Using Export[] sends the file where?

Question

I am trying to use the Export command to convert a list of plots into a *.gif file, and the command runs and executes well, but I can't find the file! Where is it supposed to go? Did it even work?

Here is my code :

  q[n_, x_] := x (1 + x)^n + x^n;
  points = Table[
     Map[{Re[#], Im[#]} &, 
   Flatten[NSolve[q[n, x] == 0, x][[All]] /. Rule -> (#2 &)]], {n, 1, 20}];

  Export["domniationrootsstargraph.gif", 
    Table[ListPlot[points[[i]], PlotRange -> {{-15, 4}, {-10, 10}}], {i, 1, 20, 1}]
        ]

Thanks in advance =)

Answer 1

Easy to check:

Directory[]

Which in my case on Win7 gives:

"C:\Users\vitaliyk\Documents"

You can always specify a complete path to a destination you'd like to save with, for example, top menu Insert >> FilePath which will bring a standard browse-directory window:

This would go instead of your "domniationrootsstargraph.gif". A useful trick to know is command

SetDirectory[NotebookDirectory[]]

which will allow saving your files by default (without full-path specification) into the directory where your notebook is saved. Also to check files in the CurrentDirectory use

FileNames[]

or, for example,

FileNames["*.gif"]

for specific file types.

Answer 2

Just to add a slightly different method; something I like to do, since I am fairly OCD about always working in a notebook which is already saved in some directory, is to use NotebookDirectory:

Export[NotebookDirectory[]<>"test.gif",list]

This saves your file in the same directory as your .nb file, and is fairly easy to remember in a pinch.

Answer 3

You might try

Export[SystemDialogInput["FileSave", "domniationrootsstargraph.gif"], 
   Table[ListPlot[points[[i]], PlotRange -> {{-15, 4}, {-10, 10}}], {i, 1, 20, 1}]]

This will let you pick the directory interactively.

Answer 4

Try this, one I compiled for my thesis writing:

Export2PDF[PlotName_] := 
Module[{A = 600}, 
Export[SystemDialogInput["FileSave", 
StringJoin[{ToString[FileName], ".pdf"}]], PlotName, 
"AllowRasterization" -> True, ImageSize -> 360, 
ImageResolution -> A]]

Plot example:

Plot1 = Plot3D[
Sin[x] Sin[y], {x, -\[Pi], \[Pi]}, {y, -2 \[Pi], 2 \[Pi]}]

Output:

Export Code:

Export2PDF[Plot1]

Dialog Box:

SAVE and DONE !