How to sync the desktop files with finder files.

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Level 1

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How to sync the desktop files with finder files.

I evidently have two filing systems on MacBook Air Monterey. I moved files from a PC to the laptop. They have appeared in three places. 1. On the desktop in folder named Documents. 2. In Finder in a non deletable item with a page icon called Documents. 3. In Finder in Desktop as Documents.

I brought a PDF to the screen from the internet. I chose "Export as PDF," and choose a place to put the PDF when the Finder screen came up.

I chose a location from the filing system I had moved to this laptop and pressed SAVE. The PDF did not appear anywhere yet when I tried to export it again a message came that it already existed. I closed everything, opened Documents, not there, did it one more time, and there was the PDF title in Finder > Documents, but not In Desktop > Documents.

How to I get a download, PDF, or created file to appear in all forms of my Documents folder? Or, should I delete the Documents folder from the Finder Documents so I have only my documents within the desktop? Evidently I may have put a copy of my Documents folder into Finder Documents so now I have two separate sets of documents and they do not sync?

Please advise.

MacBook Air

Posted on Aug 21, 2022 8:37 AM

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Answer 1

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muguy

Level 10

82,471 points

Aug 21, 2022 8:43 AM in response to ejbpesca

You have two different folders.

If you're seeing Finder > Documents (that's your documents folder) and Desktop > Documents (that's just a folder you named documents and keep on your desktop). The pdf would only appear in one place (you're conflating "forms" with location and it appears that you may have made a copy of your folder and placed it in two locations).

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

82,471 points

Aug 21, 2022 5:06 PM in response to ejbpesca

Not really much of a difference at all. Finder is essentially the same as the Windows Explorer. It simply helps you to navigate to your folders. Finder is not a program or a location on the drive, just as Windows Explorer is not a program or location.

The Documents folder, is by default, the documents location. You're referencing Finder. The left menu in finder simply are shortcuts to common locations.

You can also use the Go menu in Finder to access locations.

If you were to move a file to Desktop using the left menu in Finder, it will move the file to your desktop and you'll see it there. Same with Documents. And, conversely, if you delete from Finder a folder or item on the desktop, it will be deleted from your desktop. There is only one location.

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Answer 3

ejbpesca Author

Level 1

45 points

Aug 21, 2022 9:57 AM in response to muguy

I am coming from Windows to MacOS. On Windows the desktop folders are where you view, store, organize etc. your files. There are other menu options for file management, but all ways to deal with files lead to the same place. So, my Desktop Documents file folder on this Mac is a totally separate file from Finder>Documents? If I delete the contents of Finder>Documents and keep the Desktop>Documents, will I be able to SAVE created files to my folder Desktop>Documents? Or, does Mac require the use of Finder>Documents to deal with document files?

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Answer 4

muguy

Level 10

82,471 points

Aug 21, 2022 10:29 AM in response to ejbpesca

Those are two separate folders. One is the actual documents folder that is preinstalled as part of the OS. The other, on the desktop, is just a folder you named documents and placed on the desktop. They are not linked as they are two separate folders.

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Answer 5

ejbpesca Author

Level 1

45 points

Aug 21, 2022 4:53 PM in response to ejbpesca

Okay, then. That is a fundamental difference between WindowsOS and MacOS. I'm catching on. I don't know how all my document folder files got into Finder>Documents, maybe I copied them there. Maybe I sent a copy there thinking the finder would be linked to my Desktop, well it is depending on what you ask for in Finder. I guess if I delete the Desktop version of my Documents, the copy of them in Finder will remain.

I'll give it try to see what happens, after making a USB back up. No need to have two Documents folders, only confusing. Can I declare a single folder where my new files are to be saved and remove the Finder>Documents under Favorites in Finder? Or, is it permanent feature that remains in Favorites under Finder?

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Answer 6

ejbpesca Author

Level 1

45 points

Aug 22, 2022 1:09 AM in response to muguy

I may be catching on. You wrote, "There is only one location." I am finding there are two locations of my files due to this experiment: My files appear both on the Desktop and in Finder>Documents. I deleted one file from Finder>Documents. That action did not delete that same file in Desktop Documents, therefore it seems I have two sets of the same files, but now with one file missing from the Finder>Documents set. So, if I delete the entire Desktop folder with all my documents, will they not remain in tact in Finder>Documents?

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Answer 7

muguy

Level 10

82,471 points

Aug 22, 2022 9:27 AM in response to ejbpesca

You wrote, "There is only one location."

Yes. But that's in reference to the three locations you specified before. Eg. using finder to view your desktop will give you the same results as actually navigating to your desktop where you'll see the same items. To be clear. Finder is not a location/directory on your Mac, just a graphical user interface to see your files.

ejbpesca wrote:

I may be catching on. You wrote, "There is only one location." I am finding there are two locations of my files due to this experiment: My files appear both on the Desktop and in Finder>Documents.

Yes. That's only because you copied your files twice. Once onto the Desktop (into a folder named Documents). You could name that folder absolutely anything at all. And once into the Documents folder (which is present on a Mac).

I deleted one file from Finder>Documents. That action did not delete that same file in Desktop Documents, therefore it seems I have two sets of the same files, but now with one file missing from the Finder>Documents set.

Correct. Those are two separate locations. Changes in one will not affect the other.

So, if I delete the entire Desktop folder with all my documents, will they not remain in tact in Finder>Documents?

Yes. If you delete the folder you created on the Desktop the contents in Documents remain.

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Answer 8

ejbpesca Author

Level 1

45 points

Aug 22, 2022 10:02 AM in response to muguy

Thank you for your help.

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How to sync the desktop files with finder files.

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