Understanding File Management
and File Storage Structure
Fall 2007
Good order is the foundation of all things.
–Edmund Burke (1729-1797),
English statesman and orator
Storing Files Is Easy, But . . .
Have you had the following problems?
• You can’t find a file you created
previously on your computer.
• You don’t remember what file
name you gave the document you
want to retrieve.
• You don’t delete any files you
save, so it is really hard to locate
a file with so many choices on
your screen.
• You are running out of storage
space on your hard drive.
Take Charge!!!
• View the hierarchy of folders on your
computer.
• Examine the contents of the folders.
• Create new folders.
• Move and copy folders and files.
• Rename and delete files and folders.
Father
Mother
Son
Father
Mother
Daughter
Child
Hierarchy of Folders
C Drive
School Folder
History Subfolder
S. American
Countries File
Home Folder
Science
Subfolder
Chapter 1
Questions File
Financial
Subfolder
Chapter 2
Questions File
Correspondence
Subfolder
C Drive
School Folder
Science
Subfolder
History Subfolder
S. American
Countries File
Home Folder
Chap1Questions
File
Financial
Subfolder
Correspondence
Subfolder
Chap2Questions
File
The file path is C:\School\Science\Chap2Questions.doc
C Drive
School
Science
Chap2Questions
File
A Drive
Fall04 Folder
Calculus
Subfolder
Algebra Subfolder
Chap8.doc
Spring05 Folder
Exam1.doc
General
Math Folder
FinalExam.xls
Practice: Write your answers on some paper.
What is the path to the Fundraisers file?
What is the path to the Exam1 file?
Beta Club
Folder
Fundraisers.xls
A Drive
Fall04 Folder
Calculus
Subfolder
Algebra Subfolder
Chap8.doc
Spring05 Folder
Exam1.doc
General
Math Folder
FinalExam.xls
A:\Spring05\BetaClub\Fundraisers.xls
A:\Fall04\Calculus\Exam1.doc
BetaClub
Folder
Fundraisers.xls
Using Microsoft® Windows Explorer
Minus Sign—Subfolders
currently displayed in left
pane.
Plus Sign—Subfolders not
currently shown in left pane.
Left Pane
Right Pane
Folder Contents Side
Folder Contents Side
Details
This allows you to see your files
and folders in five different
views. Try clicking on the arrow
beside the icon to see the
different ways you can view your
files. You may also go to View
to see them.
Moving Files Into a Folder
Right-dragging
(The method I prefer)
• To move another folder or a file into a folder,
right-click and hold it on the file or folder you
want to move.
• Drag the file or folder on top of the folder you
want to put it in (destination folder) until the
destination folder turns blue.
• Let up on the mouse. You should see a menu;
choose whether you want to move or copy the
file or folder.
(See graphic on next slide.)
Suppose you want to move
the 07-08 Budget file into the
Financial folder. Right-click
on the file and drag it on top
of the Financial folder. When
you let go, you will see a
menu allowing you to move
or copy the file.
This menu allows you to copy or
move the file. This process is
called right-dragging.
Time to Organize!
• If you have your files
all saved under My
Documents, now is the
time to begin
organizing them.
• Practice making
folders with
appropriate names
(just as you would in a
file folder)
• Right-click, hold down,
and drag the file you
want to move into the
folder. Release the
mouse button.
Poorly-organized My Documents folder.
Notice all the files that are not organized in
folders.
Well-organized My Documents folder
Selecting Non-adjacent Files
You may select non-adjacent files or folders
by clicking on one, holding down your Ctrl
key, and clicking on the others
Selecting Adjacent Files
• To select adjacent files, click on the first folder
or file in the list
• Hold the Shift key down
• Click on the last folder or file
• All the files in-between should also be selected
now.
See if you can organize your
files…
Remember:
Plan before
you begin