Under FILE|PREFERENCES|FILES, the IMPORT default is where looks for files when FILE|IMPORT|MEDIA is clicked (edit mode).

The OUTPUT default is where PD will save productions. That path is echoed in the PRODUCE mode, just under the viewing window. That path also applies to CAPTURE. I changed the path, then restarted PD. The new path was shown in the CAPTURE window (though I did not attempt an actual capture).

These tutorials may help understand how to best manage PD projects...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAOnn8g0C_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2CYLYIynB0

This has been an ongoing annoyance, I've brought this up before. I often find myself with exported photos and videos in an unrelated folder, then I remember and alter the export preference. It would seem to me, a non-coder-type crabby fellow, that the export could be matched up to a particular folder, or at least ask/remind us of it in a popup. HP Envy Phoenix/4thGen i7-4770(4@3.4GHz~turbo>3.9)
Nvidia GTX 960(4GB)/16GB DDR3/
Canon Vixia HV30/HF-M40/HF-M41/HF-G20/Olympus E-PL5.
Tape capture using 6 VCR, TBC-1000, Elite BVP4+, Sony D8 camcorder with TBC.
https://www.facebook.com/BarryAFTT

Problem is I have the correct and desired folder in the prefs, saved the file, but they don't go there. They are always in the folder for the last project that I worked on.

Quote: So I start a new project, create a new folder and set it as the "Import Folder" in the file preferences so files that I capture will go there. They never do. They seem to go to the last project's import file that I created. What am I doing wrong? Exporting rendered files does the same thing. They go to the last projects files.

I understand that the Import Folder is one that contains the files added in PD.
This is in memory until you choose another folder.

The Export Folder, this can be set a fixed place, she keeps files created during editing.
These files will be deleted in 30 days (default).

Note: To capture files (Capture Media Content) every file saved goes to the Export Folder