Lec2-Windows and File Management
Lec2-Windows and File Management
2
Windows Desktop
Main screen area that you see after you turn on
your computer and log on to Windows
Windows main working surface area
◦ Like the top of an actual desk
Resources can be accessed from the desktop
All opened programs or folders appear on the
desktop (on the Taskbar)
You can arrange desktop items (e.g. files and
folders) however you want.
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Windows Desktop features (windows 7)
Desktop
icons
Desktop
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Notification area
At the far right of the taskbar
Has a clock and a group of icons
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Adding and removing icons
Which icons should appear on the desktop?
◦ Add or remove icons at any time
Most people
◦ Keep clean uncluttered desktop with few or no icons
But others place dozens of icons on the desktop for
quick access to frequently used programs, files, and
folders
◦ Want easy access from the desktop to your favourite
files/folders/programs?
Create shortcuts to them.
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Shortcut
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Adding shortcut to the desktop
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Removing an icon from desktop
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Adding/removing common desktop icons
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Moving icons around
By default, Windows space icons evenly on an
invisible grid.
Icons are stacked in columns on the left side.
◦ Not rigid: we can move icons by dragging them
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Selecting multiple icons
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Hiding/Showing Desktop Icons
1. Right-
click on any
blank portion
of the
Desktop.
2. In the menu
that appears
If there was a tick next to this click View
option: it will disappear and the 3. Click Show
desktop will display no icon desktop
BUT if there was no tick, a tick icons.
will appear and icons will be
displayed
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The Recycle Bin
Title Bar
Window control buttons:
◦ Minimize
◦ Maximize
◦ Restore
◦ Close
Scroll Bars
Menu Bar
Toolbar
1717
Window Basics
Some Basic Concepts
File: A resource for storing information
◦ Available to a computer program
◦ Usually based on some kind of durable storage.
◦ Is "durable"
Remains available for other programs to use after
the program that created it finishes executing.
◦ It is a counterpart of paper documents which
traditionally are kept in office and library files
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File Names
A collection of data or information that has
a name, called the <filename>.
◦ name part dot extension part e.g. lecture2.pptx
In Windows <= 255 characters
None of these allowed: \ / : * ? ” < > |
Different types of files: data files, text files,
program files, directory files etc.
Different types of files store different types of
information.
◦ E.g. program files ➔ programs, text files ➔ text
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File Name extensions
Extension gives type of contents
Some examples of file extensions:
◦ .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word document)
◦ .ppt and .pptx (PowerPoint)
◦ .xls and .xlsx (Excel)
◦ .htm (HTML fil
◦ .exe (executable)
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File Attributes
E.g.
◦ computers running Microsoft Windows have
capabilities of having read, archive, system, and
hidden attributes
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File Attributes cont.
Read - File can only be read, nothing can be written
to the file
Archive - Tells Windows Backup to backup the file.
System - A file used exclusively by the operating
system. Should not be altered or deleted
Hidden - File hidden from view under normal
viewing conditions
Directory: This attribute is tagged to folders or sub-
folders to differentiate them from ordinary files
Compressed: reduced file size (e.g. x.zip)
Encrypted: prevent unauthorized access
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Viewing File Attributes
1. Right-click filename
2. Select Properties
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File Management
2525
Some tips for managing Files
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File Backup
Files with extremely important data require
back-up
Backing up files
◦ Means making copies of the files in a separate
location so that they can be restored if something
happens to the computer, or if deleted
accidentally.
◦ A back-up process is used to protect against
disasters that might destroy the files
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Folder/Directory
A location that stores multiple files and other
folders
– Containers that are used to organize files
– They can contain regular files as well as other folders
– Generally don’t have extensions just a name
When in a command line, folders are referred to
as directories
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Creating Folders
1. Right-click on any
blank portion of
the Desktop.
2. Click New in the
menu that appears
3. Click Folder.
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Renaming Folders
1. Right-click on the
Folder you wish to
rename.
2. Click Rename
3. Type new name
4. Press ENTER
5. Type the new folder
name
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File System
Tree-like structure
Disk storage space partitioned
Disk drives are assigned letters e.g. C, D, etc.
At the top of the structure is a root folder
showing the disk drive
C:(Root)
Documents Programs
Assignment1.docx
….
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Basic Folder Structure
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Pathnames
Pathname:
◦ Path taken through a file system to reach a file
Types:
1.Absolute pathname: From the root E.g.
C:\Documents\ICT121\letter1.docx
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Finding a File
■ Can use
1. Search box on Start menu
– search results are based on text
in the file name, text in the file,
tags, and other file properties