INTRODUCTION TO FILE MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
All information stored on computers is stored in files. A file is a collection of information organized for a
particular format. The difference between a Word file and a PowerPoint file is simply the way the
information is organized.
FILE NAMES
Early DOS-based computers used a file naming system based upon a file name and an extension. The file
name could be up to eight (8) characters and the extension up to three (3) characters. If written the file
name was shown before a period and the extension after. For example:
Full Name
myPage.htm
File Name File Extension
myPage htm
THE USE OF THE EXTENSION
Current operating systems allow the use of longer file names. Still many software applications use a
three- or four-character extension to identify their documents. For example, docx is used by Microsoft
Word, txt is used to denote a text file. Windows can be set up to match extensions with applications,
called a file association, such that double clicking on a file will start the application and load that file.
There are also some longer extension standards such as java which identifies a java program file or html
which identifies a web page.
FILE MANAGEMENT EDIT OPTIONS
The following are the most common file management operations:
COPY Copy a file from one location to another location:
1. Select File/Folders with mouse
2. Select Copy from Edit Menu
3. Navigate to new location
4. Select Paste from Edit Menu
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MOVE Move a file from one location to another location:
1. Select File/Folders with mouse
2. Select Cut from Edit Menu
3. Navigate to new location
4. Select Paste from Edit Menu
DELETE Delete a file:
1. Select File/Folders with mouse
2. Select Cut from Edit Menu or press Delete key
RENAME Replace an existing name with a new name:
1. Select file or folder
2. Click again to enter edit mode
3. Enter new name
FILE MANAGEMENT EXERCISE
1. In the Classroom Rosters directory, you will find a folder called File Lab.
2. In the File Lab folder you will find three folders called Stuff, Some Stuff, and Other Stuff.
Determine the types of files that are in the folders (remember to check all the folders).
3. Move the files from the three folders into the File Lab folder.
4. Rename the folders as Word, Web and Misc.
5. Move the files to the new folders according to the following requirements:
This folder must contain Microsoft Word documents only
Word Microsoft Word documents end with the file extension docx
This folder must contain web files and graphics files
Web Web files end with the file extension html or htm
Graphics files end with the file extension jpg, gif, png or bmp
Misc All other files should be moved to the Miscellaneous folder
6. Once you have completed Steps 1-5, the File Lab folder should be organized as follows:
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Start
File Lab
Stuff Some Stuff More Stuff
Finish
File Lab
Word Web Misc
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