More about Windows 7 Libraries

In a previous Good Boot I mentioned that in my opinion Windows Explorer “Libraries” are perhaps Windows 7 most innovative feature. But from your e-mails I’ve discovered that beyond using the default Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos “Libraries” many have not taken advantage of the variety of ways in which Libraries can personalized.

Perhaps the following scenarios will demonstrate how easy it is to modify and create Libraries.

Scenario 1: Your photos to be edited are located in your My Pictures folder, but once edited you sort them in appropriate “My Sorted Pictures” sub folders on an external hard drive.

You would like to be able to click on your Toolbar’s Windows Explorer icon and then on your “Pictures” Library and be able to view both your default My Pictures folder on your “C” Drive and your My Sorted Pictures folder and its sub folders on your external hard drive.

To be able to do so:
1. Click on the Windows Explorer shortcut on your Toolbar.
2. Highlight “Pictures”.
3. Under “Pictures library” in the upper left hand corner of the panel, click on “Includes: 1 location”.
4. In the Pictures Library Locations panel, click “Add”.
5. Scroll down to and click on your “My Sorted Pictures” folder on your external hard drive and click on “Include Folder”.
6. Click OK

Note: You can add as many folders and sub folders as you want to any Library.

Scenario 2:
You want to create a “Download” Library that displays both the to be installed software in your “C” drive’s Download folder and the “My Windows 7 Downloaded Software” folder on your external hard drive where you’ve archived all
your Windows 7 installed downloads.

To do so, first:
1. Click on the Windows Explorer shortcut on your Toolbar.
2. Right click on Libraries, left click on “New” and “Library”.
3. Name the new Library “Downloads”.
4. Highlight “Downloads” and click “Include Folder”.
5. Scroll to and highlight your “Downloads” folder (“C” Drive, Users, User Name and Downloads folder).
6. Click “Include Folder”.

Then:
1. Click on the Windows Explorer shortcut on your Toolbar.
2. Highlight Downloads.
3. Under “Downloads library” in the upper left hand corner of the panel, click on “Includes: 1 location”.
4. In the Downloads Library Locations panel, click “Add”.
5. Scroll down to and click on your “My Windows 7 Downloaded Software” folder on your external hard drive and click on “Include Folder”.
6. Click OK

There’s no limit to the ways you can personalize your Libraries.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.