saved file location

[socrbob]

Hello, does anyone know how you can save your different types of files; text, spreadsheet, etc. to a separate location so you don't have to look through all your documents to find 1 type?

[OPENSTEP]

While there isn't a way to specify the location directly within the file save dialogs, one way you can work around this is by using Smart Folders (assuming you're on 10.4 and higher). These are similar to the Smart Playlists in iTunes. For example, to make a smart folder that views only the Writer documents on your computer you can do the following in 10.4:

1. Go to the Finder
   
2. Choose "File > New Smart Folder"
   
3. At the top of the right hand menu, you'll see rows of popup menus, areas where you can add different filters that determine what's in the folder. Set the first row to "Name", "Ends With", and type in ".odt" into the edit field (without quotes). odt is the extension for Neo/OOo Writer documents.
   
4. Click the "Save" button in the upper right. Type in a name for the folder, and check "Add to Sidebar".
   
5. In the sidebar you'll see a little folder with a gear that will continually update itself to show all of the Writer documents on the computer. The Smart Folder will also be available in all of the file dialogs on the computer.
   
6. Repeat the steps above with ".ods" for Calc docs, ".odg" for Draw docs, ".odp" for Impress docs, and ".odb" for Base docs.
   

To get rid of the smart folder, if i t was in your Sidebar just drag it out of the sidebar of a Finder window and "poof" it away. I'm not sure if this similar series of steps applies for 10.5.

ed

[jgd]

There are some small differences in Leopard.

When you get the "New Smart Foder" window, you need to click on the "+" button on the very right hand side in the top of the window. Then two drop-down menus appear. In the left one you can choose between Kind, Name, Contents, etc. In the right one you can choose between matches, contains, ends with, etc. You can add other filtering options by clicking on the "+" sign on the right side of the drop-down menus. Then click Save and follow the same steps as in Tiger.

Jacqueline

[socrbob]

Thank you openstep and jgd for your replies. I am using 10.4 so I will go with those suggestions. It appears to work well for the files I have saved so far.