Change Default for Open New Template File In Adobe Illustrator

Question

How can I change the default folder when trying to "Open From Template".
When I use the open from template it defaults to the template folder in the program folders.
I want to change the default folder to a different location.
Adobe Illustrator CS3 13.0.2

Answer 1

Here's how to have your templates available in the "File New From Template" in Adobe Illustrator for Windows.
What you need to have
Administrator access to your machine.
What you need to know
The default directory for Adobe Illustrator templates is here (for CS5.1)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS5.1\Cool Extras\en_US\Templates
The default Windows security doesn't allow shortcuts to be created directly under that directory.
You can, however, create the shortcut indirectly!
What you need to do
In Summary
Create one (or multiple) folder shortcut(s) in the default Illustrator template directory.
In Detail
Open Illustrator
Select File -> New From Template
Drop down the "Look in" drop-down, note the directory:C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS5.1\Cool Extras\en_US\Templates
Open a Windows Explorer, and navigate to that directory
Open another Windows Explorer, and navigate to the directory where you keep your templates.
Right-click-drag your folder from the second Explorer (your directory) to the first Explorer (default templates) and drop.
Select "Create shortcut" from the right-click popup menu that appears when you "drop" (release the mouse button).
Windows will display a message "Shortcut cannot be created here, do you want to create it on the desktop".
Select Yes.
Move the directory shortcut to the Illustrator to the first Explorer (default templates directory)
Windows will ask for Administrator permissions.
Select Yes.
You can right-click on the template shortcut and rename it without the " - Shortcut" suffix; you'll have to grant Administrator permissions for that as well.
After completing these steps, your template shortcut will appear properly and you can select it.  Happy designing!