Is there a way to move all the CorelDraw folders shown under Tools -> Options -> Global -> File Locations tab (see screen shot) to another location without manually editing each one of the 22 folders individually (or at least all that start with c:\users\<username>\documents\Corel)? If so, how?
Related: is there a way to stop Corel from recreating those folders in my Documents folder, even if they are not used (I prefer to limit the number of root folders in my Documents folder so they all fit in the Windows file dialog without scrolling)?
To repeat this across multiple PC's, are these file locations stored in a file or the registry somewhere I can export and apply the updates to other PC's with CDGS installed to quickly perform the same move across all systems? If so, how?
Secondarily (but less important), does Corel use those folders for temp files while working, config data that should be copied across all my PC's, static data like fonts and clipart, or something else? I don't need to know, but am curious to understand what these folders are used for and it may affect where I decide to put them.
Full disclosure, I had posted a similar question before, but likely worded it poorly because I just got a bunch of unhelpful opinions and arguments instead of an answer to the question (to be fair, I started it by including my own opinion in my question): https://community.coreldraw.com/talk/coreldraw-graphics-suite-2021/f/coreldraw-graphics-suite-2021-for-windows/66338/what-does-corel-do-with-all-the-folders-created-in-documents-any-way-to-move-all-at-once.
GraniteStateColin said:To repeat this across multiple PC's, are these file locations stored in a file or the registry somewhere
I don't know if these are exclusively stored in the registry, but I do see them in the registry. As an example, for CorelDRAW 2018:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Corel\CorelDRAW\20.0\Box Preferences\File Locations.
@Eskimo, that's perfect. Thank you!!
That is exactly the correct list. It has the identical set of 22 folders that can be set through the Tools menu. In hindsight, I suppose I should have just searched the registry for those pathnames. :-)
So to anyone else looking to move all the Corel folders out of Documents with a single operation, instead of manually altering each of the 22 folders (21 in C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Corel\Corel Content\ and 1 in C:\Users\Colin\OneDrive\Documents\Working Files\), you can do the following:
Of course, if you're just trying to move this off your C:\ drive, which I suspect is another fairly common preference, you need only change the C: to D: (or whatever drive letter you're using) in your search and replace.
If you run CDGS on multiple computers, assuming you have the same directory structure on all of them, you can now just copy and run the same .REG file on every computer. Note that if you upgrade to a new version of CorelDraw, the version number in the Registry pathname will need to change. In that case, to be safe, probably best to repeat the above steps, rather than try modifying your file, because a new version could also include new folders.
One caveat on this: I see that Corel still recreates the Corel folder in Documents (but fortunately not the "Working Files" folder). It has remained empty in my usage, vs. the 1+ GB of fonts and other files that it installed originally and moved to the new location. Worse, if you have a default "Documents" configuration, meaning your Documents folder is on OneDrive, it appears that Corel sets this to be a shared folder. I'll continue to investigate this, but it appears that while the above does indeed move the files, Corel still maintains a folder in Users\<username>\Documents\Corel, and assigns permissions and sharing without user permission. I suspect this is harmless, but it's annoying.
Please post any other irregularities you find?
You got me racking my brain on this and back in my rusty cranium somewhere there's a beep going off about sharing not only between machine but multiple user log in on the same machine.
I know it will rise to the surface someday.
It adds these 4 folders back every time I start CorelDRAW or Corel PhotoPaint:
They remain empty folders, so if your only concern is unwanted files adding MB to your Documents folder, this is not really a problem. However, all 4 of these folders are included in the specific list of folders that are remappable, so this certainly appears to be a bug:
Really, the simple fact that Corel puts these in the Documents folder in the first place is a defect. That's a violation of Windows development guidelines and should preclude Corel claiming it's a Windows application. If you're going to run on Windows (or Mac for Mac apps), you need to follow the functional requirements of the OS. Mobile app developers have never had the luxury of fighting these, because the app store owners will just remove them from the store if they don't adhere to the guidelines, but some PC and Mac developers are more cavalier and less considerate of damage to the broader ecosystem. David Milisock here seems happy to defend this practice, blaming users instead of Corel for these problems.
I do what works, the systems I run when running billable work generate at least $100 an hour and a great deal more depending on the task.
I don't give a rats a$$ about operational folders or file size. If I worried about that crap instead of making money and payroll I'd get therapy.
Why Corel did it who knows? Who cares?
Over thirty years in business has taught me that it's simply more cost effective and profitable to buy horse power, lots of storage, avoid anemic processes and don't be anal about crap that doesn't matter, because it wastes your time and costs money.
I'm sure you feel good that you've (at least in you mind) established some error, but really after all the wasted time and cost, nothing has changed.
Was it your money you wasted?
David, I have nothing but respect for your CDGS knowledge and also that you have a good entrepreneurial use for it: the best professional software helps professionals make money.
The problem with your prior posts has nothing to do with that. I asked a question, and instead of answering it, you lectured me on how to use Windows, something I am quite sure I know more about best practices than you (just as you know them better for CDGS than I). If you don't have an actionable or constructive response to a user question, just don't post.
Separate from that, to your comment, "Who cares?" if I were Corel (and running a company that creates software that helps creative people generate revenue, I would say there is a parallel), I would WANT USERS TO REPORT PROBLEMS so that I could have our developers fix them. Seeking out our customers' pain points with our software so we can improve it is one of our highest priorities.
Finally, as the kindest analogy I can offer, I came to the doctor's office (this forum) with a sprained ankle (pain caused by CDR), because I tripped on the broken sidewalk (CDR is not functioning properly per the requirements of all Windows applications), and instead of treating the leg (answering my question), you lectured me on how I should never walk on the sidewalk and that I should instead only travel by taxi for no reason other than that's how you prefer to get around (you told me not to use the Documents folder the way it's intended to be used and to instead change Windows around defects in CDGS).
Even if there's an element of validity to the doctor's opinion, it's utterly useless, and because the patient was not doing anything wrong (walking on a sidewalk is a perfectly appropriate function), the doctor's opinion is out of line.
Answers to questions from an expert like you are great and much appreciated (and you have helped me in other cases, for which I thank you). Lecturing other users in areas where you don't know what you're talking about is not.