q Windows Explorer

File management is the term used to refer to various actions that are carried out on files in the computer (Eg copying, moving and deleting files). The reason that this is necessary is because files are stored in areas, referred to as Folders. This is to keep things organized so that you and the computer knows how to find the files next time you need them. Examples of file manage are when you want to delete a file in a particular folder, or move an existing file from one folder to another. The main program used for file management, is Windows Explorer. You will normally find this under Start | Programs | Windows Explorer, although a Shortcut is normally on the desktop as well. The common layout has the menu at the top, Folders (sometimes referred to as directories) down the left and the contents of the selected Folder on the right. There are various methods that can be used in this program for file management. Once you learn these methods, and select the one you are most comfortable with, you will find that most “File Open” and “File Save As” dialogue boxes in other programs will work the same way. This means that you can create a Folder or Sub-Folder and then save a file into that Folder. If you put a file into the wrong Folder, then you can move it to the correct one.

The basic operation in Windows Explorer is to select the Folder that you want to work with in the left window, then perform the required actions in the right window. Common actions and methods used in Windows Explorer are:

Select Folder - Left Click on Folder name in left Window.

Expand Folder - Left Click on at left hand side of Folder name in left Window.

Double Left click on Folder name in left Window.

Press Right Arrow.

Retract Folder - Left Click on at left hand side of Folder name in left Window.

Double click on the expanded Folder name (toggles step above).

Press Left Arrow.

Move a file - Left Click in right window and drag file to destination Folder.

Right Click in right window, drag file to Folder and choose "Move Here" from the small menu presented.

Left Click in right window, Click on Cut in the toolbar, change to destination Folder, and Click on Paste in the toolbar.

Copy a file - Left Click in right window, hold down Ctrl key and drag file to Folder.

Right Click in right window, drag file to Folder and choose "Copy Here" from the small menu presented.

Left Click in right window, Click on Copy in the toolbar, change to destination Folder, and Click on Paste in the toolbar.

Create folder - Left Click on existing Folder or Ms-dos(C:) in left window where the new Folder is to be created, then Right Click in empty area in right window, choose New | Folder and type in a name.

The following picture shows Windows Explorer program for a typical computer. When you run the program on your computer you will be able to see the disk drives and the Folders that exist in each, in the Left Window. Folders can be singular, with files stored in them, or you can have Sub-Folders within Folders to further divide up the locations for storing files. Using the methods listed above, you can Select, Expand and Retract Folders. Once selected, you can perform file management using the above techniques in the right window.

Eg, to create a Sub Folder in the “My Documents” Folder, do the following:

1. Left Click on the “My Documents” Folder in the left window.

2. Right Click in the space in the right window.

3. Choose New | Folder.

4. Type in a name for the new Sub Folder and press Enter.

When the “My Documents” Folder is expanded, you will see the Folder just created.