Beginner Question Re Using An Alias, Or...

[Robert4]

Hello,

Still trying to learn all the nuances involved in my going from
a W10 pc to new iMAC.
Sure is different.

I alluded to my uncertainty re this some time back, but am still confused.
Will blame it on old age.

This isn't a big deal or important; just something I'd like to understand
better:

Let's say I have a Document (or might even be an APP).

I can put the Document right on the Desktop.
Or, I can put it in the Dock's Document Folder (right hand side of Divider)
and create an Alias that would then be placed on the Desktop.

Either way, the real estate used from the Desktop would be about the same.

What are the pros and cons for the two approaches, please:

One being placing the item in the Desktop or Applications Folder with Desktop Alias's to them,
or putting directly on the Desktop.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Lunder89]

I think the pros and cons are really more up to preference. Do you like it stored on the desktop, or in the documents folder?

Personally I don't do either. My Documents folder is not even in the Dock. And I hate mess on my desktop, it obscures the nice pictures I use as wallpapers
I use search a lot, or I use Tags to group files for a project together. All my document type files are stored in the cloud, so I can get to them on all my Macs, and my iPhone.
And if I don't search or use Tags I just open the application that created the document. Pages, Numbers and Keynote open their own folders in iCloud Drive (Apples Cloud storage service), where my files are stored, most recent edits show up first.

I sometimes also use secondary clicks on the Dock apps to get at my most recent documents.

For Apps I use search a lot again, or I use the Launchpad (The rocket icon in the Dock). I only have the Apps in the Dock that I use either every day or very often, or I need convenient access to them, like taking a note during a phone call.

For search, you can get at Spotlight (Apples search feature), but holding down the CMD key (Command Key) and pressing the spacebar. There you can search for anything. And I found that after just a few months of trying it out. That is was just a habit to use it all the time to find my stuff.

I hope you can use this answer for something.

 

[BrianBaughn]

You can also create Smart Folders that are basically ongoing searches. An example would be: PDFs that have been modified in the last month. These can be placed in the Finder window sidebar, if wanted.

 

[Robert4]

Hi,

Just a quick thanks.
Appreciate the time and help everyone has given me.

Great Forum.

Bob