Where to store clip files and clip catalogs

There are two types of files that come with Clip Gallery: clip source files (also called clip files) and Clip Gallery catalogs (also called clip catalogs). For more information about clip file types, see Media tabs. Clip catalogs contain information about the clip files called clip properties. When adding clips to your Clip Gallery (especially when installing an additional Microsoft product on your computer), you have two options for clip catalogs and two options for clip files. See the documentation for the application that Clip Gallery is installed with in order to determine where to find the Custom install options for that product. In many cases it can be accessed from the Windows Start menu, and then selecting Settings, Control Panel, clicking the Add/Remove Programs icon, clicking the Install/Uninstall tab, the Add/Remove button, and following the instructions from there.

• Install Clip Gallery catalogs to your hard drive
  If you have enough space on your hard drive, you will get the best results when browsing or searching for clips in Clip Gallery by installing all the Clip Gallery catalogs on your hard drive. The catalogs are relatively small and contain information about each clip, including the thumbnail or small preview, that you see when browsing the Media tabs or looking at clip properties. Some applications do not install the catalogs in a Typical installation, so you must choose the Custom install option when installing or reinstalling an application, and then be sure to select the Clip Gallery catalogs you want installed on your local disk or network.
• Leave Clip Gallery catalogs on CD-ROM
  This is best used if you are very short on hard-drive space or will not access these clips except very occasionally. If you do not install the Clip Gallery catalogs that come with your application either to your local hard drive or a network share, you will not see the clips from those catalogs in Clip Gallery unless the disk containing the catalog is in your disk drive.
• Put most or all of your clip source files on your computer's hard drive
  This is a good choice if you have lots of available hard-drive space and want the quickest access to the clips when using Preview, Play, or Insert clips. You must choose the Custom install option when installing or reinstalling an application in order to put your clip files on your hard drive.
• Leave clip source files at their source location, on a CD-ROM, other removable media, or on a network
  This is a good choice if you have limited hard-drive space or will only use these clips infrequently. You can do this only if the clips are on removable media or on a network that you can access. You cannot use this option with clips from Clips Online.