Whenever you open a file from any program or try to save a file using “Save As”, most of the time the default location would be either Desktop or My Documents. I did a little research and found out that it can’t be changed. However, at the left side of the “Save As” dialog, you will see 5 locations which is My Recent Documents, Desktop, My Documents, My Computer and My Network Places that has been preset for you to save.
Those 5 locations are called the “Places Bar” and it is supposed to be a convenient way for you to save it to the preset location. The “Places Bar” concept is a good idea, but not everyone regards those five default locations as the most suitable for their situation.
If you’re working on something that frequently needs to save files to other than one of the preset locations, you can change the default save location, so you don’t need to browse to the location each time you want to save. I will show you how to easily you can change the Windows default Save As or Open Places Bar Locations. This method is only for Windows XP and will not work on Vista and 7. There is another article covering newer Windows operating systems such as Vista and 7 although the tools mentioned do also work with XP.
You need to use Microsoft PowerToys Tweak UI which gives you access to several system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface.
1. Download Microsoft Powertoys Tweak UI from the Microsoft website and install it.
2. Run Tweak UI from the Start menu (All Programs -> Powertoys for Windows XP -> Tweak UI)
3. In Tweak UI expand the Common Dialogs tree and click on Places Bar.
By default, Show default places is selected which will show My Recent Documents, Desktop, My Documents, My Computer and My Network Places. You can hide the places bar completely or select Custom places bar. There are a few other predefined custom place for you to choose from such as My pictures, My Music and some specific shared folders etc. You also can enter into the box your own custom local path location (“D:\myfiles\downloads” etc.) and even remote folders on another computer. Just use \\ComputerName\SharedFolder and it will show the shared folder.
The default places bar changes will only be effective for the currently logged on user. Other users on that computer won’t be affected.
A Note About Microsoft Office
Those of you that have Microsoft Office XP, 2003 or 2007 might have noticed there is also a Places bar in the open and save dialogs as well. This is not the same as the Places bar in Windows so does not get affected by Tweak UI. Although the default 5 locations cannot be edited or removed this way, you can easily add extra places from within Office itself.
1. In your Office program click the button to Open a document.
2. Navigate to the folder or location you wish to use for the new “Place”.
3a. In Office XP or 2003 click the Tools menu top right and then Add to “My Places”.
3b. In Office 2007 right click a blank space in the My Places bar and then click Add folder name.
The custom place can be reorganized in the list by right clicking and selecting to move up or down. Renaming, removing and switching from large to small icons can also be done via right clicking on the custom place.
To to edit the Office and Windows XP Places bar from a single utility, visit the Vista and 7 article which also works with XP as well.
thanks…you saved my hide!!!!
thanks.. you saved my hide.
Great too! So simple even I can use it!
awesome. was very easy and makes my life much easier. thank you!
Any idea how to add more folders to this menu?
For me, 5 folders is a little too few.
I have similar problems for SAVING FILES from either Email attachments or after editing files in Microsoft WORD or other word processors.
I could not find my anser here. I am using MICROSOFT word 97 / 2003 or /2007
But I find that after editting and trying to save this editted file , EVEN IF THE file I just editted was MICROSOFT WORD,,,, my default program DEFAULTS TO Microsoft works (the old .wps file type).. SO I tried to go to default programs menu on my START MENU.. and it does not show FROM WHERE the works (.wps old format) is popping out >>> why would I save a file in .docx format to .wps format!!!! it is a real puzzle. I am confused and have no dirction to follow
Thanks alot!
Anyone have a solution to Hobster’s question (quoted below)? I have the same question.
“That’s nice!. To complete it, I’d love to have the file *details* (not the icon and name) of the main window and sorted reversed by modification time. I always need to do this set of clicks when the Open popup window (same as “Save As”) shows up . Do you know if it is possible?”
Thank you to Deb and Stef for your contributions. Your suggestions work. However you must do both your suggestions for it to work for all applications. I have written it out for my benefit but may help others as well.
This needs to be done in two places. 1) Group policy and 2) Office program
1) – this will add the folder to the “save as” windows systems for everything except MS programs
Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc -> User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Explorer -> Common Open File Dialog -> Items displayed in Places Bar
Select enabled. Enter your preferred default place in item #1. It will display in the “save as” icon tray as the first item. If you do not fill anything in the other fields, they will show with a default folder setting but it won’t matter so leave them blank unless you have multiple locations.
Also
2) Change the path in Windows XP for MSOffice 2007 programs as follows:
Open a document (example MS Doc – not a PDF)
Click on File – save as – default save dialogue opens (usually my documents).
Search the location you want to have as default location for your files.
Go to the icon section (left pane) and right click your mouse. A message will come up and ask if you want to add it to my places. Click on it and your preferred location will show up on the icon bar. You can right click the icon to move it up or down on the priority list.
i am having the same problem but my default fold is turned to be a temporary folder
tweakui
Either I’m an idiot, or this software doesn’t work.
I want all files created in Word Pad to be saved, by default, to a certain folder I’ve created. I entered that folder name and path in the PLACES box. When I create a document and choose Save As, I’m still getting the same choices as before. What’s up?
This is a good solution but not for cutomized save as item. eg visio, word pad etc…
I am also looking to solve the same problem as Mark in #9. I want the default sort when I “open” or “save” from within a program to be “details”, sorted by most recent modification date first.
Currently, I get details, sorted by file name
Stef, I think your version only works with the Office save dialog in Word and Excel. The Save as in browsers do not have the Tools menu.
Hi
you do not necessarily need TweakUI . I for example cannot install anything on my work computer due to lack of admin rights. But I found another way.
You can change the path in Windows XP as follows:
Click on File – save as – default save dialogue opens (usually my documents).
Search the location you would like to have as default location for your files.
On the top right under tools – click add to my places and your prefered location should show up on the icon bar on the left hand site…and that is it.
Next time you want to save something you just need to click on the icon you just added to my places.
I hope that helps.
Cheers
Stef
Any one know how to get to it in Vista, so I don’t have to install another program? Thanks.
Oh my …..this is a great feature. I print it out now and share with all my office staff.
Thank You !!!
That’s nice. What I do right now is that it defaults to the My Docs section. So, over there I placed shortcut links to other parts in my computer. Problem solved. :D
That’s nice!. To complete it, I’d love to have the file *details* (not the icon and name) of the main window and sorted reversed by modification time. I always need to do this set of clicks when the Open popup window (same as “Save As”) shows up . Do you know if it is possible?
TweakUI is a very important tool
Oh, one other thing, PlacesBar Tweaker works for Vista too, for which the TweakUI has not been released yet.
There is also a freeware called PlacesBar Tweaker that does the same thing:
ioisland.com/placesbar/index.php
But TweakUI is a must-have cause it has a lot more useful functions
This tip just shows one of the ways of using the power toy for windows.
Oh, Its nice to have this soft, But why this kind of software exposed in Windows XP? If the Microsoft provides with the OS, it will be more comfortable for everybody
Now thats what I wanted…..
Thanx Raymond
Tweak UI is indeed powerful.
The places bar can also be changed using Group Policy
Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc -> User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Explorer -> Common Open File Dialog -> Items displayed in Places Bar