# Extractors don't use a target directory

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795
**Category:** In Situ Support
**Created:** [June 11, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795 "2025-06-11T15:41:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/8e8cbc/32.png) [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795/1 "2025-06-11T15:41:58Z")

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Hi guys,  
Extractors/ JPGs allow a user to name output images, but I don’t see where you can select a directory. What am I missing?  
Thanks,  
Alan

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### Author: ![Alexandre\_Minot](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/alexandre_minot/32/7132_2.png) [@Alexandre\_Minot](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Alexandre_Minot)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795/2 "2025-06-11T16:28:18Z")

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```auto
from paraview import catalyst
options = catalyst.Options()
options.GlobalTrigger = 'TimeStep'
options.CatalystLiveTrigger = 'TimeStep'
options.ExtractsOutputDirectory = 'datasets_other'
```

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### Author: ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/cory.quammen/32/11193_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795/3 "2025-06-11T16:28:35Z")

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Assuming you are doing this in the UI, if you use File → Save Extracts, you set the directory with the **Extracts Output Directory** property in the _Save Extracts Options_ dialog:

 ![image](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/3X/a/2/a287763d18e52068b8714b1b3a226e92862c8070.png)

If you use File → Save Catalyst State, you set the directory with a property with the same name in the _Save Catalyst State Options_ dialog:

 ![image](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/3X/0/d/0de9903f992433db1086a3c95e8476ec61a6e547.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/8e8cbc/32.png) [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795/4 "2025-06-11T17:04:26Z")

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What you say now makes sense. Take what I say here with a grain of salt, as this is NOT my area of expertise.

I find needing two commands from different parts of the GUI to be confusing (obviously). Why not add a comment in the Properties tab of all Extractors/ images, just below where you present the file format, to say that Extractors need to be paired with a File/ Save Extracts or File/ Save Catalyst State, and that the output directory is set there?

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### Author: ![Alexandre\_Minot](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/alexandre_minot/32/7132_2.png) [@Alexandre\_Minot](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Alexandre_Minot)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extractors-dont-use-a-target-directory/16795/5 "2025-06-11T17:18:19Z")

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I would actually argue that the directory should be an attribute/option of each extractor.