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Change your default Save As folder in Office

Save time by having your primary storage folder open when you save a file in your favorite apps.

Dennis O'Reilly Former CNET contributor
Dennis O'Reilly began writing about workplace technology as an editor for Ziff-Davis' Computer Select, back when CDs were new-fangled, and IBM's PC XT was wowing the crowds at Comdex. He spent more than seven years running PC World's award-winning Here's How section, beginning in 2000. O'Reilly has written about everything from web search to PC security to Microsoft Excel customizations. Along with designing, building, and managing several different web sites, Dennis created the Travel Reference Library, a database of travel guidebook reviews that was converted to the web in 1996 and operated through 2000.
Dennis O'Reilly
2 min read

When you save a file in an Office application, the program opens the Save As dialog box with My Documents (in Office 2003) or Documents (in Office 2007) as the default folder to store it in. If you're saving an image, Windows wants to put it in My Pictures, and it wants to put audio files in My Music and videos in My Videos. (Vista uses the same folder nomenclature, minus the "My".)

You can stick with these if you wish, but I prefer to store my personal files on a USB thumb drive with folders organized by project rather than by file type. That way all the files for a project--regardless of type--are stored in the same place. It's easy to change the default save-as locations in Office and other Windows apps.

Microsoft Word: In Word 2003 and previous versions to 97, click Tools > Options > File Locations, highlight Documents (it may be chosen by default), and click Modify. Navigate to the folder of your choice, and click OK twice. In Word 2007, click the Office button, choose Word Options at the bottom of the window, click Save in the left pane, select Browse to the right of Default file location, browse to the folder of your choice, and click OK twice.

The Save settings in Microsoft Word 2007
Reset the default file save-as location in Microsoft Word 2007.

Microsoft Excel: For all versions of Excel, start by opening Windows Explorer and navigating to the folder you want to store your worksheets in. Copy the folder path in the Address bar, open Excel, and in Excel 2003, click Tools > Options > General. In Excel 2007, click the Office button, choose Excel Options at the bottom of the window, and select Save in the left pane. In both versions, paste the folder path into the text box to the right of Default file location, and click OK.

Microsoft PowerPoint: As with Excel, start by opening Windows Explorer, selecting the folder you want to store your presentations in, and copying the path in the Address bar. Then open PowerPoint (2003 and earlier versions), click Tools > Options > Save, paste the folder path in the text field below Default file location, and click OK. In PowerPoint 2007, click the Office button, choose PowerPoint Options at the bottom of the window, select Save in the left pane, paste the folder path in the text field to the right of Default file location, and click OK.

I was hoping to find a way to change the default save folder for Microsoft Paint, but I haven't yet found the right Registry key to edit. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find it.

Tomorrow: a utility that lets you uninstall programs that Add/Remove Programs can't get rid of.