If you are using the filefield module, you can configure subdirectories for files/images that are uploaded. The imagecache module also creates a separate directory structure for image versions. Other file solutions like the IMCE module also allow for subdirectories.

Files are tracked in the database and you can use Views to create lists of them if you are concerned about file management. 

Your question asks "Why" but perhaps consider "Why not?" Storage is cheap. Sometimes subdirectories can be more administrative overhead than they are worth. Especially if you decide to change the structure someday -- existing files have paths entries in the files database table, which would need to be updated, and you would need to add redirects so that users don't receive 404's for cached links. 

There is no right answer to how you choose to construct your files directory.


On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 11:40 AM, prothero <prothero@geol.ucsb.edu> wrote:
Hi. I'm using SolarSentinal and Drupal 6.19. http://es.earthednet.org

What I'm wondering is the best place to put user uploaded files. Currently, I have specified the /sites/default/files  folder. This is the setting in the administer->file system configuration. The temporary directory is set to tmp.

So, when users, who is allowed to create new content and upload images are active, do I get a folder with a bazillion images in it? Is there a way of cleaning house? I notice that duplicate images get a suffix that keeps filenames from being duplicated.

It seems odd that the uploaded images from the entire site would all end up in a single folder.

Perspective would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Bill


What happens if 

William A. Prothero

http://earthednet.org/


--
[ Drupal support list | http://lists.drupal.org/ ]