practical pc, 7 th edition chapter 5: organizing files and folders

Practical PC, 7th EditionChapter 5: Organizing Files and

Folders

Organizing Files and Folders

• FAQs:– What’s in the File Explorer window?– How are files categorized?– How do I navigate to various folders and storage

devices?– Can I create my own libraries and folders?– How do I change the name of a file or folder?

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Organizing Files and Folders

– How do I keep my files organized?– How do I delete files and folders?

• Technology: USB Flash drives

3Practical PC, 7th Edition

What’s in the File Explorer window?

• Files are stored in a hierarchical arrangement of folders and subfolders– Folders group files to keep them organized– Folders can hold other folders (subfolders)– Windows groups folders into libraries• Documents• Music• Pictures• Videos



• File Explorer has several components– Navigation pane– File list– Toolbar– Details pane

• View tab – Contains options to change the way the file is

displayed: List view or Details view– Hidden files are not displayed in the list


How do I get a list of my files?

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How are files categorized?

• The navigation pane categorizes devices and folders for easy access– Select a device, folder or library from list– Contents of the item are shown in file list


Figure 5-2


• Navigation pane is divided into categories– Favorites– Libraries– Homegroup– Computer– Network




– Favorites• Fast access to frequently

used folders

– Libraries• Virtual folders containing

links to folders and files

– Homegroup• Offers access to shared

folders, files, and printers on a home network

Figure 5-3



– Computer• Access to folders on all

devices connected to your computer

– Network• Provides a link to folders

stored on local area network file servers

Figure 5-3

How do I navigate to various folders and storage devices?

• Windows displays a unique icon for each type of storage device– Each local storage is identified by a unique device

letter


Figure 5-4


• Some hard disks are divided into sections– Each section is called a disk partition– Each is treated like a separate drive• Drive C might contain the operating system• Drive D could house the data files

– When partitions exist, user needs to know what files are stored where




Figure 5-5


• Folders in navigation pane are arranged in a hierarchy– Expand or collapse by clicking or touching a device

or folder icon to displays its contents– Double-click (touch or hold) an icon or select the

small arrow to display additional levels of folders in the navigation pane, rather than the file list

– Select the angled arrow to hide levels of folders



• A device letter, folder, file name, and extension specify a file’s location– Often referred to as a file path


How do I navigate to different folders and storage devices?


How can I create my own libraries and folders?

• To create a new folder:– Right-click a folder– Select New– Select folder– Enter folder name

• Libraries – Contain links to files stored elsewhere on your hard

disk– Windows has four predefined libraries: Documents,

Pictures, Music, Videos


How can I create my own libraries and folders?

– A library is not a “real” location• It is like an index in a book


Figure 5-7

Can I create my own libraries and folders?


How do I change the name of a file or folder?

• There are several ways to rename a file/folder:– Right-click the file name, select Rename from

shortcut menu, and type the new name.– Another way is to click the file name, then click it

again. After a brief pause, you can set the new name

– Select the file name, then select the Rename button on the Home tab

• Be careful not to change file extensions


How do I change the name of a file or folder?


Figure 5-8

How do I change the name of files and folders?


How do keep my files organized?

• The key is to create a clearly structured set of folders– Use descriptive names for files and folders– Always store data files in a folder– Store files in your personal folders: My

Documents, My Music, My Pictures, etc.– Create subfolders of your personal folders – Avoid storing data files in application software

folders– Delete unnecessary files and folders


How do I keep my files organized?

• Files can be moved from one folder to another– Drag and drop– Cut and paste• File is removed from its original location, temporarily

placed on the Windows Clipboard, and then pasted in its new location




Figure 5-9

How do I move files and folders?


How do I keep my files organized

• Files can be copied– Copying a file creates a duplicate of the original– Copied file is sometimes modified and saved

under a different name– Can be copied to another location on the hard

drive, a USB drive , or to an internet-based cloud storage site




Figure 5-10

How do I copy files and folders?


How do I delete files and folders?

• Steps for deleting files:– Select desired file and click Delete button on the

Home tab– Right-click desired file; select Delete from shortcut

menu– Delete a folder using the same procedure• Deleting a folder removes all its contents

– Use the Ctrl key, Shift key, or Select All to delete more than one file or folder at a time



• To free up disk space:– Empty the Recycle Bin– Uninstall software that you no longer use– Delete data files you no longer need


Technology: USB Flash Drives

• Compact and portable solid state storage drives

• Also referred to as UFDs, thumb drives, keychain drives, and jump drives



• Range in size from 16MB to 256 GB• Contain no mechanical parts– Use solid state technology, which holds data in

erasable, rewritable circuitry, rather than on spinning disks

– Immune from mechanical failures that affect CD, DVD, and hard disk drives

• Require only a small amount of power from the computer




Figure 5-14


• Plug into USB ports on a computer– The USB port is a rectangular socket on the front,

side, or back of the system unit and are typically labeled with the USB symbol

– When inserting USB drive, make sure it is correctly aligned with the port.

– When ready to remove USB drive: • Click the eject icon in the notification area• Wait for Windows to display the Safe to Remove

Hardware message




Figure 5-15

practical pc, 7 th edition chapter 5: organizing files and folders

Documents

various folders

shared folders

folders faqs

file list practical

subfolders folders group

organizing files

files homegroup

data files