Leaving Files On Desktop, Or Using Alias's ?

[Robert4]

Hello,

Brand new iMac user.
Sure is a lot to learn and know.

I realize I don't have a very clear understanding of the nuances of
this, so if anyone could explain for me would be appreciative.

I transferred via a USB memory stick some WORD and Excel files.

They now reside on the iMac Desktop, and work fine.

Should they, though, be put in the Documents Folder (where is it ?) and create a Desktop alias ?
Or, an alias and put in Dock?

Or, just leave the basic WORD and Excel file on the Desktop ?

So, what are the pros and cons, please, with using a Desktop Alias compared to just leaving
the prime File right directly on the Desktop ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[kingjames1970]

Hello,

Brand new iMac user.
Sure is a lot to learn and know.

I realize I don't have a very clear understanding of the nuances of
this, so if anyone could explain for me would be appreciative.

I transferred via a USB memory stick some WORD and Excel files.

They now reside on the iMac Desktop, and work fine.

Should they, though, be put in the Documents Folder (where is it ?) and create a Desktop alias ?
Or, an alias and put in Dock?

Or, just leave the basic WORD and Excel file on the Desktop ?

So, what are the pros and cons, please, with using a Desktop Alias compared to just leaving
the prime File right directly on the Desktop ?

Thanks,
Bob

To me, it is efficient and organised to keep every document in proper folders within documents. I don’t have anything on my desktop at all. You can get to that folder a number of different ways, you can even drag your documents folder to the dock if you want (kind of an alias). Means you also know where everything is when you have to backup.

 

[komatsu]

Pros
An alias is going to make your desktop tidier.

Cons
Desktop is going to look very messy and possibly make other icons harder to find.

Excel and word files are generally light and small. Try putting large photo folders on your desktop though and your boot-up times will take a hit.

 

[tarsins]

Personally, the only things I put on the desktop are things that need to be dealt with where they act as a permanent reminder. Once they're finished with I'll move them to an appropriate folder. So, in my case, the actual file is on the desktop.

 

[Fishrrman]

You can pretty much put files wherever you want, but if you put too many "on the desktop", it will soon become a mess (like mine, haha).

Apple's "default" location (or at least the one they seem to be steering folks to use) is the "Documents" folder in your home folder. But I don't use that at all.

Instead, I create my own folder hierarchy that defines where my stuff goes.
For example, for Word files, I'd create a folder named (what else?) "Word Files", and then use that.

Rather than have too many individual Word files on the desktop, you could create a folder (NOT on the desktop), and then make an alias of that folder and put the alias on the desktop.

Now, if you need to access a particular file, just open the folder (alias), and the file is there.
If you create a new Word document, save it into the folder (alias) and the original will be stored inside the original Word Files folder.

 

[maflynn]

Sometimes for me, I just place the document on the desktop and then when its no longer needed I delete it, or move it to another location that makes sense