I also found the file system a bit alien after years of using Windows. I got round it by creating a folder on the Desktop called "Desktop Filing" with sub folders to organise my files. This enables me to drag and drop between my PC and external storage devices such as my pen drives and my external hard drives, without worrying where files were located.
All I need to remember is that the path for my "Desktop Filing" folders is \home\vhg\Desktop\Desktop Filing\ but, most of the time, I don't even need that.
Many programs such as Open Office will let you change the default file paths for opening and saving. If not, they tend to default to "home" which is only a few clicks from any folders created on the desktop.
Most
Windows software defaults to using My Documents so, I have just recreated the same approach under Linux.
Most of my external storage devices just just appear on my desktop when I plug them in so, I don't need to worry where their folders actually are in the main file system.
I do agree that migrating from Windows software to Linux equivalents can be painful. I do still retain a Windows machine for some jobs (sorry !!!). I don't use it often but, occasionally find it useful to have. My best move was migrating to Moneydance for my home accounts from Microsoft Money. I much prefer Moneydance. I did manage to migrate some of my data but, some of it, I just archived, in spreadsheets. I don't know which specific programs you are having a problem with.
Viv
----- Original Message ----
From: "john.hansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <john.hansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To:
list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, 10 July, 2007 2:43:31 PM
Subject: [LUG] Kubuntu 7.04 Woes
Posted by "John Hansen" <john.hansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
I am generally happy to use Kubuntu 7.04 for Internet browsing and email,using Kmail,Thunderbird,Konqueror and Firefox. All works well with my ADSL router.
However I am confused about filing in general, transfers with an USB memory stick or external HDD and the complicated directories.
Why ever it was found necessary to name the partitions and drives in a different manner to Windows also eludes me.
The various books on Ubuntu and Kubuntu spend a lot of time telling about how they came about and how to install the OS. They all seem to skip the important part namely how to save and retrieve files.
My other concern is that many Windows programmes that I use regularly do neither run under Kubuntu nor do they seem to have equivalent programmes into which I can transfer existing
files.
One thing I would greatly like is a one day course covering the basics but excluding installing the OS.The manuals/books go into too many details rather than how to do simple tasks.
If any of you can recommend a simple guide I would be most grateful as I am getting close to giving up on Linux in the form of Kubuntu. It is all just too complicated and difficult to comprehend and remember.
John
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