I have an SSD for the OS & Apps. When I installed Office 2008, the installer put the Microsoft User Data folder in ~/Documents. What is the Microsoft User Data folder for? Can I simply move it to my HDD where I keep all my data (documents, pics, etc)? Or do I need to tell Office the new location? If yes, how do I do that? Thanks!!
— Royce
Office stores all sorts of preferences and other data pertaining to the Office suite of applications there. That is the default location, and there is no option in Office to change it.
However, there are ways to change it anyway, though they are a bit complex. I usually just leave it alone.
Here is one article on how to change its location:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20040213183918963
However, that is old. Another source claims that if you move it to ~/Library/Preferences then Office will recognize the move and work fine.
You may want to try that and see what happens. If it doesn't work, you can always move it back or re-install. It may just create a new folder in the original location.