Home vs. Documents Folders

I'd put your work files in the Documents folder.

For most, the Documents folder resides INSIDE your Home folder. Your Home folder will also have directories for Pictures, Movies, Music, etc.

LKBLKB,

Your "HOME" folder is the outer container for sub-folders, and it is these sub-folders into which all of your files should go. Everything within it is owned by you, not by another user, and not by the "system."

Within your HOME folder, there are a few "default" folders that are created for your use. By default, they include: "Documents," "Desktop," "Downloads," "Library," "Movies," "Music," "Pictures," "Public," and "Sites."

These folder names are intended to be obvious, and most are. Each one is intended to be used for specific purposes:

Documents is where you should store.... documents. Any documents you like. Within this folder, you can create any sub-folders you desire, in order to organize your documents as you see fit. Regardless of how many people use your computer, how many accounts are in place, this folder is for "your eyes only," and others will be allowed to view the contents only if you allow it.

Desktop is where any items that may be left sitting on your Desktop actually live. Your Desktop (what you see on your display, when no application is running or visible) is not a "place" in the file system, it is merely a reflection of what is in that "Desktop" folder (which is a location within the file system). This, too, is off limits to any other users.

Downloads is the default folder for... downloads. Safari will be set to save any downloaded documents, applications, etc., in this location by default. If you like, you can change this in Safari's preferences. Other browsers can also be set to use this folder for any downloads. Or not, as you choose.

Library is a rather special place. This is where all of your application settings ("preferences"), caches, cookies, temporary data, etc. etc. is stored. It is the "library" of settings and data that are unique to you. Some applications, like Address Book, Mail, iCal, etc., actually keep all of your related user data in this folder. For example, within this folder is your "Mail" folder. Nested within it will be every email you have kept in "Mail," the application, plus any associated attachments.

Movies is pretty self-explanatory, and it is the default location in which iMovie projects will be created. This behavior can, of course, be changed at will. Your will.

Music, too, is self-explanatory. Obviously, this is where iTunes will store your music library (unless you change that).

Similarly, Pictures is where iPhoto stores your images, when you import them from your digital camera, a CD/DVD, or anywhere else.

Public is another somewhat special place. This is one of only two folders you have into which other users can "see." It is "public." This is where you'll need to put any files that you want others to be able to access. It can be seen by other users on your computer, or by other computers across a network, provided you turn on "File Sharing." Now, if other users want to give a file to you, they can place that file into your "Drop box," within this "Public" folder. Other users cannot see the contents of this folder, but they can drag items onto it, thereby placing that file in it.

Finally, there's the Sites folder. If you build a website, either in iWeb or some other application, this is the default location for that site's storage. When you turn on "Web Sharing," whatever site is placed in this folder will be "served" across the internet, provided you have an internet connection. By doing this (building a website, placing it in this folder, then turning on "Web Sharing"), you effectively turn your computer into a web server, and anyone on the internet that knows your "IP Address" can view it!

Now, your Finder Sidebar (the left side of any Finder window) includes "shortcuts" to some of these folders by default. You can turn these shortcuts on and off in the "Sidebar" tab of your Finder's preferences ( Finder>Preferences...). Also, you can drag any items in or out, as you see fit. Items can be dragged into the Sidebar from the body of the window, in order to give yourself quick access to them, or they can be dragged out to eliminate clutter in your Sidebar. If you'd rather have some item with a "shortcut" at the top of the Finder window, in the "Toolbar," you can drag things there, too.

Regardless of what you have in the Sidebar or Toolbar, they are merely quick ways to point that Finder window to that location within the file system. It is the file system that you see in the body of the window.

Hmmm. I may have given a diatribe on the structure of the file system, but I don't think I have actually answered your real question. So, here it is: You shouldn't keep any files in your HOME folder, but rather you should place them into the appropriate sub-folders. If necessary, you can create that "appropriate" folder. You should be aware, however, that any folder created right there within your HOME folder will not automatically be protected from "prying eyes," should they exist. You can either create tat folder within one of the folders that is protected, or you can create that protection yourself in the "Permissions" section of the folder's "Getinfo" window (select the folder, then press Command-I).

Concerning unknown items in your Documents folder: Some applications automatically use your Documents folder to store your data within that application. Word, for example, will automatically create a "Microsoft User Data" folder within the Documents folder, when it is first launched by you.

Scott

I find it logical to put other disk images in the home directory rather then in subfolders. For example, I use password protected disk images for special projects. This is a good way to keep files for some projects password protected. It makes more sense to me to have those directly in home.

You could put them in Documents, some of this is just preference.

BTW - here is a link on how to make them
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1578
A very cool feature on the Mac. Once you open it, it is just like working with another directory. Close it and your stuff is protected. Also very nice when you share project files with others, and want the transport copy protected.

user1724,

Hmmm. I think there is some deeper meaning to the use of "home" for a folder name, in this case. Typically, a "home" will contain rooms, each suited to a pre-determined purpose. Within each of these rooms one would find some sort of containers, like cabinetry, furniture, etc. Perhaps bookcases, a china cabinet, drawers. The garage might have cardboard boxes, and maybe some racks.

Whether one chooses to use those storage spaces for their "stuff," or to leave same sitting out on chairs, tables, floors, etc., is up to the individual. Some people are very organized, perhaps even anal, others are not.

My own house is an absolute wreck, most of the time. My computer, however, I tend to keep as organized as I can. Call it my one refuge of sanity 😉

Scott

A thing to keep in mind is that files kept in the top level of one's home folder are all viewable by other users. Stash them away in the Documents, Pictures, etc folders to keep them private and inaccessible to other users.

I find it helpful to create a directory called, "MyStuff" inside my Documents folder, where all my own data is stored. That's because Documents quickly gets cluttered up with application specific folders.
You can then drag MyStuff to your Finder Sidebar and always go straight to your data.



-mj

Think of the Home folder as your house - documents, pictures, etc are the rooms of the house. Just as each room of a house has a specific purpose, so does each folder and their names indicate their purpose.

If Documents is too generic, you are welcome to create folders inside Documents to better organize that folder. Or, you are welcome to create your own folders inside the Home folder.

LKBLKB ,

I think I now get it but am not sure how the computer decides where to put what when I'm not doing the deciding.

When you are not explicitly deciding where to put something- by using a "Save..." dialogue, for example- the software you are using decides for you. In many cases where this happens, these software behaviors can be modified by you within that software's "preferences."

As I mentioned in my original post, iTunes will store your music library in the "Music" folder. Without your intervention, this will all happen automatically, and you need only import music by either downloading it from the iTunes store, by "ripping" CDs into iTunes, or by simply dropping audio files into iTunes from the Finder. All very intuitive and easy, and iTunes stores, categorizes, and organizes your music for you.

However, you can move your entire music library to some other location at any time, if you so choose. You will be required to tell iTunes where you moved it, though. All the other "built-in" OS X applications behave in similar fashion, and in many cases (not all) you'll have some options regarding where files or data will be kept.

In the case of third-party applications, it is up to the developer to determine how and where files will be stored, and how much control you will have over this behavior. Some applications are good "Mac citizens," some are not. Typically, the extent to which an application behaves well when storing data or saving files in logical, organized, and "Mac-like" places is a good indication of how well that application will work in general; how likely will it be to "crash," or behave in erratic or adverse ways.

It might also be that you have not yet realized how much control over the saving of files is right at your fingertips. When you choose "Save..." within an application, you'll get the "Save.." dialogue. By default, this dialogue appears in a very basic form, with just a few "pre-set" locations immediately available via a pull-down menu. However, this is just the "dummied down" version of this dialogue. By clicking the blue "arrow in a button" icon to the right of the filename field, the dialogue will be transformed to its full-featured version, looking rather like a Finder window and with all the same Sidebar "shortcuts," that gives you access to the entire file system. If you are confused about where you are saving files, but you haven't seen this version of the "Save..." dialogue, you're really missing out.

Scott