Computer File Management

Computer File Management

I can't find the report I typed last week!

You may have said this before, and so have many of your classmates. You may not be able to remember what you named your report or exactly where you saved it.

Having a messy filing system on your computer is probably the reason why you can't find your files.

If you don't have a good filing system for all of your documents, pictures, music, and other files, you are not alone!

There are a lot of people who have trouble getting and keeping digital files organized. You don't want it to become a habit that's hard to break later on!

So, what kinds of files do we need to organize? Let's begin by looking at what files are and the different types there are.

A file is like a container that holds and stores different types of information on a computer. Computers come with many files on them, and users of the computer make many more.

You may have noticed that some of the files you've worked with have a dot with letters after the file name.

File extensions are like little labels at the end of a file name that help computers and people understand what type of file it is. They usually come after a period (.) and are two to four characters long.

For example, in a file named "MyStory.txt," the extension is "txt," which tells us that it's a text file. If you see a file named "VacationPhoto.jpg," you can guess that it's an image file because of the ".jpg" extension. This makes it easier for you to organize and find your files on your computer. Although you may not always see file extensions, all files have them. .

There are three types of digital files:

system files

application files

data files

Application files are files that are used to install computer software.

Examples of application files are .exe or executable files and .dmg files or disk image files. Both of these file types are used to install programs (applications). For example, if you want to install a game on your computer, you can download the game's EXE file from the Internet and run it to install the game. You can delete it once you are finished installing it.

System files are files that run the computer's operating system, such as WindowsOS, MacOS, and ChromeOS.

Examples of system files are DLL and SYS files. For example, if you want to change your computer's mouse settings, you can access the mouse settings in the Control Panel. The Control Panel is a collection of system files.

Data files are files that contain data or information created by people or used by applications (programs).

Examples of data files are .docx, .xls, and .mp3 files. For example, if you want to create a report on your favorite animal using Microsoft Word, you can save your report as a .docx file. If you listen to music on a computer or device, you are listening to .mp3 files.

As we know, data files are files that contain data or information that we create. They do not contain any code that carries out instructions.

Data files are only meant to be read or viewed. Some examples of data files are this presentation that you are watching, a letter you write using a word processor, and a video file are all considered data files.

Let's say you are typing a report on on elephants, so your file probably has one of these extensions, although you might not always see them.

elephants.gdoc Google Doc

elephants.docx Microsoft Word

elephants.pagesApple iWork Pages

You probably have some PDF files as well. PDF stands for Portable Document File.

don't need the word processing software that the document was created in

can have links,videos, and audio files embedded

elephants.pdf Portable Network File

looks just like theoriginal document

invented is 1991

Do you have pictures or clip art on your computer, phone, or tablet? Then you havethe following files.

elephants.jpg

used for photos, small size

elephants.gif

elephants.png

used for line art, can beanimated, largest file size

used for line art, pictures with text and transparency

Now it's time to organize our own data files. Find the type of computer you are using and click on its name.

Windows

MacOS

ChromeOS

WindowsOS

Find your home directory or drive: Look for a folder with your name or username on the school's network. Open your directory. Normally, this is the place to save your files.

• Find your home directory or drive: Look for

a folder with your name or username on the school's network. This is where you'll save your files.

• Create folders: Right-click on an empty

space in your home directory, select "New," and then click "Folder." Give the folder a name related to the subject or project, like "Math" or "Science."

• Organize your files: Save your work in the appropriate folders. For example, if you're working on a math assignment, save it in the "Math" folder.

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WindowsOS

Find your home directory or drive: Look for a folder with your name or username on the school's network. Open your directory. Normally, this is the place to save your files.

• Find your home directory or drive: Look for

a folder with your name or username on the school's network. This is where you'll save your files.

• Create folders: Right-click on an empty

space in your home directory, select "New," and then click "Folder." Give the folder a name related to the subject or project, like "Math" or "Science."

• Organize your files: Save your work in the appropriate folders. For example, if you're working on a math assignment, save it in the "Math" folder.

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Organizing Your Files in Windows

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MacOS

When using a Mac computer at school, follow these steps to keep your digital files organized:

• Locate your home directory or drive: Look

for a folder with your name or username on the school's network. This is where you'll save your files.

• Create folders: Click "File" in the menu bar,

then select "New Folder." Give the folder a name related to the subject or project, like "Social Studies."

• Organize your files: Save your work in the appropriate folders. For example, save a social studies report in the "Social Studies" folder if you're working on it.

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Organizing Your Files in MacOS

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ChromeOS

When using a Chromebook at school, follow these steps to keep your digital files organized:

• Locate your home directory or drive: Look for a

folder with your name or username on the school's network. This is where you'll save your files.

• Create folders: Open the "Files" app, click the

three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and select "New folder." Give the folder a name related to the subject or project, like "Art" or "Social Studies."

• Organize your files: Save your work in the appropriate folders. For example, if you're working on an art project, save it in the "Art" folder.

Keeping your files organized will make it easier to find them when you need them!

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Organizing Your Files in ChromeOS

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Renaming Files and Folders

If you want to rename a folder or file, place the cursor over the name and right-click your mouse or trackpad. A popup menu will appear with the option called Rename close to the bottom. Type the new name and press enter.

You can write a title here

Write a subtitle here

Naming Files and Folders

When you name a file or folder you just created, you want that name to make sense so you can find it easily. There are file naming conventions or guidelines you should follow.

this

map_project

• Keep it simple: Use short and clear names that describe what's inside the file or folder.

For example, name a folder with your math homework "math_homework" instead of just"MH."

• Be consistent: Use the same naming style for all your files and folders. This will make it easier to remember how you named them.

not this

socs$$stuff

Naming Files and Folders

• Avoid special characters: Don't use characters like !, @, #, $, %, &,* or spaces in your file and folder names. Instead, separate words using hyphens (-) or underscores (_).

Let's Organize Your Folders

• Now let's organize the folders on your computers!