Chapter 7: All About Your Mac s Folders

How to…

• Learn what’s in your Mac’s folders

• Organize your files efficiently

• Use your home folder and its subfolders

When you look at your Mac’s folders, you’ll see that they are organized in a somewhat rigid structure. Some of these folders are very important, and are used by Mac OS X in special ways. Other folders are designed to provide order and help you store your files logically. While this organization may seem to be a constraint, it actually helps you by giving you specific locations for different types of files.

If you’ve moved to Mac OS X from earlier versions of Mac OS, or from Microsoft Windows, you’ll find this structure a bit disconcerting. But you’ll quickly get used to these folders, and you’ll find that they help you become more organized and more productive.

In this chapter, I’ll show you how your Mac’s folders are organized, and the types of files they’re designed to contain. I’ll also explain which folders you can put files into, and which ones you should avoid. After reading this chapter, you’ll have a better understanding of how your Mac is organized, and why.