What Is A Directory In Windows

Understanding Files and Directories in Windows

Yosef Mendelsohn

An understanding of files and directories is a necessity if you regularly utilise computers today.� Y'all must become familiar with the techniques of creating, removing, and copying files and directories for your preferred operating organization.� This cursory tutorial will cover the Windows 95/NT family of operating systems.�

This primer is also intended for those switching to the Windows Os from another Os.� If this is the case, you can skip the first few paragraphs and bound hither.

Introduction

What is a File?

Every certificate that you lot have saved on your difficult drive is called a file.� Whenever you lot write a paper in a discussion processor and relieve it, yous have just created a file.� Similarly, every Excel spreadsheet is a file.� So is every Access database.� And so is every JPEG or GIF image.� So is every MP3 music song.� If you create a web page and call information technology �my_resume.html�, then you have just created a new file which must be stored on your hard bulldoze, a floppy disk, or some other storage device on your computer.�

What is a Folder?

Think of your disk drives as large filing cabinets. However, think of them every bit large filing cabinets that have no drawers and none of those manila folders inside.� Instead, whenever you accept a newspaper or document y'all wish to file away, you lot just toss it directly into your large cabinet.� Afterward a few hundred documents have been tossed haphhazardly inside the this chiffonier, you would of course discover that finding any ane certificate inside that large pile of papers is fourth dimension-consuming and difficult.� Instead, what well-nigh of us do is to characterization a series of manila folders and so identify them inside our file cabinet.� You might keep a folder dedicated to academic transcripts, another for tax papers, another for onetime poetry you�ve written, and another to hold the warranties that came with your new PC.

The aforementioned affair applies to your difficult drive.� In Windows, a folder (also called a directory) is coordinating to the yellowish folders people use in filing cabinets.� Y'all might create a folder on your drive chosen �school_essays�, and some other chosen �scanned_photos�, and perhaps some other called �215_homework�.�� Over time you volition come to accumulate a number of dissimilar folders, only you will exist glad you did since finding and organizing your documents will be significantly easier.�

In fact, you will observe that there are already a large number of directories that take been created for you.� When a new plan is installed on your motorcar, it will usually create 1 or more new folders in which to shop the relevant files.�

Windows Explorer

So allow�south brainstorm past examining the ways in which we can directly access files and directories in Windows. The two most common way for doing so is via �My Estimator�, represented by a or like icon.� However, I highly recommend using Windows� Explorer.� Explorer gives you much more efficient control over your files and directories.� In fact, I�d recommend placing a shortcut direct on your desktop.� (It is possible that ane is already there).�

Create a shortcut for Explorer on the desktop

Right-click on an empty part of the desktop.� (Right-click = click the right mouse button).
Choose �New�, then �Shortcut�
Type �explorer.exe�
Windows will prompt you for a �friendly� proper noun.� Type �Windows Explorer� or something similar.�

At present when you double-click (click twice rapidly) on the Explorer icon, you will run into something similar (but non identical) to the following:

Now every bit if often the case, much confusion arises from the plethora of options available.� With Explorer, in that location are several different views you can choose.� If your Explorer looks significantly different from mine, practice the following:

Alter views in Explorer

With Explorer open up, click on �Tools�, then �Binder Options�
Expect for the option that says something to the effect of �Utilise Windows Archetype Folders� and check information technology.�

Later on on you may choose to use on of the other views, merely in my opinion, the standard (�classic�) view is the nigh efficient one.�

What are all those + signs side by side to the folders?

Information technology is common to have folders inside of folders.� By clicking on the + sign, you lot can run across the folders contained inside the electric current folder.� For example, yous may create a folder called �School Papers�.� Within that folder y'all may have a few other folders containing documents pertaining to each course.� (For case, �Chemistry�, �English�, �Biology�).� Notice the + next to the �English� folder.� This tells yous that that folder contains other folders.�

Clicking on the + next to the �English language� folder reveals the sub-folders of: �Essays�, �Poetry�, and �Prose�.� Notice that when you click on the +, it turns to a � sign.�

Create a binder

The terms � folder� and � directory� mean the same affair and are oft interchanged.

Every bit discussed before, creating folders for yourself is extremely helpful for organizing all of your files.� Let�s create a directory (�directory� is another word for �folder�) on our hard drive (C:\) that nosotros will phone call �temp�.� Whenever I am working with a computer, I always create a �temp� directory for myself where I store files for the short term.� (I.e. Files that I don�t want to continue for any length of time).� Periodically, I go through and only delete all of those junk files out of my �temp� folder.� If you don�t want to take a temp folder, that�s fine, you can only delete information technology subsequently.� (See the process following this one).�

On the left side of Explorer, select the C:\ drive by clicking on information technology. (It may already be selected).� You volition then notice that the right side of Explorer reflects all of the files and folders stored inside the C:\ directory.
Click on File, New, and choose �Folder�.� Windows will then prompt you for a name for your folder.� Type �temp� and printing return.� (If a folder with that name already exists, Windows will require you to choose a dissimilar proper noun).

Find that on the right-side, a new folder has been created with the name �temp�.� Also detect that the binder appears on the left side as well.� If y'all click on the left-side folder, y'all will detect that the right screen comes up empty.� This is considering you have non nevertheless put whatever folders or directories inside that �temp� folder.�

Deleting a folder

To delete a folder, just right-click it so choose �Delete�.�

If there are files currently inside that binder, Windows will warn you earlier allowing you to delete the folder.� (Sometimes, Windows will first force you to delete all of the files inside before deleting the folder itself.�

Renaming a folder

Right-click the folder and choose �Rename�.

Disk Drive

A disk bulldoze can be the hard bulldoze on your calculator (usually notated equally �C:\�), your floppy deejay drive (�A:\�), a Null bulldoze, CD-Rom, or Tape drive.� In that location are several other kinds of storage media also.�

Desktop

What yous see when there are no programs (windows) currently open on your screen.� Hither is a partial view of my desktop: