Windows 7 Libraries

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Windows 7 libraries are a cool addition to the operating system and best shown by example.  A library is simply a collection of shortcuts to folders located on the computer.

Right click the Orb in the lower right hand corner of the desktop… this used to be the Start button… and click Open Windows Explorer.  You can actually open Explorer any way you wish.

Once it is open you’ll notice on the left hand side a Libraries icon/folder.  This Library folder is probably already open to reveal the four default folders inside of it (Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos).

I am a programmer and am going to create a new library for my programming jobs. 

So, I right-click “Libraries” and select New (at the bottom) and then Library.  I’m calling my new library Program Jobs.  Clicking this newly created library shows nothing inside of it except for an “Include a folder” button.   Clicking this button will allow me to navigate to a folder to add to this Program Jobs folder (or group).  I navigate to my desktop and select the “Test Program” folder that I made some time ago and click the Include folder button.

My new library now includes one folder that is actually located on my desktop.  All I actually did was create a shortcut to the Test Program folder.  Now I’ll add another.

Clicking the Program Jobs folder again shows its contents.  I now notice that I have the one Test Program folder in it and above that Test Program is a link that reads “Includes: 1 location”.  This means that my Program Jobs folder includes 1 shortcut… the shortcut to Test Program.  If I click the “1 location” link, I can add another folder.  I click the Add button that appears on the “Program jobs library Locations” dialog box that popped up when I clicked the Add button.  I then navigate to another folder… this one is located in my Documents folder.  It is called “Web App Job”.  I select the Web App Job folder and click the Include folder button.

Now my new library, Program Jobs, has two folders in it… Test Program and Web App Job.

Now, whenever I wish to view the contents of these folders, I can simply open Explorer, select my Program Jobs library and view away…   You can add folder shortcuts to the default libraries as well.  The caveat?  The shortcut cannot point to “removable media” such as a DVD or some USB flash drives.

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