File and Folder Management

Knowing where a document has been placed is very important. Applications rely on specific folders to operate certain functions and by not using the proper folders these applications may not work properly. The operating system has already set up multiple folders for easier file management.

These folders are: Applications, Documents, Movies, Music, and Pictures. You will also notice that these folders happen to be in your Finder window.


You should by default install all programs in the Applications folder, save all of your documents in the documents folder, movies in your movies folder, etc…

Programs like iTunes search your music folder for songs that you have imported or downloaded. iPhoto searches your pictures folder for images that you have downloaded from your camera, and so on.

The main reason for keeping your files organized is so that you know where it is. Picture the folders as drawers in a filing cabinet. You wouldn’t put an application in your pictures folder.

You can also create new folders for within your folders. Thus if you had a class called W100 and a class called T101, that you have to write papers for you could create two folders in your documents folder with the respective names and keep your papers organized better.