[tritonus]

I hate it when apps generate folders in my "Documents". How can I get rid of:

a) "Microsoft user data" folder from Office X
b) "eBooks" folder from Adobe Reader 6.0

If I delete them, they re-appear when I use the program the next time. So I need another solution, please.

[godzookie2k]

Microsoft user data contains alot of the preferences and addressbook and email info for your office program, don't delte it, and no I don't think there is anything you can do about it.

[Sharky K.]

and what if you only use word and excel?
Preferences and stuff should be kept in a sub directory of Library.

[tritonus]

Originally posted by Sharky K.:
and what if you only use word and excel?
Preferences and stuff should be kept in a sub directory of Library.

I don't use Entourage. Even with Word and Excel, the folder is created.

Exactly, Library should be the place. Maybe move it there?

[sandsl]

Maybe move it there?

You can move the folder where ever you want, the point is as soon as the application can't find them in the set position (documents folder) they are recreated.

I am continually bugged by software which adds folders all over the place. I hate software putting stuff in my documents directory...its for MY documents.

Any folder/document/preference that I find in there which shouldn't automatically goes in the trash. Of course they do come back after I launch the app (eg. Microsoft Word/Adobe Reader) - but luckily I don't use word very often (once a month?) and use preview instead of Adobe Reader.

...not the best soultion.

Any developer who decided to have preference/setting files stored in a users documents folder without permission and without the ability to change the files location should be shot, or forced to develop for Windows.

[tritonus]

Originally posted by sandsl:
You can move the folder where ever you want, the point is as soon as the application can't find them in the set position (documents folder) they are recreated.

I am continually bugged by software which adds folders all over the place. I hate software putting stuff in my documents directory...its for MY documents.

Any folder/document/preference that I find in there which shouldn't automatically goes in the trash. Of course they do come back after I launch the app (eg. Microsoft Word/Adobe Reader) - but luckily I don't use word very often (once a month?) and use preview instead of Adobe Reader.

...not the best soultion.

Any developer who decided to have preference/setting files stored in a users documents folder without permission and without the ability to change the files location should be shot, or forced to develop for Windows.

Exactly!

Is PDF printing with Preview the same quality as with Adobe Reader?

[moki]

Originally posted by tritonus:
I hate it when apps generate folders in my "Documents". How can I get rid of:

a) "Microsoft user data" folder from Office X
b) "eBooks" folder from Adobe Reader 6.0

If I delete them, they re-appear when I use the program the next time. So I need another solution, please.

Just make the folders in question invisible -- the programs will still be able to find 'em, but you won't see them in the Finder.

You can do this from the commandline or via a number of tools available on VersionTracker.com (even the venerable ResEdit will do the trick)

[engaged]

The folder that Office X creates contains way more than just preferences; it's got all your mailbox databases, address books, etc.

I for one actually think that it's a reasonable idea, if you do indeed use the full Office suite. If you need to reformat your hard drive and start again from fresh, all you have to do is just back up your home directory. Once you've reinstalled everything, copy the Microsoft User Data folder back, and Entourage will fire up with all your email, address books, preferences, rules, etc.

Agree that it's unnecessary if you only use Word X and Excel X.

[tritonus]

Originally posted by moki:
Just make the folders in question invisible -- the programs will still be able to find 'em, but you won't see them in the Finder.

You can do this from the commandline or via a number of tools available on VersionTracker.com (even the venerable ResEdit will do the trick)

That's a good idea.
What command do I have to enter in Terminal?
(Sorry, I'm a switcher.)

[sushiism]

you also get ms user data if you use msn messenger. bha drives me mad its so anoying and pointless (if it was in the library you'd stil lbe able to back it up and copy it back just as easily)

[asmodeus]

Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

[Sharky K.]

Originally posted by asmodeus:
Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

thank you

[tritonus]

Originally posted by asmodeus:
Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

Yeah, works great, even in the German version!

Double

Now, there's only Adobe's eBooks folder to bust...

[asxless]

You can put the Microsoft User Data folder anywhere you have read/write access and just put an alias to it in your Documents folder. As moki pointed out you can also make the alias invisible. For example, I keep the Microsoft User Data folder on a separate partition where I keep my active projects because it contains the currrent Entourage Email database.

-- asxless

[tritonus]

Anyone got a solution for "eBooks"? Can eBooks be turned off in Adobe Reader?

[voodoo]

Originally posted by asmodeus:
Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

Very elegant solution!

[tritonus]

Originally posted by voodoo:
Very elegant solution!

Yes, indeed. I'm looking for a similar solution for Adobe's "eBooks" folder, but the solution for Microsoft didn't do the trick for Adobe.

[OptimusG4]

Originally posted by tritonus:
Yes, indeed. I'm looking for a similar solution for Adobe's "eBooks" folder, but the solution for Microsoft didn't do the trick for Adobe.

Actually, it was posted awhile ago that instead of doing the full download of Adobe Reader, you can just download the app iteself. Esp. useful if you don't use eBooks.

[tritonus]

Originally posted by asmodeus:
Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

FYI, this works in OS X 10.3 "Panther" as well. A simple "move" is all it takes.

[JLL]

Originally posted by engaged:
I for one actually think that it's a reasonable idea, if you do indeed use the full Office suite. If you need to reformat your hard drive and start again from fresh, all you have to do is just back up your home directory.

Uhm, having the folder in ~/Library/Preferences or ~/Library/Application Support (where it belongs) gives you the same advantage.

[tritonus]

Originally posted by asmodeus:
Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

Why doesn't this work for "AppleWorks User Data"? It's now the only folder I don't want in "Documents".

[Chuckit]

Originally posted by tritonus:
Why doesn't this work for "AppleWorks User Data"? It's now the only folder I don't want in "Documents".

Because AppleWorks was excreted from the hindquarters of a cow.

Anyway, though, if you can't move it, you can at least least turn it invisible (with one of these programs).

[austinjackson]

For Adobe Reader eBooks folder:

Get info on the AdobeReader.app

Click to show the plugins.

Uncheck the eBook plugin.

Good solution if you don't read ebooks.

Ok, so How do I get rid of the Virtual PC folders?

[thePurpleGiant]

Originally posted by austinjackson:
Ok, so How do I get rid of the Virtual PC folders?

Like moki suggested, just make the folder invisible. I used the program CloakIt, which seemed to be the most intuitive program to do this. Now no folders in my Documents, woot!

[tritonus]

Originally posted by asmodeus:
Put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Library/Preferences and it won't be recreated in ~/Documents.

FYI, this doesn't work anymore with my new setup with Microsoft Office 2004. Your experience?

[thePurpleGiant]

Originally posted by tritonus:
FYI, this doesn't work anymore with my new setup with Microsoft Office 2004. Your experience?

Same, doesn't work for me. Just make them invisible already - you will never see them again!

[Horsepoo!!!]

Why can't these idiot developers use Application Support or Preferences like 95% of the Cocoa developers?

[Turnpike]

what, exactly, is the command to make something invisible? I'd rather not download a program for something I can do easily from the CLI.

If you could tell me which man page to read, that'd be awesome.

[Gerrit Vanoppen]

If you ignore the Documents folder, or rather consider it to be yet another "system property" like Pictures, Library, etc - you can then simply create your own folder and call it "MY documents" as sandsl suggested.

Meanwhile, Application support sounds like a good place, since we're talking about so much more than just prefs (my Documents folder also has stuff from Palm, FAXstfX, sig files from banking software...).

BTW, my App Support folder has a "Microsoft" folder, holding a folder "Old fonts" - could this have been created by the Office 2004 Installer ?

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally posted by Gerrit Vanoppen:
If you ignore the Documents folder, or rather consider it to be yet another "system property" like Pictures, Library, etc - you can then simply create your own folder and call it "MY documents" as sandsl suggested.

Sure but that's a cheap workaround.

I urge everyone to simply send polite e-mail to the developer to enlighten them on where application support files should go. If a significant amount of people did this, MS might start putting their files in the right place.

[Turnpike]

MS listens to feedback??!

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally posted by Turnpike:
MS listens to feedback??!

Good point...I wish I could smack the MacBU team around for being the bitches that they are.

Wherever you are, MacBU team, come out!!!

[tritonus]

Originally posted by Turnpike:
what, exactly, is the command to make something invisible? I'd rather not download a program for something I can do easily from the CLI.

If you could tell me which man page to read, that'd be awesome.

Same here.

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally posted by tritonus:
Same here.

Well...I know adding a period (.) in front of a file/folder name makes that file/folder invisible. You can't do it via the Finder but you can do it via the CLI...but whether or not MS Office or other programs still recognize the folder, I'm not entirely sure.

[Oneota]

Originally posted by tritonus:
FYI, this doesn't work anymore with my new setup with Microsoft Office 2004. Your experience?

Works for me; I'm running Office 2004, just moved my Microsoft User Data from ~/Documents to ~/Library/Preferences/ and Entourage launched normally with all my data intact.

[tritonus]

Originally posted by Oneota:
Works for me; I'm running Office 2004, just moved my Microsoft User Data from ~/Documents to ~/Library/Preferences/ and Entourage launched normally with all my data intact.

You may be right. Seems to work with ~/Library/Preferences/ but not with ~/Library/Application Support/. Good enough for me though. Thanks!

[Cadaver]

Damn Toast 6 does the same thing - creates "Roxio Converted Items" every launch.

Edit: never mind... found how to change it in the apps preferences (I just got Toast only days ago)

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Turnpike:
MS listens to feedback??!

I'd think that Word 6 taught them to listen to their Mac customers.

They did found the MacBU for a reason, you know.

[tritonus]

Originally Posted by Cadaver

Damn Toast 6 does the same thing - creates "Roxio Converted Items" every launch.

Edit: never mind... found how to change it in the apps preferences (I just got Toast only days ago)

Cool, I changed it to:
~/Library/Application Support/Roxio/Roxio Converted Items

[Cadaver]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

[sushiism]

Relaunched my MSN and yep came right back after moving it to ~/Library/preferences