1. European Computer Driving Licence
Module 2 – Using the Computer and Managing Files
Chapter 2.4 – Working with Files

2. Compressing Files
If you want to send a file as an attachment, compress it so it is faster to send and receive
All files of over 500Kb should be compressed
Windows XP comes with its own compression tool called Compressed Folders
You can also compress files with WinZip – a very popular shareware program which can be downloaded from the web

3. Compressed Folders Compressing files Extracting files
Select the file(s) you want to compress
Right click on one of the files and select Send to then Compressed folder from the pop-up menu
A compressed folder icon will appear
Extracting files
Right click on the compressed file
Select Extract All from the pop-up menu
The Extraction wizard appears
Follow the step-by-step instructions

4. WinZip Zipping Unzipping Select the files you want to compress
Right-click on one of the files
Select WinZip then Add to xxxx.zip
Click on the Use Evaluation Version button
A zipped file icon will appear
Unzipping
Right-click on a zipped file icon
Select Winzip then Extract to here
WinZip will unpack all the files in the archive to the folder

5. Searching for files – part 1
Click on Start then Search
The Search Companion appears
Click on All files and folders
If you know all or part of the name of the file you are looking for, type it in the document name text box
You can also narrow down your search by selecting the C: drive or My Documents

6. Searching for files – Part 2
You can also narrow your search by adding extra criteria such as:
Date modified
File size
More advanced options including Type of File (eg Word document)
Click on the Search button
Windows will search for files that meet the criteria – files will appear in the right-hand pane
To open a file, double-click on it

7. Using Wildcards If you don’t know the exact file name use wild cards
S*.doc will search for Word documents beginning with S
*.xls will search for all Excel spreadsheet files
S?????.doc will search for Word documents where the file name is six letters beginning with S
? replaces one character
* replaces any number of characters

8. Viewing recently used files
Some PCs will have a link to recently used documents (depending on how Windows has been set up)
Click on Start then My Recent Documents
A list of the last 15 files opened will appear
To open a file, click on it once

9. Viruses A virus is a small program designed to damage computer files
Your PC can “catch” a virus whilst surfing the web, or by sharing files on floppy disks, CDs or attached to s
You must have antivirus software installed on your PC
Scan files for viruses before opening them
Keep your antivirus software updated at least weekly