Microsoft User Data folder

[ddahle1970]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Is there a reason the Microsoft User Data folder needs to reside in the Documents folder rather than ~/Library/Application Support/ ?

I would think that the "Documents" folder would be for user-generated documents and the "Application Support" folder hierarchy would be for application-generated files? Or am I wrong?

Secondly, I don't use Entourage (never even launched it once) - so why's the database file 20MB in size?

 

[CyberTaz]

My understanding is that the MUD is where it is because Apple's OS X
guidelines determine that to be the appropriate location. Beyond that I
haven't a clue ‹ the developers most certainly have reasons for what they do
but I'm afraid you'd have to ask them what those reasons might be

The Database serves all of the apps in the Office package in several ways
although its primary association is with Entourage. This is from the
Database Manager Help:
_____________________________________________________________________
If you installed a stand-alone version of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, the
database stores the following information:

The Office Address Book
Project Palette data
Scrapbook clips

If you installed Microsoft Office 2008, the database stores the preceding
three types of information and all Entourage data. This includes messages,
events, tasks, preferences, and contacts.
_____________________________________________________________________

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[ddahle1970]

See, part of the reason I asked regarding this folder - I don't have a Time Capsule so I can't use Time Machine for backups. Instead, I have defined 'burn folders' so I can back up my data to DVD. The User Data folder being where it is (and its data being otherwise meaningless to me) prevents me from cleanly defining the Documents folder as a source location. I eventually had to create a separate My Documents folder in ~ that I could simply target as a whole for backup (with an alias back into Documents). There needs to be the option to set the location of the user data folder without even an alias back into the Documents folder.

 

[ddahle1970]

I found a solution and which fully resolves my question.

 

[Diane Ross]

I found a solution and which fully resolves my question.

Care to share your solution?

 

[ddahle1970]

I am a little hesitant to share this (very elegant) solution out of concern that Microsoft may turn around and "correct" this solution in a future Office update.

 

[Diane Ross]

I am a little hesitant to share this (very elegant) solution out of concern
that Microsoft may turn around and "correct" this solution in a future Office
update.

We all learn from each other. If you don't care to share, then how can you
expect anyone to share anything with you?

 

[ddahle1970]

OK - point taken.
It seems that Office 2004 AND 2008 look in two locations for the folder.
The other location and to which I moved my MUD folder is ~/Library/Preferences.