File Organization, Finder and iCloud

[jparker402]

Finally decided to organize my files after three plus years of not organizing them. Looked a several YouTube tutorials which may help some. However, have several questions/problem areas that don't seem to be addressed.

I save most of my stuff now to iCloud to make sure it safely stored. Most of my work is done on Pages and Numbers. When I look up my iCloud files in Finder, I seem to be missing files. When I open Pages, I get a Finder directory that lists Pages, and shows all my Pages files. Why don't they appear when I just go to Finder without opening Pages? How am I to organize them in Finder if they don't show up until I get into Pages? I am confused!!!

Is there a good tutorial somewhere that covers this? Or a article on the web? Could someone give me direction or provide a link?

Thanks!!!!

 

[revmacian]

Your Pages documents are likely in the Pages folder in iCloud Drive unless you've saved them elsewhere.

The Tags functionality is one thing that may benefit you. You can assign tags to any file based on the content of the file. For instance, I assign a Work tag to files that deal with my work. Then I can simply go to the Work tag in Finder (left pane) when I need to see files related to my employment.

There is also the Recents item in the left pane of Finder.. that item should list all of the files that have been used recently.

I used to make iCloud Drive my "home" folder in Finder. But, since learning how to use Tags and Recents I don't spend much time in the iCloud Drive folder anymore.

 

[jparker402]

Beginning to see what I have been doing; a throw-back to the early days of using a computer. If I want to write a paper or a letter, I open the writing program and save to it. If I want to do a spreadsheet, I open the spreadsheet program and save to it. I don't believe I have ever integrated the two, and now I don't know how to do that. That's what I need help doing.

 

[revmacian]

Beginning to see what I have been doing; a throw-back to the early days of using a computer. If I want to write a paper or a letter, I open the writing program and save to it. If I want to do a spreadsheet, I open the spreadsheet program and save to it. I don't believe I have ever integrated the two, and now I don't know how to do that. That's what I need help doing.

If I'm understanding you correctly:
Try using "Save As..." instead of Save. This will allow you to save a file to a specific location. So, if you have a favorite location (such as your Desktop folder), you know the file will always be there until you move it.

If you CMD+Q a document and click the Save button, it will save to the location that is specified in the "Where" setting. But, that location setting can be changed each time you save a document - see the attached screenshot. I always change that location because I have certain favorite locations. The keyboard shortcut Option+Shift+Command+S should help with this.