Folder Organization

[sstevens]

Hi all.

I am currently undergoing some heavy folder organizing despite me being a mac user for the past 4 years. I have never asked a lot of basic questions or done any Genius Bar appts. due to my knowledge on computers already however, I do have several questions as of late:

1. Deleting files in the 'Downloads' folder located on the sidebar in Finder. Will this delete the files from functioning or are these basically duplicates and therefore using an extra xx amount of GB on my HD ?

2. Documents folder. I know there is one located at the root level in the Home section (username) and also on the primary HD. Can someone explain the basic function of these. I like to keep personal files and folders on my hard drive and things associated with certain apps at the root level. **I have the TOP 27" from 2011 and have both the 256gb SSD and the 1tb SATA** Are the root level documents being stored on my SSD or SATA HD? I havent touched anything really from when I first got this and I know Apple builds the computer keeping in mind that the buyer wants all apps running on the SSD (for speed of course) and all music, photo, etc. docs on the regular SATA drive.

3. MAIL - The mail app is so convenient but also a pain in the ass sometimes. I get roughly 10 e-mails a day (recently unsubscribed from a bunch of pointless things to clear that up) and delete almost all of them. For some reason I have began to receive tons of Bulk mail. Sometimes 30 in a day. Is there a way in the Utilities section to clean this up? What is the basic rule of thumb for using the Mail app in regards to conserving as much space as needed.. I don't want my mail taking up so much space on my HD incase the 1tb gets full down the road (800gb left).

Thank you!

 

[xShane]

Hi all.

I am currently undergoing some heavy folder organizing despite me being a mac user for the past 4 years. I have never asked a lot of basic questions or done any Genius Bar appts. due to my knowledge on computers already however, I do have several questions as of late:

1. Deleting files in the 'Downloads' folder located on the sidebar in Finder. Will this delete the files from functioning or are these basically duplicates and therefore using an extra xx amount of GB on my HD ?

2. Documents folder. I know there is one located at the root level in the Home section (username) and also on the primary HD. Can someone explain the basic function of these. I like to keep personal files and folders on my hard drive and things associated with certain apps at the root level. **I have the TOP 27" from 2011 and have both the 256gb SSD and the 1tb SATA** Are the root level documents being stored on my SSD or SATA HD? I havent touched anything really from when I first got this and I know Apple builds the computer keeping in mind that the buyer wants all apps running on the SSD (for speed of course) and all music, photo, etc. docs on the regular SATA drive.

3. MAIL - The mail app is so convenient but also a pain in the ass sometimes. I get roughly 10 e-mails a day (recently unsubscribed from a bunch of pointless things to clear that up) and delete almost all of them. For some reason I have began to receive tons of Bulk mail. Sometimes 30 in a day. Is there a way in the Utilities section to clean this up? What is the basic rule of thumb for using the Mail app in regards to conserving as much space as needed.. I don't want my mail taking up so much space on my HD incase the 1tb gets full down the road (800gb left).

Thank you!

Deleting files in the 'Downloads' folder will stop those files from "functioning" (or being useable).

With regards to Mail, use spam filters to prevent spam (obviously). And I seriously doubt you'll use up 800GB of space from emails.

 

[sstevens]

Deleting files in the 'Downloads' folder will stop those files from "functioning" (or being useable).

With regards to Mail, use spam filters to prevent spam (obviously). And I seriously doubt you'll use up 800GB of space from emails.

I'm not worried about using 800gb of e-mail, I don't think that's possible in any sense haha. Maybe 20gb at most. I was just curious if there was a way to completely block all incoming spam or if there was an appraised "filter" for mac users and the mail app to block these. It's like I never had them before then about 6 months ago they just started coming in at random and I never subscribe or submit my e-mail to anything other than online purchases and school related things.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

1. Deleting files in the 'Downloads' folder located on the sidebar in Finder. Will this delete the files from functioning or are these basically duplicates and therefore using an extra xx amount of GB on my HD ?

Finder's Sidebar is a place to hold shortcuts or aliases to folders or files, it is not a place to store folders or files.
The Downloads alias in the Sidebar leads to your Downloads folder located at Macintosh HD (the standard name for the volume/partition OS X resides on) / Users (the folder containing all user account folders) / YOU (your user account folder or Home Directory) / Downloads.
When you specified that Downloads folder to be the place all your browsers and download applications save their downloads too, then deleting files from that folder will delete those files, unless you made a copy to another place beforehand.

2. Documents folder. I know there is one located at the root level in the Home section (username) and also on the primary HD. Can someone explain the basic function of these. I like to keep personal files and folders on my hard drive and things associated with certain apps at the root level. **I have the TOP 27" from 2011 and have both the 256gb SSD and the 1tb SATA** Are the root level documents being stored on my SSD or SATA HD? I havent touched anything really from when I first got this and I know Apple builds the computer keeping in mind that the buyer wants all apps running on the SSD (for speed of course) and all music, photo, etc. docs on the regular SATA drive.

The root directory of Macintosh HD consists of several folders like Applications, Library, System and Users (and some other hidden ones). There is no Documents folder there.
You have a Documents folder inside your Home Directory (Macintosh HD / Users / YOU / Documents) and you can use it however you want, or not use it at all. I for example do not use it and have my own structure and primarily use Dropbox for text or similar small sized documents.
Music gets stored in the Music folder, unless specified to use another folder, photos get stored in the Pictures folder, unless specified to use another folder, but only if you use iTunes and its standard settings and iPhoto and its standard settings.
I do not understand what you mean with root level documents though.

To learn more about Mac OS X: Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios​