This post may help. I think the “key point” here, to me anyway, is that the new Default Location function is multifaceted - Its purpose is to not only specify a Default Folder for “project files,” but also a “Project Folder Name” which is used to automatically separate and organize new projects into their own automatically-numbered folder:
So the “logic” basically takes 2 forms - you can:
- Do not set “Use Default Location” which gives you C14-type “free floating” project and supporting files location selection.
- Set “Use Default Location” which ALWAYS creates a unique Project Folder with a “numbered version” of whatever “base” Project Folder Name you’ve selected.
You’re right - this makes you change the way you previous did things, which may be the cause for the logical disconnect. I can only speak for myself, but it took me a minute to “get it” too, at which point I realized that this function “gave up” some control of “on-the-fly” project folder location in favor of having a fully separate, automatically managed sub-folder of all projects. I prefer this method, and it works for both of my typical approaches of “let’s get creative with something on the fly” or “rolling up my sleeves to create a complete body of work after planning out what I want.”
What I do now is just let the system create the full folder structure for me (which I really like) and then after I’ve saved it (or not) or done whatever I’ve done, I just rename the folder, or after it’s saved THEN I use the “Backup Project” method. This actually saves me the bother of wondering what project folder I’m going to save something I haven’t really begun creating yet. But that’s just me.
As others (including myself) have pointed out, ideally there would be some control of this behavior in the main Hub dialog. I suggested a “mirror” of the Settings configuration option a while ago, but for me, I think just an “override” function would be better. Maybe the “+ Create Empty” button name could be based on what your settings are, and holding Option “live toggles” between them. As in, if I have Use Defaults set, the button name is “+ Create Empty (Defaults)” but if for that instance I hold the Option key down, it changes to “+ Create Empty (Select Folder)” or something similar. This would work both ways for some “instant toggle” functionality if I wanted it and that way I wouldn’t have to think about going in and out of the Settings. In fact, I would rather NOT change the default settings and just have a “do it this time” option. But that’s another story.
Not sure if any of that helped, or if you already knew all that and just disagreed with the overall logic, but for me the new approach is really nice, and I love having separate, self-numbering project folders now.