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DADDY BOB'S COMPUTER Q & A
May 25,
2008
Q.
Microsoft Word and other programs always try
to save files in "My Documents". I want to
save them in another location on another
drive and changing this for every save is a
pain. How can I change this default location
to one of my choice?
A.
Changing this default save location in
Microsoft Office is a simple matter that can
be done in the Options section of Word, or
any other Office program. Open Word, lick on
Tools, Options, then the File Location tab.
Highlight Documents and then click the
Modify button. Now, locate the folder you
want to be the default save location, and
click OK. From now on, when you try to save
a Word document, it will suggest that you
save it in the folder you just selected.
However,
since this is really a global problem, there
may be a better way to solve it. Since many
other programs also try to use the "My
Documents" folder as their default save
location, you can just change the location
of "My Documents'. If you want to always
save your files to another place by default,
then just change the My Documents folder.
Some explanation is probably in order here.
The
My Documents folder that is displayed on
your desktop or in Explorer is not
really a folder, but something called
a Windows Shell Constant. This is
something like a shortcut that looks and
acts like a folder. Other Shell
Constants include My Pictures, My
Music, My Videos, etc. These can be told
to point to any target folder you like.
By default, My Documents points to
C:\Documents and Settings\user\My
Documents. If you don't like the
location that Microsoft has chosen to
use, here's how to change it to one you
do like.
Right
click the My Documents icon on the
desktop. If there isn't one on your
desktop then click Start and one will be
shown there, so right click it. Choose
Properties and this dialog will display.
Click the Target tab.
In
the Target box the current location of
"My Documents" is displayed. You can
change it here directly in the Target
box if you now its exact location, but
the best route is to click the "Move"
button, and this dialog displays.
Locate the folder you want to use as
your default My Documents and select it.
If the folder doesn't exist, you can
create it. Click OK, and OK. From then
on, the My Documents folder regardless
of whether you access it in Word or
anywhere else, will open this new folder
of your choice. It will now be Your new
"My Documents".
Note
that in Vista, this Shell Constant and
others has the "My" removed from its
name and are now just referred to as
Documents, Pictures, Music, etc.
However, changing where it points to is
similar with the exception that there is
different dialog that opens first, and
it contains a Location tab that allows
you to select a destination as above.
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