Project files not visible in Vista Windows Explorer

[Paul D]

When I open an Audacity project from within the programme, I see the project folder and can open the project as expected.
I can play the project, make and save changes etc. and the next time I open it everything has saved correctly.

However,in Vista Windows Explorer, the project folder can't be seen - I've unchecked the hidden files options and even searched for files I know are saved, but the Windows search doesn't find them.

I remember seeing someone raising this a couple of years ago, but there wasn't an answer.

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

[steve]

When you first Save your project, where are you saving it to?

[Paul D]

I save to the default projects folder - it's in the Audactiy folder in programme files on my hard disk. Saving within Audacity I see the project folder, a Nyquist folder plus some system files and another folder (sorry not on home computer so working from memory)! The Windows Explorer view from CProgramme FilesAudacity shows everything from the save as view, except the project folder.

I've unchecked hidden files and searched folders, looked in user temporary files etc.

Thanks for your help.
Paul

[steve]

I save to the default projects folder - it's in the Audactiy folder in programme files on my hard disk.

Ah that may be the problem. That is not really the "default projects folder" (it's not really where you should be saving projects), it just happens to be the current "save" folder. The confusion probably stems from the fact that Audacity is a cross-platform program, and Windows, Mac and Linux use different document folders.

Create a folder in "My Documents" and call it something like "audacity projects" (anything as long as it is a valid name but best to stick with "alphanumeric characters, space, hyphen and underscore" for all file and folder names).

Now save an Audacity project into that folder - any joy?

[Paul D]

I've just created a folder in C:Program FilesAudacity Projects, whereas it was originally in C:Program FilesAudacity and I still can't see the file. However, as you suggested, I've created a file in C:UsersPaul.Amanda-PCDocumentsAudacity as you suggested and it's saved the aup file and the data folder with the .au files inside - result and thanks very much.

I'm still baffled as to where the original files are though!!

[steve]

Most likely they are there, but Windows is hiding them from you. Microsoft do not like you to poke around in you computer other than in your user area.

[Paul D]

I think you're right - the Windows search (in Vista anyway), never shows up files from anti virus/spyware etc.

Thanks for your help in resolving this.

[kozikowski]

Windows likes to pretend it's doing advanced file management, but it's really just using the three-character file extension and then hiding it from you. The latest Windows won't even show you the extensions in "properties" like the earlier ones did.

This gives you concepts like: "I thought all music files were MP3."

It's highly recommended you talk Windows into showing you extensions.

My Computer > Explore > Tools > Folder Options > View > deselect "Hide File Extensions."

You don't need to see Hidden and System files. That's your option, but correct me, that the setting that tries to hide all the EXE files?

Koz