A workspace is a directory on your local hard drive where your projects and settings are stored. You specify your workspace directory each time you launch Designer, unless you select the Use this as the default and do not ask again option to skip the Workspace Launcher window.
The default workspace directory for a Designer 3.0 and above on a Windows workstation is Documents and Settings\username\designer_workspace.
IMPORTANT:Earlier Designer workspaces are not compatible with Designer 3.0 and above. Designer stores projects and configuration information in a workspace. These workspaces are not compatible from one version of Designer to another. You need to point Designer 4.0.2 to a new workspace, and not to a workspace used by a previous version of Designer.
If you have Designer 2.x or 3.0 Milestone projects, you can import the projects into Designer 4.5 (File > Import > Project from File System). Be sure the Copy project into the workspace option is selected. Importing the project runs the Converter Wizard, making the project compatible with Designer 4.5 architecture and placing it under your designated Designer 4.5 workspace directory (designer_workspace by default).
You can switch to another workspace by selecting File > Switch Workspace > Other. Select or type the name of the different workspace. Designer quickly restarts, loads the new workspace, and loads any projects and settings you have in that workspace. If the workspace doesn’t exist, Designer creates it. Do not use previous Designer workspaces with Designer 3 and above.
For quick access, the most recently used workspaces appear when you select File > Switch Workspace.
You can have multiple workspaces.