If you are using FotoFusion, you will have Windows installed on your computer -- be it Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Vista.

 

Windows is an operating system -- it is the master program on your computer that tells the computer what to do with the other files installed on your computer. Some files on your computer will launch software; other files will help software perform particular tasks; other files will store data, such as your projects.

 

To see your files, click on the Windows button, and choose My Computer (or your computer's name).

 

This will launch an application called Windows Explorer. (Note: Windows Explorer is different than Windows Internet Explorer -- which is a web browser). Windows Explorer allows you to see how all the files on your computer are organized. It also allows you to control, to some extent, where files and folders are stored on your computer.

 

The top level organization in Windows shows the different drives in your computer. A drive is a storage device. Your hard disk, which is the main internal storage device in your computer, is usually called the C: drive. CD-drives and external drives will have their own drive letters assigned to them. If you can unplug a storage device, such as a USB key or an external hard drive, it may not have the same letter assigned to it each time you plug it in.

 

Under each of the drives, you will find folders. If you can't see your folders, click on the FOLDERS button at the top of Windows Explorer. You will see a file tree (a list of all the main folders). Some will have a (+) next to them. Click on the (+) to see subfolders under this main folder. You can close them up by clicking on the (-) button.

 

On your C: drive, you will most likely find a folder called My Documents and another called My Pictures. Software, like FotoFusion, will often use these folders to store your files. FotoFusion will save your .scrap project files, by default, in C:\My Documents\My Collages. You can choose to save it in other places as well.

 

Every file on your system has a name, followed by a file extension (eg. collage.exe, Vacation picture (1).jpg, birthday card.scrap).

The file extension tells Windows and the various programs installed on the computer what the file is supposed to do. For example, files ending in .exe will launch software; files ending in .jpg are a type of image file, which you can preview or bring into software like FotoFusion; files ending in .scrap are FotoFusion project files that only FotoFusion can use and open. Never change the file extension if you rename a file -- Windows and other software will not know what the file is supposed to do.

 

 

 

Managing your files

Window Explorer is essentially a very smart filing cabinet. However, like any filing cabinet, you need to make sure to keep it organized well in order to make it easy to use and efficient.

 

One common mistake is to use the Windows desktop or another folder as a catch-all for all your files.

This can lead to confusion very quickly -- using folders will help you keep your files in easy-to-find named locations.

 

Another mistake is to reuse the same file names repeatedly. If you are simply updating a project, save it with the same file. Do not use "save as" make a new copy with a new name. This leads to "version control" problems, meaning you will have problems finding the correct version of the file.

 

Also, don't keep multiple versions of the same file in different locations. Work off one main file, and keep backups if needed that can be updated separately.

 

Note to Extreme users: Multipage projects will save all pages under one project name. Use the Pages hover to see your pages and add new ones, but don't resave the project under a new file name after you add a page.
 
 

 

The following are two methods to ensure that your files are kept organized and easy to access:

 

 

Use Default folders

Some users will choose to keep their files in the default location, specified by FotoFusion.

 

OR

 

Use Project-based folders

You can create folders in Windows Explorer to organize your images and project file.

Click on the Windows Explorer FILE menu item, and choose NEW, or right-mouse click on the main file area and choose NEW, then pick "Folder". You can name the folder anything you want.

 

Some users will create a separate folder for each project they are working on.

For instance, a photographer will create a folder called "Smith-Jones Wedding." Into this folder, she will place...

If the photographer needs to work on that client's project or images, then all materials related to their event will be stored in one central location.

 

 

 

Finding "lost" projects

If you cannot remember where you saved a file, you can use FotoFusion or Windows Explorer to find it.

Generally, all projects made on your computer will appear in the FotoFusion File > Open window.

If you are trying to find and open a file made on another computer, you will need to navigate to the subdirectory where the file is stored.

 

If this doesn't work, you can use one of the following methods to locate files on your computer.

 

To find images, exported projects or FotoFusion project files, in Windows Explorer...

Hit Ctrl-F on your keyboard -- this will launch the Search tool.

You can search My Computer (or a specific drive) for a file name, or even a particular file extension type.

 

In FotoFusion, you can use the Organizer to find FotoFusion .scrap project files made on that same computer.

Click on the Organizer, and choose the Search tab on the left side.

Change the TYPE box to "Saved Work" then click on the (+) next to this option.

Choose Projects, or Pages (to find a page within a multipage project).

Thumbnails of your FotoFusion projects will appear in preview. Right-mouse select the one you wish to reopen.