Manipulating Your Windows Folders and Files

In the previous section we discussed how you could navigate through a hierarchy of folders in Windows Explorer. Let us now discuss the common tasks that can be performed on folders and files.

Managing Folders and Files

Windows Explorer provides easy access to common tasks that can be performed on files and folders. The common tasks that can be used on files and folders are:

v  Make a new folder

v  Create a new file

v  Rename

v  Copy

v  Move

v  Delete

The common management tasks are available on the left side of the window that displays the contents of the folder. The tasks are hyperlinks that are colored and underlined text, which give easy access to a file or a task. The tasks that can be performed on the file or folder are given under File and Folder Tasks as displayed in the following figure.

The File and Folder Tasks differ for different files and folders. For examples, when you open a drive the File and Folder Tasks contain the following actions :

v  Make a new folder

v  Publish this folder to the web

v  Share this folder

Some tasks are specific to the file or folder that is opened. For example, if you select a picture in a folder, you can perform File and Folder Tasks and also the Picture Tasks that are :

v  View as a slide show

v  Order prints online

v  Print this picture

v  Set as desktop background

Let us discuss some of the common tasks that you can perform on files and folders.

Creating a Folder

In Windows XP, the most commonly used method to create a new folder I using the File and Folder Tasks list. The steps to create a new folder are:

1. Select the folder in which you want to create the new folder.
2. Select the Make a new Folder hyperlink from the File and Folder Task list.

A new folder with the default name as New Folder will be created as shown in the following figure:

3. Type the name of the folder and press ENTER.

Creating A File

Windows XP treats all objects as files. Thus, folders are special files that contain related files and folders.

The steps to create a file in a folder are:

1.      Click on the File menu in Windows Explorer.

2.      Select the New option.

3.      Select the type of file from the submenu of New.

A folder or a file can be created on the windows XP Desktop. On the desktop, right click the mouse button. Windows displays a short cut menu from which you can select the New option. The following figure displays the shortcut menu with the New option:

The submenu displayed on selecting the New option displays the different types of application files that you can create.

Renaming Files and Folders

You can change the name of a file and folder with the following steps:

1. Click on the file or folder that you want to rename.
2. Click on the Rename this/Rename this Folder hyperlink in the File and Folder Tasks list in the left pane. A cursor will appear in the file/folder name that will enable you to edit the name as shown in the following figure:

3. Type the new name.
4. Press ENTER.

In windows, a file or folder name can consist of 255 characters, including spaces. However, it cannot contain the following characters : \ / : * ? <>.

Note : Names of system folders such as windows, Document and settings cannot be changed because they are required by windows to function properly.

Copying Files and Folders

Windows XP allows you to copy files and folders. Copying creates a duplicate file in another location. To copy a file :

1. Click the file folder that you want to copy.
2. Click on Copy this file or Copy This Folder hyperlink under File and Folder Tasks in the left pane of the window. The Copy Items window will be displayed as shown in the following figure:

3. Select a folder from the list and click the Copy button and the file or folder will be copied to that folder.

In case you want to copy the file to a new folder, then first click on the Make New Folder button to create anew folder and give the appropriate name. Then click on the Copy button to copy the file or folder inn the new folder that you created.

Moving Files and Folders

You can move a file from one folder to another. The difference between Copy and Move is the Copy creates a duplicate file in another location, but Move removes the file physically from the original location and places it in the new location. To move a file or folder:

1.      Click the file or folder that you want to move.

2.      Click on the Move This File or Move This Folder hyperlink under File and Folder Tasks in the left pane of the window. The Move Items window will be displayed as shown in following figure:

3.      Select a folder from the list and click the Move button and the file or folder will be moved to that folder.

In case you want to move the file to a new folder, then first click the Make New Folder button to create a new folder and give the appropriate name. Then click on the Move button to move the file or folder in the folder that you created.

Note : Moving a file is the same as using the Cut option from the Edit menu. Using this option you physically cut and paste the file, thus changing the location of the file.

Deleting File and Folders

Windows XP enables you to delete files on your computer and on the network, if you have the permission to do so. Deletion of unnecessary files results in freeing of disk space and keeping your data well organized.

You can delete selected files or folders by clicking on the Delete This File or Delete This Folder hyperlink under File and Folder Tasks.

The deleted files and folders are moved to the Recycle Bin folder. You can restore or permanently delete the files using menu options from the Recycle Bin folder.

Note : All the tasks discussed above can also be performed using the Edit menu on toolbar or the shortcut menu that appears on right clicking the selected file or folder.

Changing The Program For a File Type

The default program used to open JPG files on your machine is Windows Picture and Fax V. You want to change the program used to invoke JPG files so that you can edit the picture. Windows XP provides you with an option to change the program that is used to invoke a file type. For example, if you want to change the program, Windows Picture and Fax V that opens a JPG picture file to Paint, you have to perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start menu and select Control Panel.
2. Click the Appearance and Themes hyperlink and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the File Types tab in Folder Options window.
4. Select JPG in the Registered File Types box in the Extensions column by using the navigation scroll bar.
5. Click the Change button. The Open With dialog box is displayed.
6. Select the program Paint from Recommended Programs.
7. Click OK. The Folder Options dialog box is displayed as shown in the following figure:

As can be observed from the figure above, under Details for ‘JPG’ Extension, the program type has changed in Opens With : Paint.

8. Click Close.