CorelDRAW allows users to save all sorts of custom content. Examples include pattern fills, artistic media brushes, object sprayers, scripts and more. When you save any of these types of contents, they will default to the AppData folder on Windows Vista and Windows 7. Windows XP users will find them in Documents and Settings. The problem with this is that the AppData folder is a hidden folder.

If you save any of these types of content to AppData, you may never be able to access the files outside of CorelDRAW. There are two ways to avoid this problem. First is to navigate to another folder before clicking the Save button. Unfortunately this could mean that the content won’t be automatically recognized by CorelDRAW. Second is to make hidden folders visible. While this is possible, it isn’t always a great idea since it also allows you to see more dangerous files like system files.

Supposedly this is done to follow Microsoft’s requirements for certification. Let’s use an object sprayer as an example. It is saved by users as a CDR file and it must be in a hidden folder based on these requirements. Yet if you save or export any other kind of graphic to CDR format, it can be wherever you like. What’s the difference? A user created the file and it is in CDR format.

For now, I can only suggest you save your files to a safe location or make hidden folders visible. We can only hope that Corel addresses this in the future so that you can easily access the content you create.