INTRODUCTION TO "MY COMPUTER"
WORKING WITH FILES AND FOLDERS
This guide (in two parts) gives a basic explanation of how
to create, name and manage your computer data files.
INTRODUCTION
Computer files you will use are of two sorts: the instructions
the computer needs to run the various functions installed
on the computer (program files) and the documents or
other work created by computer users (data files)
This guide refers to the creation and management of the data
files you will create as you do your work on the computer.
As a student, you need to be responsible for the management
of your own data files. There is no personal storage space
on individual NCI computers where student work can be stored
and retrieved indefinitely, although you can by using your personal login, access a personal area on the Department of Education and Training network to store data. Otherwise, use disks, writable CD-ROMs or USB
storage devices, which may be obtainable from your bookshop,
canteen, or Student Association, or from retail outlets.
USING DISKS
These can be purchased from stationers and computer stores
as boxes of 10. They may be available for sale at your campus,
sometimes as single disks. Disks currently available for sale
are formatted ready for use. Be aware that you can't use the
same disk in both IBM-compatible (Windows) PCs and Macintosh
PCs.
Naming and labelling
Use the stick-on labels supplied with the disks.
External labelling of disks is essential and will save you
a lot of grief.
Put at least your name and phone number on the
disks. This will enable left-behind disks to be returned to
you. A label showing disk content eg "Horticulture assignments
2002" will help you locate files quickly. Disks multiply
quickly and it is easy to lose track!
Disk capacity
Most disks are 1.44Mb in storage capacity.
As a rough guide 1 MB (one megabyte) is equivalent to:
400 pages of text
20 photos
However, large graphic files or Microsoft Publisher files
can gobble up your disk capacity very quickly. Always have
at least one more empty disk than you think you will need
to save your work.
Disk care
Store your disks somewhere safe and protect them from dirt
and damage. Keep them away from strong electromagnetic fields.
Any error message you get when opening or saving to disk is
a strong hint to discard that disk and get a new one. Never
put a visibly damaged disk into a computer.
SAVING AND NAMING FILES
Save your work to disk regularly, to avoid losing hours of
work should there be a power interruption or other malfunction
to your PC.
Do a final save to disk and then close your file after finishing
work, even if you think you will not need to refer back to
that work. Files not closed before the disk is ejected will
be impossible to re-open.
Naming files
Give your file a name that is meaningful to you and specific
to that document eg "Horticulture Assignment term1"
As some characters are not acceptable in filenames, you may
need to make changes until the computer accepts your name.
Creating directories
If you are saving a number of files, it may be useful to group
them under headings (directory names) eg
