PROBLEM
In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, files in the 'My Documents' folder cannot be viewed or accessed from ArcMap or ArcCatalog
Description
Data stored in the 'My Documents' folder in Windows 7 and Windows Vista cannot be viewed or accessed from the ArcMap 'Add Data' dialog box or from ArcCatalog.For example, when browsing to 'My Documents' in Windows Explorer, data is visible: ![[O-Image] Data visible in Windows Explorer on Vista or 7](https://webapps-cdn.esri.com/CDN/support-site/technical-articles-images/000010873/00N39000003LL24-0EM39000000wdDq.png)
However, when browsing to the same location in ArcCatalog, the same folder appears empty: ![[O-Image] My Documents on Windows Vista and 7 looks empty in ArcCatalog](https://webapps-cdn.esri.com/CDN/support-site/technical-articles-images/000010873/00N39000003LL24-0EM39000000wdDp.png)
Cause
The My Documents folder on Windows 7 and Vista does not actually contain the data, but rather, a redirect to C:\Users\<user>\Documents, where the data is actually stored.
Solution or Workaround
When using ArcCatalog or the ArcMap 'Add Data' dialog box, access 'My Documents' data by browsing to C:\Users\<users>\Documents instead of the 'My Documents' folder:![[O-Image] Data is actually stored in Documents](https://webapps-cdn.esri.com/CDN/support-site/technical-articles-images/000010873/00N39000003LL2C-0EM39000000wdE0.png)
Article ID:000010873
- ArcMap
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