If you're curious about the contents of the System Folder, this document provides a brief description of what's inside. The features in this document are specific to the OS 7.6. However, they provide basic insight into the contents of System Folder for other versions of Operating Systems, in general.

Depending on the type of computer you have, the contents of the System Folder may vary. You might also have items that were added by third-party applications.

Finder
Displays the desktop area, where you work with files and disks, and keeps track of your files.

Apple Menu Items folder
When you place an item (folder, application, or document) in this folder, it appears in the Apple Menu. To create submenus, you can place folders inside of folders.

Clipboard
Temporarily stores the last item you cut or copied from a document.

Control Panels folder
Contains individual control panels. You use control panels to adjust your computer's settings.

Control Strip Modules folder
Contains modules used by the Control Strip.

Editors
Contains OpenDoc part editors. Editors provide functionality to OpenDoc parts, but you don't work with editors directly. To use an editor to create a document, double-click the editor's stationery icon. Your stationery icons are probably located in the Stationery folder on your hard disk.

Extensions folder
Contains individual extensions that modify the operation of your computer. Unlike a control panel, an extension works automatically, without your intervention.

Fonts folder
Contains font suitcases or individual font files. You can place up to 128 suitcase or font files in this folder. PostScript fonts are not included in the 128 file limit. Font suitcases can hold any number of font files, up to a limit of 16 MB.

Launcher Items folder
Contains files, folders, and applications that appear in the Launcher window.

Macsbug
A debugger used by programmers to help diagnose problems with programs, extensions, and so on. Unless you're programming, you don't need Macsbug.

Preferences folder
Contains preferences files created by individual applications. A preference file determines application settings.

PrintMonitor Documents folder
Stores information waiting to be printed.

Scrapbook
Stores items placed in the Scrapbook. (The Scrapbook is available in the Apple menu.)

Shutdown Items folder
Contains applications or scripts that run automatically when you shut down your computer. You can add or remove items from this folder.

Startup Items folder
Contains applications or scripts that run automatically when you start your computer. You can add or remove items from this folder.

System file
Contains some system-wide resources, such as sounds and keyboard layouts.