I Can… Define basic file management and related terms Identify levels of a file system Identify and explain ways to view files in Windows OS Explain the process of moving and copying files Explain how to rename files in Windows OS Find a file in Windows OS using the Search tool

In Windows OS, files are managed in a hierarchical files system – like an upside down tree The Hard Drive is organized in folders, subfolders, and files In the Windows OS, the root folder is the C:/ Drive Sometimes referred to as directories

Different types of drives (storage devices) Named with different letters Floppy Disk drive (if you have one) is listed as A: drive The icon will vary depending on the view option that My Computer is set to The Hard Drive is generally listed as the C: drive Depending on what is installed and whether a computer is networked will determine what letter will indicated the different drives

Information can be presented and viewed in several different formats Thumbnails Tiles Icons List Details

Displays a miniature picture of the file or folder, if it contains pictures a few of the pictures will be displayed in the folder

Shows a large icon for each file or folder with information about the file next to it

Shows an icon indicating whether it is a file or a folder

Vertically displays small icons showing the files and/or folders

Provides the most information Size Type Date Will vary on the window you have opened

To adjust the columns, move the mouse pointe to the dividing line at the right of the column you want to adjust The mouse pointer will change to a vertical bar with two arrows Once you have the vertical bar with two arrows, you can drag the dividing line to the left or right Can be sorted in ascending or descending order by single clicking on the desired column heading

Simplified by the Explore tool (not the same as Windows Internet Explorer) Access the Explore tool, right click on the Start menu and select Explore from the menu

To view of hierarchy of folders on a disk drive, click on the plus sign (+) or the side arrow in front of the disk drive or folder

A string of names of folders you open to get to a file/document make up a pathname A pathname is a sequence of the names of the folders where a file resides It is important to understand pathnames so you know where to locate a file The results of a find are returned it gives you a pathname of where to look for files Pathnames start with a drive letter and the names of the folders are separated by backslashes; the last folder in the sequence is the folder in which the file is located

If the Explore tool doesn’t bring the desired results, use the Search tool under the Start Menu Click the Start Menu and select Search, can select a variety of search features and locations to begin the search; the more detailed information provided results in a faster search

In the Windows OS, files, folders, and shortcuts are treated the same with respect to how they move, copy, and delete operations are performed Moving – the action performed when you want to relocate a file, folder or shortcut on the same storage device Click and drag the item to the new location; when the location becomes highlighted, release the mouse button You can also move a file or folder by selecting “Move this file” from the File and Folder Task menu First select the file or folder you want to move and then click Move this file/Move to folder

The action performed when you want a copy of a file or folder To copy a file or folder click on the item you want to copy and hold down the Control [Ctrl] key on your keyboard and drag it to the new location. Release the mouse button and the copying process will begin You can also copy a file or folder by selecting “Copy this file” or “Copy this folder” from the File and Folder Task menu. First select the file or folder you want to move then click Copy this file/Copy this folder. The process works very similar to moving the file

Remember the following rules The name cannot be longer than 255 characters, including spaces The name can not contain / \ : * ? “ | When renaming files keep the file name extension the same. The file name extension comes after the period in a file name and indicates the type of information stored in a file Not all icons in the Windows OS environment can be renamed. If you single click twice on an icon and no edit box appears around the name, the icon cannot be renamed

Click on the name to select the item and then click on the name again. After a brief pause, the name will become highlighted and an edit box appears around the name Right-click over the file or folder and choose Rename Choose Rename this file from the File and Folder Tasks menu Then type the new name in the highlighted field. When you finish typing press Enter or click anywhere else on the desktop to accept the changes

When working with files in the Windows OS it is important to understand file name extensions A file name extensions comes after the period in a file name and indicates the type of information stored in a file Depending on how your Operating System is set up you may or may not be able to view file extensions

If you see filenames labeled with just the name of the file and no file extension attached to them, then that means you have the Hide extensions for know file types checked Click on the Tools menu in My Computer Next, click on the Folder Options The Folder Options dialog box will display and then uncheck the Hide extensions for know file types check box

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To free up space on your storage devices, unwanted files or folders can be deleted One way is to drag them to the recycle bin Can also select the file or folder and press the delete key on the keyboard Also can click Delete the File from the File and Folder Tasks menu; a dialog box will appear asking you if you are sure about sending the item to the Recycle Bin Right click, select delete

One way to enhance your file structure is to add folders To create a folder, click New Folder from the File and Folder Tasks Menu Can also choose New from the File Menu and then Folder from the new sub- menu A new folder titled New Folder will appear

Hierarchal structure of folders and files Manage and navigate in Windows OS using the Explore tool Copy, move, delete, rename files and/or folders, create folders, and file extensions

Complete the File Management activity on Skyward after viewing the PowerPoint