QuickBooks 2011: The Missing Manual

Where to Store Your Company Files

QuickBooks 2011 has its own favorite spot for company files, but you can save your files where it makes the most sense for your company. For example, if several people work on your company files simultaneously, choose your storage location to get the quickest performance (you can read how to do that in the next section). This section explains how to decide where to store your company files.

In Windows 7, the program automatically sets the company-file folder to C:\Users\Public\ Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files. The folder for Windows XP is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\(Shared)\Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files. (If you’re browsing through folders, the Windows XP path shows up simply as “Shared Documents”.)

However, you’re free to choose a different folder. QuickBooks lets you store your company files anywhere you like, so you may as well keep them with the rest of your documents. It also makes sense to create a dedicated folder for your QuickBooks files. In addition to company files, you’ll probably create backup files, message templates, files that you export from QuickBooks, and files for importing into your company file. With a QuickBooks folder as a container, you can create subfolders for each type of file, as shown in Figure A-2.

Tip

If you aren’t totally at ease working with files in your computer’s operating system, Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual, Windows Vista: The Missing Manual, or Windows 7: The Missing Manual ...