Working with files
Understanding how to work withfiles and foldersis an important part of using your computer. Once you understand how files and folders work, you’ll use them all the time. In this lesson, we’ll show you theabsolute basics of working with files, including how toopenfiles and move your files into folders.
What is a file?
There are many differenttypesoffilesyou can use. For example, Microsoft Word documents, digital photos, digital music, and digital videos are all types of files. You might even think of a file as adigital versionof a real-world thing you can interact with on your computer. When you use different applications, you’ll often beviewing,creating, orediting files.
Files are usually represented by anicon. In the image below, you can see a few different types of files below the Recycle Bin on the desktop.
What is a folder?
Windows usesfoldersto help you organize files. You can put filesinsideafolder, just like you would put documents inside a real folder. In the image below, you can see some folders on the desktop.
File Explorer
You can view and organize files and folders using a built-in application known asFile Explorer(calledWindows Explorerin Windows 7 and earlier versions).
To open File Explorer, click theFile Explorericon on the taskbar, or double-click any folder on your desktop. A new File Explorer window will appear. Now you’re ready to start working with your files and folders.
From File Explorer,double-click a folder to open it. You can then see all of the files stored in that folder.
Notice that you can also see thelocationof a folder in theaddress barnear the top of the window.
To open a file:
There are two main ways to open a file:
- Find the file on your computer and double-click it. This will open the file in itsdefault application. In our example, we’ll open a Microsoft Word document (Cover Letter.docx), which will open inMicrosoft Word.
- Open the application, then use the application to open the file. Once the application is open, you can go to theFilemenu at the top of the window and selectOpen.
Moving and deleting files
As you begin using your computer, you will start to collect more and more files, which can make it more difficult to find the files you need. Fortunately, Windows allows you tomovefilesto different folders anddelete filesyou no longer use.
To move a file:
It’s easy to move a file from one location to another. For example, you might have a file on thedesktopthat you want to move to yourDocumentsfolder.
Click and drag the file to the desired location.
Release the mouse. The file will appear in the new location. In this example, we have opened the folder to see the file in its new location.
To create a new folder:
Within File Explorer, locate and select theNew folderbutton. You can alsoright-clickwhere you want the folder to appear, then selectNew > Folder.
The new folder will appear. Type the desirednamefor the folder and pressEnter. In our example, we’ll call itSchool Documents.
The new folder will be created. You can now move files into this folder.
Let’s Practice all the step-by-step computer skills learnt.
