File Management

File Management

What is file management?• Also known as file system or filesystem• The system that an operating system or program

uses to organize and keep track of files.• E.g: a hierarchical file system. • Although the operating system provides its own file

management system, you can buy separate file management systems.

• These systems interact smoothly with the operating system but provide more features, such as improved backup procedures and stricter file protection.

Aspects of file management

• File nameName assigned to a file in order to secure storage location in the computer memory

• MetadataOther bookkeeping information is typically associated with each file within a file system.eg: time last modified

• FacilitiesTraditional file systems offer facilities to create, move and delete both files and directories

• Secure access

• Hierarchal file system

Uses directories to organize files into a tree structure

Types of file management• Disk file systems

File system designed for the storage of files on a data storage device, most commonly a disk drive, which might be directly or indirectly connected to the computer

• Flash file systemsDesigned for storing files on flash memory devices. These are becoming more prevalent as the number of mobile devices are increasing, and the capacity of flash memories increase.

• Database file systemsInstead of, or in addition to, hierarchical structured management, files are identified by their characteristics, like type of file, topic, author, or similar metadata.

• Transactional file systems• Network file systems

acts as a client for a remote file access protocol, providing access to files on a server

• Shared Disk file systemsA number of machines (usually servers) all have access to the same external disk subsystem (usually a SAN). The file system arbitrates access to that subsytem, preventing write collision's. Eg: GFS from Redhat and GPFS from IBM.

• Special purpose file systemsA special purpose file system is basically any file system that is not a disk file system or network file system. This includes systems where the files are arranged dynamically by software, intended for such purposes as communication between computer processes or temporary file space.

Importance

• It is dull but very essential

• The single most important design skill anyone can have is File Management

• Without good file management your files will become lost or damaged.

Vital in Multimedia

• File management is important for any work you do on a computer. For multimedia projects it is essential.

• Why?

Vital in Multimedia

• Most multimedia applications rely on linking to other files

• For instance, a website is a really a series of links to picture files

Vital in Multimedia

Vital in Multimedia•If these picture files are moved, trashed or renamed, the website cannot find them:

…..and things will stop working!!!

Vital in Multimedia

…this is true for mostly all professional applications:• Dreamweaver• Go Live• Final Cut Pro• Adobe Premiere• After Effects …….the list goes on…..

Vital in Multimedia

• Thus, good File Management is absolutely the most important skill you will learn

• It is quite easy, but many people get stucked

What is File Management

• All about giving everything a decent name

• And saving it in the right place

RULE 1: Give Files Decent Names

• Almost every computer is clogged up with files called ‘Untitled’ :

Give Files Decent Names

• Always give your files a decent name

• Build up the name of your files using a format that makes sense to you

• Build up the name of your files using a format that makes sense to you. For instance a song of Siti Nurhaliza might be called:

SitiNurhalizaPatahHati.mp3

Give Files Decent Names

• Using the same format, a song of Siti Nurhaliza would be:

SitiNurhalizaJeratPercintaan.mp3

• This means that when sorted alphabetically these songs will appear next to each other

Give Files Decent Names

• For most multimedia projects or any files, it is best to avoid fancy character in a file name such as ‘&’ , ’*’ , ’_’ , ’-’ and even blank spaces

• Once you have begun your multimedia project, do not move or rename any files or folders.

Give Files Decent Names

RULE 2: Create Folders for Each Project

• Create a master folder for every new project or files

• Name your master folder with either your full name and your project’s title

Create Folders for Each Project

• Make sure that every single file and folder connected with your project or file categories goes in the master folder. This means that wherever the master folder goes, all your files go with it.

Create Folders for Each Project….not following this simple rule is the number 1 reason why many projects stop working properly

•Now that you have a master folder, create sub-folders within it to make finding things easier

RULE 3: Don’t Leave Anything Unimportant on the Desktop

• This is a clean and systematic Destop• Put all files according to their master folder

Don’t Leave Anything Unimportant on the Desktop

• This is a messy desktop

• Messy desktop will be troublesome in case of any missing files

• So…DON’T DO IT!!!

Don’t Leave Anything Unimportant on the Desktop

• Give every file and folder a decent name

• Save everything to a project folder and use sub-folders if necessary

• Arrange all files according to their master folder on the Desktop.

In Summary

In Summary

• Probably the best thing you can get in the habit of doing is:

When saving any file – STOP!

• Is the file correctly named?• Is it being saved to your master folder?

File Management

You have been warned!

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