A more intelligent version of XP's 'My Documents'.
A clever filing cabinet with draws for Music, Pictures, Videos and
of course, Documents.
A location where 'Search' is always fast and 'Indexing'
actually
works.
A sub-set of Windows Explorer, where the folders have the special
ability to display files from up to
50 sources.
Trust me; if you let them, libraries will be
your reliable friends, but shun them and they will become tiresome by
snatching files that you save, and mysteriously putting them where you can't
find them easily.
When you open the Windows Explorer it defaults to the Libraries - another
reason to go with flow. Incidentally there is also a handy shortcut on the taskbar.
Users can organize their data by adding collections of files, that may
even span multiple
computers, to one central Library. Actually, the files don't move, the
Library acts as a portal, front-end or index page for your files. XP and Vista users may already be familiar with
a more primitive concept of redirecting the My Documents folder, here in
Windows 8 they can extend this capability to include multiple locations in
their library,
both on local and remote computers.
The result is that Windows 8 displays all your pictures no matter where the
underlying files are
stored. Furthermore, what you learn with the (My) Documents and
Picture folders, they can extend to the other two default libraries,
Music and Videos. Also, it's typical of Microsoft that you can create
your own library, just right-click in the libraries folder, and find the
'New' link.
Windows 8 provides an intelligent connection between Apps that you
install, and the corresponding Library
folder. For example, graphics packages will link, and
interact with the 'Pictures' folder / library. The benefit is that it's easier
to open and save pictures from multiple locations. On XP or Vista the
same graphics application would install itself, then create
its own custom folder where it saved picture files. The result was confusion caused by pictures
stored in at multiple locations.
How could Search possibly be more intelligent? Well the answer lies
in ranking the result so that the most relevant heads the list. Search
is smart because it first checks for filenames that match the query, next it uses the
closeness of words in the search phrase to rank the results. Another
neat feature is the way the Library technology displays a snippet of the
relevant text with the keywords highlighted.
Next to the Libraries Windows Explorer provides an intuitive navigation pane. At last the term 'Improved Usability' walks the
walk. I particularly like the File Preview and appreciate the speed of dynamic updates.
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Experienced
operators love choices, but for novice users a bank of buttons can bewilder,
and may even threaten their competence. I believe that in Windows 8 in
general, and the Libraries in particular, get the balance between useful
features and confusion is just right.
To give a practical example, if you are searching for pictures that were
added in December, then instead of having to type the date in a box, (and in the UK,
worrying about the day/month/year format), all you need to do is click on calendar.
Although the results appear instantly, suppose the preview doesn't show what you want?
No problem, just use the mouse to extend the search so that it includes the months of
Jan/ Feb / Mar. The Windows Explorer pane instantly and automatically updates
with the extra pictures.
Searching the Library Once you start adding to the library content they can become a victim of
their own success, and it's more difficult to find what you are looking for.
But there is good news; just remember that Windows 8 indexes
libraries by default, thus all you have to do is enter your criteria in the Search
dialog box.
Windows 8 Library and HomeGroup
In Windows 8, it helps if you embrace the idea that the special folders called Documents, Pictures and
Music could be also be called 'Libraries'. You can even include files on other computers in your library, however it
does not make sense to include the DVD drive or other removable medium.
Furthermore, you could then share your library
with other people in your HomeGroup.
If you like this Library concept then you can develop it by creating new
libraries with virtual folders, and then tick on the box which makes them
available to other users in your HomeGroup.
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Whenever you take advantage of multiple locations for a library, it's a
good idea to review the tick in Library locations. You can change the
setting by selecting a different folder and clicking: 'Set save location'.
(Access the menu in the screenshot by right-clicking your library.)
Get this right cures the annoyance of when you download a file, Windows 8 saves
it to the 'wrong'
location.
Include a folder As you can see from the screenshot
right, the Library Properties sheet is also
where you 'Include, a folder'. What's not shown is the 'Remove' button
for when you make a mistake and wish to remove from a Windows 8 library.
Hiding in Navigation Pane It is also possible to control which libraries display in the navigation
pane. Open up the Libraries folder, and right-click on the Library you
wish to hide, for example Videos, and select 'Don't show in navigation
pane'. If you make a mistake, no worries, just right-click and select
'Show in navigation pane.'
Sharing Windows 8 Libraries On a home network
consider if you want to share any of your libraries with other users in the
Homegroup. Once again, right-click the library, this time seek 'Share
with'.
Finding a Deleted Library As libraries are just
container objects, rather than the actual files it's easy to restore a
deleted Windows 8 library. The secret is to click on the Libraries
(root), from there select 'Restore default libraries'.
Building a new Windows 8 library is easy; the procedures are intuitive
and very Microsoft. The hardest part is planning, justifying - being
sure that you have good cause to create a new library. My point is
that you don't want to waste a lot of time re-inventing the wheel, or
effectively duplicating every folder on your machine as a library.
Your decision choice comes down to, could I add the prospective folder to
an existing Library - say Documents, or is this a vital new project that
needs to collect files from several machines and thus justifies a new
library.
Right-click ... New OK, so you really need a new
library. Simply right-click the root of Libraries, and select 'New'.
Add.... Change library icon Once your new library arrives, right-click and configure which underling
folders you should 'Add'. If you like to give your library an distinctive
symbol, click 'Change library icon ...', see the 'Guy Stuff' example above right. So far I have not been able to Change library icon for the built-in
libraries.
Optimize for file type One more pleasant surprise,
Windows 8 tunes your library depending on what you tell it about the
contents: Documents, Music, Pictures or Videos.
I say again, dealing with libraries is intuitive, but before you start
clicking indiscriminately ask, 'what do I want to achieve here?'
Answers could be a collection of special documents, family photos, data
files from multiple machines.
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File History is a marvellous way of protecting your data files. It
copies all files
that are in your libraries automatically. I
In the event that anything happens to your current files you can
restore them easily. Either go to the Control Panel, System folder, or
else seek the 'History' icon in the library folder. See more on
Windows 8 File History.
If you need to check the registry settings then head for the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
Underneath this registry sub-folder you will see the aliases for the old
Vista My Music
Modifying Explorer and Windows 8 Libraries
Here is an old Windows Explorer trick to apply to a new situation.
This tweak involves re-programming the Target of the
Windows Explorer, or Libraries shortcut.
Windows Explorer Options Since Windows 3.1 it has been possible to customize what happens when you
launch Windows Explorer. Firstly there are numerous places from which to launch the (Windows)
Explorer, for our example let us focus on the Library icon in the taskbar.
Once you right-click and find the Shortcut tab the trick
is to edit what's in the Target: dialog box. While you want to retain
explorer.exe, the key is to append /n or /e.
Finally add a location such as {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103} or
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}. Here are two examples:
Example 1: To set the starting position to Documents try this:
Note: If %windir% does not work you could substitute the %systemroot%
variable
Let us Recap on the Windows Explorer Switches:
/n: Opens a new window in single pane
/e: Switches to the Windows Explorer view.
/root,<object>: Specifies the root level of the specified view. The
default is to use the desktop.
/select,<sub object>: This is a refinement which specifies which folder
is in focus or selected.
»
Summary of Windows 8 Libraries
A Windows 8 Library is like a folder with a 6th sense and hidden depths.
Build on how you can change the one Location of My Music or My Pictures in
Vista, to creating multiple Locations for your Windows 8 Music or Pictures
folders.
The result will be a fine collection of Windows 8 Libraries.
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