Basics of Files in Windows (and other OS too)

• Some of this is from Chapter of Office Fundamentals and File Management.
• Page 64 of the book
• A file is a named collection of data stored on a disk.
• A user will have many many files
• A folder or directory is a structure used to organize files on a disk.
• Folders should be used to group like data.
  • Wherever you work, you should create a main folder for our class (CSCI 104 Fall 2016)
  • You should create four sub folders
    • Word
    • Excel
    • PowerPoint
    • Other
  • In each of these, we will place the data files for each chapter.
• In windows, the primary Method for accessing folders is the File Explorer
• The ICON to start the File Explorer is in the lower left hand of the screen.
  • 
  • But other things will start this as well.
  • For example, saving a file in most applications.
• This display changes over the years but right now
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  • The Navigation Pane is on the left and shows
    • 
    • Favorites or commonly used locations.
    • Libraries or folders Windows wants you to use.
    • Computer or devices connected to the computer.
    • Network locations.
  • The Address bar along with the highlighted section in the navigation pane shows the current working folder.
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  • The Content pane shows the folders and files in the current directory.
  • This next part is important
  • When working with a file system, it is important to keep track of the working directory.
    • When you save something, some times Windows wants to put it where it "thinks" it should go, not where you want it.
    • The key to not losing files is to make sure you know where you put things.
    • The key to this is paying attention.
    • Know where you are putting your files.
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    • The change view Button and drop down allow you to change the view in the content pane.
    • Mess with this for a second.
    • The Details option is useful more information about the files and folders.
    • Clicking in the title boxes at the top allows for sorting by that field.
    • 
    • In this picture, I have sorted by date, descending. Click the date bar again to sort by date ascending.
  • Finding Files
    • The search box in the file explorer allows you to search for a file by name.
    • 
    • In this case, I searched my machine for one.C
    • And it found it on the L: drive.
  • I find the Navigation Pane to be nicely constructed
    • Using the Expand/Collapse triangles, you can explore deeply nested folders easily.
    • You can drag and drop items on this pane to move them between folders.
    • We will do this later.
    • 
    • Notice here the Libraries item is collapsed, so we do not see the contents.
    • The Computer, OSDisk(C:) and Users folders are expanded so the contents are displayed.
    • The Computer contains the OSDisk, which contains Users
• Making folders
  • Folders can be constructed anywhere
  • Simply navigate to where you wish to construct a folder
  • Then click on New Folder on the Ribbon
  • Type in the folder name in the box.
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• Renaming files and folders
  • Right click on the name.
  • Select Rename from the drop down menu
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  • Type in the new name.