Hey All,

Forgive my undoubted Mac ignorance, but after only recently converting from Windows, there are a few issues I'm wrestling with. I won't bore you with them all, but one in particular, I'd really appreciate some help with.

On Windows, when downloading a file from the Internet, I could store it in any folder/sub-folder on the system (my own personal way of storing stuff may be odd to others, but it's one of those things that works for me). However, when similarly downloading something on the Mac, I'm only presented with the standard locations (Desktop, Documents, Applications, Music etc). Is there a way to download a file, say, to a specific sub-folder that I've created within Documents?

As I said, I'm sure it's just my "not knowing new OS" syndrome, but any pointers much appreciated.

Cheers,

W.

What browser are you using? Safari, Firefox?

Assuming you are using Safari ....

When safari is open ...

Click to Safari on the menu bar (top of desktop) ....

Scroll down to "Preferences" and open it ....

Choose "General" ....

Towards the bottom of the general pane you will see "Save the downloads files to " downloads folder" ...... (default is "downloads folder")

You can choose "Other" instead of the default "downloads folder" ...

When you choose "other" ... a mini browser pane pops up and lets you choose whatever folder you like ...

personally I save all my downloads to desktop ....

in safari you can't select to ask every time you download something.

the safari settings are also used by other applications and he system itself.

in easy words, if you change this folder .. other programs may change the "download folders" as well.

in the many years i use Mac OS .. i have not seen a need of the default download location to be changed.

if i download to another than default ... Right Click or Control Click .. and select Download target to ..

Thanks very much for all your comments.

As it happens, I'm using Firefox over Safari (incidentally - is there any performance difference between the two / can I drag/save my Firefox bookmarks into Safari?).

I've also realised since posting that my main issue with storing files to specific locations is not so much when downloading files from the Internet (though this would still be handy), but when saving a document for example. At the moment, I can't see a workaround for saving the document to one of the standard locations (say Desktop) and then having to go to the Desktop to select it before dragging/dropping it to the sub-folder I wanted it inside in the first place. A two-step process therefore that surely should be just the one? When saving a document in Windows, I have the option to save anywhere I like, but with the Mac OS I only seem to be able to save in the given default locations? Or am I missing something? Or is this just one of those Mac/Windows differentiators?

Cheers,

W.

Thanks very much for all your comments.

As it happens, I'm using Firefox over Safari (incidentally - is there any performance difference between the two / can I drag/save my Firefox bookmarks into Safari?).

I've also realised since posting that my main issue with storing files to specific locations is not so much when downloading files from the Internet (though this would still be handy), but when saving a document for example. At the moment, I can't see a workaround for saving the document to one of the standard locations (say Desktop) and then having to go to the Desktop to select it before dragging/dropping it to the sub-folder I wanted it inside in the first place. A two-step process therefore that surely should be just the one? When saving a document in Windows, I have the option to save anywhere I like, but with the Mac OS I only seem to be able to save in the given default locations? Or am I missing something? Or is this just one of those Mac/Windows differentiators?

Cheers,

W.

I've figured out how to import firefox bookmarks...like most things, easy when you know how!

Thanks very much for all your comments.

As it happens, I'm using Firefox over Safari (incidentally - is there any performance difference between the two / can I drag/save my Firefox bookmarks into Safari?).

I've also realised since posting that my main issue with storing files to specific locations is not so much when downloading files from the Internet (though this would still be handy), but when saving a document for example. At the moment, I can't see a workaround for saving the document to one of the standard locations (say Desktop) and then having to go to the Desktop to select it before dragging/dropping it to the sub-folder I wanted it inside in the first place. A two-step process therefore that surely should be just the one? When saving a document in Windows, I have the option to save anywhere I like, but with the Mac OS I only seem to be able to save in the given default locations? Or am I missing something? Or is this just one of those Mac/Windows differentiators?

Cheers,

W.

I may know what your problem is. Some apps by default only show a few standard folders for locations to save as file, as you describe.

An example is in the first screen shot uploaded. Next to the file name there is a downwards arrow (circled in red). Click this arrow and a file browser will open allowing you to pick any folder to save to, see the second screenshot.

Thanks Gippy, I was also wondering how to save files to exact location/folder, It seems so long as the arrow in the circle of your first picture is pointing upwards it gives you all the options where to save to.

I may know what your problem is. Some apps by default only show a few standard folders for locations to save as file, as you describe.

An example is in the first screen shot uploaded. Next to the file name there is a downwards arrow (circled in red). Click this arrow and a file browser will open allowing you to pick any folder to save to, see the second screenshot.

LEGEND! That's exactly what I wanted to be able to do! Thank you very much for your help as I was sure that this was possible but it was really starting to do my head in that I couldn't. And so simple when you know how!

Cheers again,

W,