Settings
Settings is where you set up how ClutterKiller functions. The main part
of the Settings interface is 6 category boxes. The 6
categories Clutterkiller organizes files into are:
- Audio
- Archives
- Documents
- Pictures
- Programs
- Video
In each of these boxes you can change/set what file types are included in the
category, and also set the location of where ClutterKiller will send these file
types when it encounters them.
ClutterKiller comes set with a full default setup that creates a folder on
the Desktop called ClutterKiller Organized Files. Inside this folder are 6
individual folders, one for each category, named accordingly. This is a
great setup to start with and keep using. Having only one folder and 6
individuals inside is effective organization and greatly reduces clutter.
Most people will find they can just keep this setup and simply add more file
types (of the types found on their computers). You can of course modify
this or change it entirely according to your preferences.
One popular alternative method is to use some of the organizational folders
Windows comes with natively. All Windows operating systems come with a
My Documents folder. Inside this folder there are also category
folders such as My Pictures, My
Music, and My Videos. You could simply add
more folders for the rest of the categories, like My Programs
or My Archives. Add a folder for each category in the Settings,
and you have completed Microsoft's idea. This system is more effective, of
course, with ClutterKiller, because now the organizing is automatic.
Note: In Vista, the "My" has been removed from these names
(ex., Pictures, Music and Video).
How to set the location:
- Click the Set Folder button. The "Browse For Folder"
dialog window will open. You can browse to whatever folder in your file system
you want to set for that category. You can also create a new folder by
using the Make New Folder button at the bottom right of the
Folder Browser window. Right clicking on a folder in the Folder Browser will
also give you the normal Explorer right click controls: rename, cut,
copy, delete, etc.
- Once you have the folder you want selected in the Folder Browser, click
OK and this folder will be set for the category you are
in. The browser will close and you will see the folder path for the
folder you selected in white, below the category name.
How to add/delete file types from a category:
- All of the categories have a light blue text entry field where the
file extensions for the file types are kept. To add or remove an
extension, simply click into the light blue field of the category you want to
alter, and make the change. Traditionally, these extensions are 3 digits, but
now they can be longer. You delete the extension to take that file type out of
that category, and you type in new ones to add them to the
category. Important: When adding and removing extensions make
sure there is always a space between the extensions.
Example: txt doc pdf rtf
- Once your additions and/or removals are complete, simply click outside of
the field. The changes you made will automatically save when you close
the Settings window or when you close ClutterKiller.
How to restore default settings:
- Click on the Restore Default Settings button and the
default settings will replace what you currently have set.
How to set default settings:
- As your current settings save when you close ClutterKiller, you don't
usually have to worry about saving anything, but there are some
circumstances where you might want to save the current settings as default. To
do this, simply click on the Set as Default Settings button
and the current settings will save as default.
The Auto Learning checkbox.
- The Auto Learning checkbox is checked by default. When checked, it means
that when you drag & drop a file of a unknown filetype, and you are asked
what category to put it in, ClutterKiller will save that file's extension to
the chosen category. This means that the next time ClutterKiller
encounters a file of that type, it will know what category folder to send it
to.
- The Auto Learn function makes it so you don't have to enter any extensions
manually into the File Type fields; rather ClutterKiller will learn as it
goes.
- If you come across clutter that you want to organize, but don't want to
pin it down to a particular category, you can uncheck Auto Learn and
ClutterKiller will give you the "What Folder?" dialog each time you drag and
drop an unknown file type.
Copyright © 2008 Data Go Round, LLC