One of the most common issues SVGCuts users encounter is not knowing where to find their files after they download them! It sounds like a very silly problem, but its real and from a support standpoint, its one of the most common issues we deal with on a daily basis.
PC Browsers
To get the most out of the information below, be sure you are running the following version (or later) of each browser:
- Internet Explorer - 11.0.9600.16438 (click here for information on how to update Internet Explorer)
- Google Chrome - 35.0.1916.114 (click here for information on how to update Google Chrome)
- Firefox - 29.0.1 (click here for information on how to update Firefox)
By default, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox will put anything you download into your account's Downloads folder. (C:\Users\UserFolder\Downloads).
Locating The Downloads Folder
1. From the desktop in Windows 8.1, click on the File Explorer icon.
2. Click on the Downloads folder, usually located under the Favorites section.
3. If you haven't made any changes to your browsers or have not specified where your downloads go, this is where you'll find your files!
The Wrong Way To Organize SVG Files
You can leave your files in the Downloads folder, but it's just going to keep growing and growing and getting filled with EVERYTHING you download which will make it difficult for you to find what you're looking. We recommend that you create a new folder (you can call it anything you'd like, Example: Jan's SVG Collection) specifically for your SVG files and put all of your SVG downloads into your dedicated SVG folder.
The Right Way To Organize SVG Files
The optimal way to keep your SVGCuts files organized is to create a new folder and save all of your downloads to this newly created folder!
1. From the Desktop, click the File Explorer.
2. Locate your user folder. In Windows 8.1, click on Desktop.
3. Double-click on your user folder.
4. Create a new folder for your SVG files! Right-click in an empty area of your user folder, select New and click Folder.
5. Give your new folder a name. In this case, I named it Jan's SVG Collection.
6. That's it! Now you have a dedicated folder for your SVG files!
Changing Browser Download Settings
The next step in making your workflow more efficient is telling your browser to give you the option to specify where you want to save your files instead of putting EVERYTHING into your downloads folder.
Google Chrome
1. With Google Chrome open, click the menu icon and select Preferences...
2. Click Show advanced settings...
3. In the Downloads section, check the box labeled Ask where to save each file before downloading
4. That's it! Now when you download a file using Google Chrome, you'll be given the option to specify where you want to save it! Remember that new folder we created? That's where you'll put it! 🙂
Firefox
1. With Firefox open, click the menu icon and select Options
2. Click Always ask me where to save files. Click OK
3. That's it! Now when you download a file using Firefox, be sure that you select Save File and not Open With, you'll be given the option to specify where you want to save it!
4. Remember that new folder we created? That's where you'll put the SVG files you download!
Internet Explorer
The latest version of Internet Explorer gives you the option to Save As, which gives you the ability to tell the browser where to put the file. Do not Open or simply Save the file, always click Save as and point your download to your newly created folder!
Unzipping SVGCuts Files
All version of Windows have the native ability to extract/unzip ZIP files, so don't waste money on third party ZIP programs! You don't need them! Zipped files look like documents with little zippers on them. Unzipped files do NOT have zippers on them and look like they are partially open.
1. Unzipping a file in Windows is easy, just right-click on the ZIP file and select Extract All.
2. The following screen will ask where you want to Unzip the file. Since you already have the ZIP file in your new SVG folder, you don't have to change anything. Just click Extract.
3. The unzipped version of your file is now ready for you to use in your software! You can delete the original ZIP file if you'd like. (Zipped file on the right that you can delete. Unzipped file on the left, ready to use!)
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