absolutely hate them. You suggest:. Its there but not available for me to uncheck.
What can I do to allow me to uncheck them? I suspect Libraries were introduced because many people would close a document without choosing a place to file it. With Libraries, your data goes into Documents, Music into Music, etc.
You then have a better chance of finding your file. People who know exactly where to file their docs continue to do so. But I think that adding another filing level called Libraries has been a darn nuisance to most! Libraries are the best thing since sliced bread. Personally, I prefer to buy a whole loaf and cut it by hand. It stays fresher longer. I have a similar attitude to libraries. But if you like to tinker with your system, they just get in the way.
For this reason, My Documents and My Music drive me mad! However, I may now use Libraries as a way of indexing-in to music and pictures as another view of things of the same type. Thanks again for the enlightening article. Thanks for reinforcing my own beliefs. I could see no benefit to Libraries, only downsides. Thank you so very much for your dissertation on Win 7 Libraries. It is the best explanation I have found for an area that has confused me since I became exposed to Win 7.
I will stay away from them from now on and wish I could completely eliminate them. I can find what I want in my PC without having something more pre-digested for me. General agreement here I see. Of course MS just foisted this on users caring little that most people want a smooth no significant changes transition from one OS to the next.
Well, I for one hate Libraries and always put my documents on a drive that is only used for data. I must say I like Windows less and less because you are forced to use what Microsoft thinks is best and I know what I am doing and how I organize things and Microsoft makes it harder and harder for me to do what I usually do, this from how W7 acts when you want to rename a file on an external drive you have to have permission to do this!
It is my bloody drive! If it keeps on like this I will go out and buy a Mac soon…. However, Libraries are there for a reason. We dinosaurs are still thinking about physical drives and folders, but very soon all data will be virtual, in data pools that are managed, backed up, and moved in and out of the cloud.
David I recently came to the same conclusion. So I decided to try using Windows the way it was designed, libraries and all. It turns out to be quite intuitive. Now I have the best of both worlds. I use libraries when convenient, and I use the folder approach when convenient. I find libraries extremely useful for download directories. Different browsers and different applications download files in different places. Until I started using libraries I was continually searching through multiple folders to see where my new file went.
I find them as useful as a homeless person with a wet blanket when temperatures hitting record lows…well you should get the picture by now. It seems to me, unless doing some heavy duty computing around the world, there is no use for this if you are not. Will probably turn it off soon-it is a waste of time in my humble opinion. Thank goodness I found this article. My hair was about to be pulled as I just didnt understand. I still dont fully but I am clearer on their intent so will look to ignore them!
I definitely was in the confused camp! I actually find them quite convenient. Doing a full system backup, guarantees the file will be backed up. I know that I can get it back by clicking Document library in the File Open dialog box, or in Windows Explorer and opening the document from there. I also find them useful as shortcuts. No navigating. How do I or can I get that setting turned off? Windows libraries are worse than confusing; a more than useless feature… along with folders that are named My Music, My Videos, My Pictures, etc, and are confused with the actual folders Music, Videos, Pictures.
Thank you for the explanation on libraries. I agree with most of the confusing conclusions above. Although your article is the clearest I have seen anywhere to date, not matter how hard I try to understand them, I will not for two reasons. First, they are confusing.
Second, I have neurological damage preventing my brain from seeing them as virtual. My brain sees them as physical, thus the confusion. There is no way around it for me — it is a disability. I want to be able to organize the files and folders as my brain allows. The way things used to be! With that being said, I have a couple of questions. Others have mentioned saving files to an external drive.
Is there a type of external drive that I could use as a physical structure only? I could handle that. SO any drive you get would just appear as another drive letter, and would be another physical place you can do with whatever you will.
Leo, Great explanation. If I can remember, there is a third party download called Windows Classic. Classic Shell is no longer being supported and has been replaced by Open Shell. Comments violating those rules will be removed. Comments that don't add value will be removed, including off-topic or content-free comments, or comments that look even a little bit like spam.
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Search Ask Leo! I avoid them like the plague. Show in Navigation Pane Grey? You should now have access to the Show in navigation pane setting. Do this: Subscribe to Confident Computing! I'll see you there!
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