Windows File Management - Google
Windows File Management
Class Description
This is an introductory class for those who know how the basics of using a computer, but need help finding and
organizing files of all sorts: pictures, documents, spreadsheets, music, videos, and more. Much of the lesson can be
transferred to non\Windows computers, but the focus is on Microsoft Windows.
Class Length
One to one\half (1?) hours.
Introduction
One of the most frustrating things about using a computer can be trying to find a file you know was on your computer.
That there are so many different locations for saving files doesnt make it easy. This class will look at how you can
organize your files in a way which works for you and how you can locate hard\to\find files.
Objectives
?
?
?
?
Learn the meaning of drive, folder, and path
Learn how to use Windows/File Explorer
o How to select multiple files
o How to move files from one destination to another
o How to copy files from one destination to another
o How to move files to the Recycle Bin
o How to permanently delete files
How to search for files
Acquire ideas for effective organization of files
This is a handout for you to keep. Please feel free to use it for taking notes.
1
*
The File Cabinets on Your Computer
Most people find it easier to understand something new by relating it to something familiar. Perhaps the best familiar
thing which can be related to digital files and folders is an office filing system: a file room with rows of file cabinets; each
file cabinet with multiple drawers; each drawer with many hanging folders; one or more manila folders in each hanging
folder; and papers inside the manila folders.
* when using the Windows
How does this work for a Windows\based (Macs, too) computer? Think of the computer operating system, we sometimes talk of subfolders, but
as the file room; various drives as rows of file cabinets; folders on a drive as an individ\
dont normally go beyond
ual file cabinet; a subfolder* as a file cabinet drawer; a sub\subfolder* as a hanging
that. Most folders are
folder; a sub\sub\subfolder* as a manila folder; a computer file as piece(s) of paper.
subfolders of another folder.
There are two important differences between an office filing system and a computer file
system: (1) computer file systems have no practical limit to the number of organizing levels, whereas one does not
normally put a manila folder inside a manila folder which is the lowest organizing level; and (2) in computer file systems,
any organizing level can contain both files and a practically unlimited number of subfolders, whereas one normally
places every piece of paper inside a manila folder (not in a hanging folder outside a manila folder, or in a file cabinet
drawer outside a hanging folder, or between file cabinet drawers, etc.).
The Windows operating system includes an application for working with files and folders. In Windows 7 and before, it is
called Windows Explorer. Beginning with Windows 8, it is called File Explorer. There are some slight differences in
Windows/File Explorer in different versions of Windows, but they all have the same basic purpose: to create, move,
delete, and rename both files and folders to manage files and folders.
The Windows operating system has
some special folders: some are for
content (Documents, Music, Pictures,
Videos, Downloads, etc.); others are
system folders (Desktop, Recycle Bin).
Tip: the more content (size, not number of files) stored on the Desktop
(including background images), the
slower the computer will run.
Windows\based computers use drives to organize files and assigns a letter to
each (A\Z, thus a limit of 26 drives). Typically, the letters A and B are
reserved for floppy drives (rarely used today) and C is reserved for the
Windows operating system. Other letters are used for additional hard drives,
network locations, removable storage (e.g. optical drives, thumb drives,
external
drives), etc.
There is no one way to organize files and folders.
Windows 7: Windows Explorer
You need to find a system which
works for you .
Windows 10: File Explorer
2
*
Every drive in Windows can contain one or more files and/or one or more folders. Every folder can contain one or more
files and/or one or more (sub)folders. For file and folder names, Windows ignores letter case (most other operating
systems are case sensitive, i.e. SAMPLE.TXT, Sample.TXT, and sample.TXT are different and can coexist in the same
folder). All the names in a folder, files and sub\folders, must be unique.
Naming Rules & Restrictions
Dont obsess over these rules. This section is for those wondering why Restrictions: Windows has several
reserved characters which cannot be
an error message appeared or a name was changed from what was typed and
used in the names of file or folders:
for those who want some nitty\gritty details.
The earliest versions of Windows used 8.3 (eight dot three) filenames: up to
eight characters, followed by a dot/period, then ending in a file extension of
three or less characters, identifying the type of file (applications normally add
this automatically when saving files). Some (older) applications still use this
format.
File extensions may now exceed three characters. They are used by the
Windows operating system and by Windows/File Explorer to identify the type of
file and the application associated with it and displays this by using an icon from
the files application and (Details view only) to supply the information in the
Type column (e.g. Microsoft Excel Worksheet). The entire file name, including
the dot/period and the file extension is limited to 255 characters.
< > (less than and greater than)
:
(colon)
"
(double quote)
/ \ (forward slash and backslash)
|
(vertical bar or pipe)
?
( question mark)
*
(asterisk)
Neither a period nor a blank space
may be used at the end of a file
name or folder name. A blank space
cannot be used at the beginning of a
file name or folder name. File names
may begin with a period, but folder
names may not.
There are also reserved names:
con
prn
aux
nul
com, followed by one digit, 1-9
lpt, followed by one digit, 1-9
Using Windows/File Explorer
Windows/File Explorer can be launched by clicking on the folder in
the Taskbar (circled at right). It can also be launched by clicking the
windows explorer
(Windows 7 and earlier) or file explorer (Windows 8 and
Start button and start typing
later) until the name appears in the menu and then clicking on the name
with the mouse or, after ensuring the name is highlighted, pressing the
ie
key; or by using the keyboard shortcut +
press
J
(hold the Windows key down,
e, then release both keys).
3
*
Windows Explorer (Windows 7)
Navigation pane
Search box
Back & forward buttons
Details pane
Toolbar
Preview pane
Address bar
Display options
File list
? Preview pane toggle
Column headings
Windows/File Explorer Layouts
File Explorer (Windows 8 and later)
Navigation pane
Column headings
Back, forward, & up buttons Search box
Ribbon
Status bar
Address bar
Preview OR
Details pane
File list
4
*
Views
The previous page showed the
Details view for both. It shows only
information about the files and
folders.
The Extra large
icons (not shown),
Large icons (left,
top), and Medium
icons (right, top)
are similar; Small
icons (left, middle)
loses the thumbnail
icon, but a large
thumbnail can be
displayed in the
Details pane. The
Tiles view (right,
middle) has both thumbnail icons
and some information about the file.
The List view (left, bottom) is good for
seeing a lot of items. The Content
view (right, bottom) contains a bit
more information than the Tiles view,
but displays fewer items.
5
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In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
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