Windows Tutorial - Managing Files and Folders

Windows Explorer

In Windows, Windows Explorer is used to manage files and folders. By default, Windows Explorer icon is not created in Windows XP. Windows Explorer can be opened and used by any one of the following methods:

Click on 'Start' button >> Hover Mouse on 'All Programs' / 'Programs' >> Hover Mouse on 'Accessories' >> Click on 'Windows Explorer'

Open 'My Computer' >> Click on 'Folders'

Right Click on 'Start' button >> Click on 'Explore'

You can create 'Windows Explorer' short cut on you desktop by:

Click on 'Start' Button >> Hover Mouse on 'All Programs' / 'Programs' >> Hover Mouse on 'Accessories' >> Right Click on 'Windows Explorer' and drag the icon to blank area of Desktop >> Click on Copy Here (please note that if you click on 'Move here', the icon will be removed from 'Accessories' menu.)

You can also create icon in the 'Quick Launch' by following the above method and dragging the icon to 'Quick Launch' area.

As a better alternative, you may download a Double Panel Explorer 'Xplorer2 Lite' free of cost from http://Zabkat.com

Windows Explorer : Top Menu bar

The important function available for use on the Menu bar of Windows Explorer are:

File : File menu displays properties of the item highlighted in left or right panel and actions that can be performed on it.

Edit : Edit menu lists the edit functions select, cut, copy and paste for the highlighted item.

View : This is an important menu item to customize view of Windows Explorer:

• Toolbars :
  • Standard buttons : Display or Hide Standard Button Tool Bar.
  • Status Bar : Enabling this creates a bar at the bottom of the screen which displays information about the open/highlighted item viz. number of items, memory in use, memory available, Type of file, Size of file etc.
  • Explorer Bar : You can select item to display in the left panel from the list or enable/disable 'Tip of the Day'.
• Thumbnail, Tiles, Icons and List : Displays Thumbnail, Tiles, Icons or List for all items in the right panel.
• Details : Displays details (size, type, date and time last modified etc.) of items in the right panel.
• Arrange Icons by: You can arrange display of items in right panel by Name, Type, Size, Date and Time last modified etc.
• Choose Details : You can select items to be displayed items in details. File System shows type of format of the drive, when selected.

Address bar : Address toolbar displays icon for the highlighted window application in left panel or path of the highlighted drive or folder in the left panel.

Tools

• Folder Options : You can customize view of items in right panel and set as default.

Creating and Naming a Folder:

To create a folder in root directory or a sub folder in an existing folder/directory:

Open 'Windows Explorer' >> Open the Drive or Folder in which new folder is to be created by Double Click on its name in the left side panel >> Right Click in blank area in the right panel* >> Click on 'New' >> Click on 'Folder' >> Type name for the folder.

* You may replace this step by click on 'File' in the Top Menu bar

Copy a File or Folder from a Drive/Folder to another

To Copy a File or Folder from a Drive/Folder to another :

Right Click on the item to be copied >> Click on Copy in the Context menu (Menu opened on right click) >> Browse to destination drive/folder >> Right Click and select 'Paste' from Context menu.

Highlight the item to be copied >> Click on 'Edit' in Top Menu bar > Click on 'Copy' >> Browse to destination folder/drive and highlight it >> Click on 'Edit' in Top Menu bar > Click on 'Paste'.

To move a folder or file from one drive or folder to another, follow the above steps and use 'Cut' in place of 'Copy'.