file hierarchy ?

[gmermel]

I am using Jellybean. I would like to understand how to manage files like I can on my Mac (no worries, I am a mac user of 30 years, and I have CHOSEN android over iOS).

Is there a "wonky" user guide for the OS that would help me learn? Not too wonky, though. I am a seasoned mac user not a geek. The very idea of launching Terminal on my Mac breaks me out in a cold sweat........

Here are the sorts of things I'm talking about:

Is there a way to move a folder from internal to sd storage and retain it's functionality? As an example. If I move my DCIM folder, will future pictures be loaded into the new location? This is like how I can "choose" a default iPhoto album from any location as the default that the iPhoto app launches so I can store my pictures in an off-board hard-drive where they reside safely and don't take up my hard-drive space.

Same thing with app folders. If I move my launcher folder to my sd card could I then move the sd card and use the stored preferences on a different device? Like on a Mac whereI can save a plist and after a system rebuild put it back in my preference folder and have the app it came from restored to where I was.

 

[Nelviticus]

Think of the file system on Android as something that Google grudgingly lets you have access to, rather than as somewhere you should go to configure things (much like on a Mac I suppose).

Apps have rules for where they should store their files and settings but many app authors ignore this and save stuff anywhere. If you're lucky the app will let you choose this in its settings menu, or if not it may let you back up settings to a location you specify so that you can copy those settings to another device.

I recently did a factory reset of my device and it was an extremely tedious job trying to back up as many settings as I could find. Some get synced to Google and are linked to your account, some are stored in obvious places, some I never did manage to find.

So you can't change where the camera app saves photos just by moving the DCIM folder. Some camera apps let you choose where to save photos but if the one on the Prime does then I can't find the setting The good news is that you can download other camera apps.

If you want to have a nose around the file system I recommend ES File Explorer. It lets you access (but not change) areas that the stock file manager hides from you. Also it's very good!