Computers and Files

Computers and Computers and FilesFiles

What you need to know What you need to know before we start making web before we start making web

pagespages

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

An Operating System (OS for short) An Operating System (OS for short) provides a way for the user to provides a way for the user to interact with the computer hardware.interact with the computer hardware.

Without an OS, you would not be able Without an OS, you would not be able to do anything with your computer.to do anything with your computer.

There are many different operating There are many different operating systems available. Some are designed systems available. Some are designed to work only on specific types of to work only on specific types of computers.computers.

Operating SystemsOperating Systems MicrosoftMicrosoft – large software company – large software company

based in Redmond, Washington that based in Redmond, Washington that makes the Windows OS.makes the Windows OS. Founded by Bill Gates, now one of the Founded by Bill Gates, now one of the

richest men in the world.richest men in the world. WindowsWindows is an operating system is an operating system There are many versions of the There are many versions of the

Windows Operating SystemWindows Operating System We use Windows XP in this lab.We use Windows XP in this lab. Other versions are Windows 2000, Me, Other versions are Windows 2000, Me,

98, 95, etc…98, 95, etc…

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

OS X (Pronounced, OS Ten) is an Apple OS X (Pronounced, OS Ten) is an Apple created operating system.created operating system.

Apple is a company that makes their Apple is a company that makes their own computers and operating system own computers and operating system and competes directly with Microsoft.and competes directly with Microsoft.

Apple makes Macintosh computers, Apple makes Macintosh computers, ibooks, G5 computers, etc…ibooks, G5 computers, etc…

OS X will not run on a regular PC, it OS X will not run on a regular PC, it will work only on Apple made will work only on Apple made computers. Windows will not work on computers. Windows will not work on an Apple machine. an Apple machine.

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

LinuxLinux is an is an open-sourceopen-source OS. OS. Open source means that no one owns the Open source means that no one owns the

operating system. The design and how it is operating system. The design and how it is made is free and available to anyone who made is free and available to anyone who wants to use it.wants to use it.

There are many different types of There are many different types of Linux. Companies take the open source Linux. Companies take the open source version of Linux and make their own version of Linux and make their own changes and additions and release changes and additions and release them for other people to use.them for other people to use.

Windows XPWindows XP

Icons

DESKTOP

Start Button

Quick Launch Open Programs

System Tray

Taskbar

Folders and FilesFolders and Files

Information is stored in Information is stored in filesfiles. . Everything that you make on the Everything that you make on the computer, whether it’s a word computer, whether it’s a word document, webpage, picture, program document, webpage, picture, program it is all saved as different types of it is all saved as different types of files.files.

Files are stored in Files are stored in foldersfolders. Folders . Folders allow a user to organize their files in a allow a user to organize their files in a meaningful way, making it easier to find meaningful way, making it easier to find them later.them later.

DrivesDrives

Folders are stored on Folders are stored on drivesdrives.. DrivesDrives are named by letters of the are named by letters of the

alphabet. We all have a C: drive on alphabet. We all have a C: drive on our computers. You can have more our computers. You can have more than one drive.than one drive.

To see a list of the drives on your To see a list of the drives on your computer, open ‘My Computer’ by computer, open ‘My Computer’ by double-clicking on the icon. If it is double-clicking on the icon. If it is not on your desktop, click on the not on your desktop, click on the Start button and you will find it.Start button and you will find it.

FoldersFolders

Within a drive, you will find files and folders.Within a drive, you will find files and folders. To create a new folder, open a drive from To create a new folder, open a drive from

within ‘My Computer’ and right-click on a blank within ‘My Computer’ and right-click on a blank space in the Window. A menu will appear – space in the Window. A menu will appear – choose ‘new’ from the menu and then ‘folder.’ A choose ‘new’ from the menu and then ‘folder.’ A new folder will appear in the window with the new folder will appear in the window with the name ‘New Folder.’ to rename it, right-click on name ‘New Folder.’ to rename it, right-click on the folder and when the menu appears, choose the folder and when the menu appears, choose rename. You can then type in the new name.rename. You can then type in the new name. Be descriptive, but brief with your folder namesBe descriptive, but brief with your folder names Do not use slashes: / or \ in your folder namesDo not use slashes: / or \ in your folder names

FoldersFolders

A note on left and right clicking:A note on left and right clicking: Left-clicking is used to Left-clicking is used to selectselect or choose or choose

somethingsomething Right-clicking is used to bring up a Right-clicking is used to bring up a

context sensitivecontext sensitive menu. This means the menu. This means the choices on the menu will change based choices on the menu will change based on where you right-clickon where you right-click

These rules apply pretty much These rules apply pretty much everywhere in Windows and with most everywhere in Windows and with most programs although there are exceptions.programs although there are exceptions.

FoldersFolders

Folders are sometimes also called Folders are sometimes also called directoriesdirectories..

You can make as many folders as you You can make as many folders as you would like on a drive.would like on a drive.

You can even make folders inside of You can even make folders inside of another folder. These are called another folder. These are called subfolders or subdirectoriessubfolders or subdirectories

To make a subdirectory, just double To make a subdirectory, just double click on the folder to open it and follow click on the folder to open it and follow the directions for creating a folder.the directions for creating a folder.

FoldersFolders

You can also change how folders You can also change how folders display the information stored in them. display the information stored in them. Open a folder, click on the ‘View’ menu Open a folder, click on the ‘View’ menu and you will see several options, and you will see several options, depending on the type of files stored in depending on the type of files stored in the folder.the folder.

Details, List, Icons, Tiles and Details, List, Icons, Tiles and Thumbnails are the most common Thumbnails are the most common views. If you have pictures in the folder views. If you have pictures in the folder you will also have the option of filmstrip you will also have the option of filmstrip view.view.

FilesFiles

Files are basically your data or Files are basically your data or information, and are stored with in information, and are stored with in folders.folders.

File ExtensionsFile Extensions are those three letters are those three letters that follow the period at the end of a file that follow the period at the end of a file name.name.

These extensions tell Windows what type These extensions tell Windows what type of file it is and what program to use to of file it is and what program to use to open that file. Without a file extension, open that file. Without a file extension, Windows will not know what to do with Windows will not know what to do with the file and will be unable to open it.the file and will be unable to open it.

FilesFiles

Viewing file extensions is turned off Viewing file extensions is turned off by default in Windows. If you cannot by default in Windows. If you cannot see file extensions on your computer see file extensions on your computer do the following:do the following: Open a folder and click on the ‘Tools’ Open a folder and click on the ‘Tools’

menu menu Choose ‘Folder Options’ Choose ‘Folder Options’ Click on the ‘View’ tab Click on the ‘View’ tab Under Under ‘Advanced Settings’ make sure the ‘Advanced Settings’ make sure the checkbox is empty next to “Hide checkbox is empty next to “Hide extensions for known file types”extensions for known file types”

FilesFiles

You can rename a file in the same You can rename a file in the same way that you rename a folder. It is way that you rename a folder. It is very important however that you do very important however that you do not change the file extension.not change the file extension. If you want to rename a file called If you want to rename a file called

resume.doc, just make sure that you resume.doc, just make sure that you keep the .doc at the end.keep the .doc at the end.

FilesFiles

Some common file extensions:Some common file extensions: .doc (Microsoft Word).doc (Microsoft Word) .xls (Microsoft Excel).xls (Microsoft Excel) .htm or .html (web page).htm or .html (web page) .jpg (a type of picture file).jpg (a type of picture file) .gif (a different type of picture file).gif (a different type of picture file) .exe (a program or .exe (a program or executableexecutable)) .txt (a text file, usually associate with .txt (a text file, usually associate with

notepad)notepad)

PathPath The The pathpath is where a file is stored on a is where a file is stored on a

computer.computer. For example, if the file ‘test.doc’ is in a For example, if the file ‘test.doc’ is in a

folder named ‘class’ and that folder is on folder named ‘class’ and that folder is on the ‘C:’ drive, the path would be:the ‘C:’ drive, the path would be: C:\class\test.docC:\class\test.doc Notice that a \ separates the drive, from the Notice that a \ separates the drive, from the

folder from the file. Also a colon ( : ) is used folder from the file. Also a colon ( : ) is used right after the drive letter.right after the drive letter.

If the class folder was inside another If the class folder was inside another folder named ‘school’ the path would be:folder named ‘school’ the path would be: C:\school\class\test.docC:\school\class\test.doc

Important TermsImportant Terms

Operating System Operating System (OS)(OS)

MicrosoftMicrosoft WindowsWindows AppleApple OS XOS X LinuxLinux Open SourceOpen Source DesktopDesktop IconsIcons

Start ButtonStart Button Quick LaunchQuick Launch TaskbarTaskbar System TraySystem Tray FilesFiles FoldersFolders DirectoriesDirectories DrivesDrives File ExtensionFile Extension