D. My Computer: Navigating and Opening Files

To open a folder and view its contents, double click the folder (not a file).
Another window will open; double click a folder here to likewise view its
contents. If you don't want to keep opening windows (which you have to
eventually close), choose view, options and click the checkbox for browse
using a single window.

HINT: If you hold down the control key while double clicking on a folder,
a new folder will open in the same window.

To navigate UP your directories to the next highest level, use the backspace
key, or click the arrow folder icon near the left of your toolbar. If you prefer
to use your toolbar rather than your menu bar, use its icons for cut, copy,
paste, undo, delete, properties and for such views as large icons, small icons,
list and details.

If you double click on a document file, it will open if it is a text, graphic or
multimedia file which is associated with a program listed in the Windows 95
Registry. If you double click on a program file, you will start the program.

FONTS: A brief diversion
In Windows, you can view your font files by double clicking them. In your
Windows folder (usually in the fonts subdirectory), double click any font
file to view a complete range of characters and sizes available for a given
font. You can also print each font page - creating a portfolio of fonts installed
on your computer. To add fonts to Windows, simply copy the font files
(usually with .ttf extension) into your fonts subdirectory.



SCREEN SHOT: A Windows Fonts directory. Fonts occur in "families",
collections of related typestyles bearing similar names. True type fonts,
which can be created in innumerable sizes, have .ttf extensions.

Because having a lot of fonts installed slows down your computer, you may
want to keep your fonts directory smaller than in the above illustration -
perhaps 12 -15 families of fonts, or 100 individual fonts. You can always
create a separate font subdirectory elsewhere on your hard drive and install
fonts (by moving them to the Windows fonts directory) as needed.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. Navigate through your Windows directory by clicking only on (yellow)
    folders. Use the multiple window option.
2. Close all secondary windows and change view, options to a single window.
3. Navigate through your Windows directory, clicking on a folder and then
    on a subfolder. Navigate back up the Windows directory.
4. Double click your Windows directory and then the fonts subdirectory.
5. Double click any fonts file (.ttf extension) to open it.

E. Creating Files and Folders

You can create a document while in My Computer by opening the directory
where you wish to create a document, right clicking an empty space, choosing
new, and selecting the kind of document you wish to create.

When the document appears, rename it (click IN its name, highlight the old
name, and type a new name - don't change the extension), and double click
to open it.

NOTE: Windows file names are not limited to eight letters or less, like
Windows 3.1 files. (However, your Windows 3.1 programs will use the old file
name requirements). Since many punctuation marks are not allowed in file
names, you may want to avoid punctuation marks (except for the dash
underline). If you may wish to open a file directly from the desktop or from
My Computer or Explorer (rather than only through the program that created
it, give your file the three letter extension associated with its program.

You can create a FOLDER in My Computer by opening the directory or drive
where you wish to create a folder, right clicking the empty space, and
choosing new, folder. Delete the name Windows gave it by clicking at
the beginning of the name and highlighting it, then type a new name.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. With a floppy disk in your a drive, open My Computer. Double click
    your floppy drive a icon.
2. Right click on an empty space in the drive a window, and choose new,
    text document.
3. Change its name to Computer Maintenance.
4. Double click this file to open it in Notepad. At the top of the file,
    type these two lines:
         COMPUTER MAINTENANCE:
         My record of computer errors, fixes and changes
    There are no formatting options in Notepad, so your title will not be
    in bold type. (This is a very useful file to create and to maintain!!)
5. Click file, save, then close Notepad.
6. Right click on the empty space of your drive-a window.
7. Choose new, folder, and create a folder. Rename it Student.
8. Double click the Student folder to open it. Inside it, create a folder
    with your name on it.

F. Selecting Files

Before you can rename, copy or move a file, you must select it by clicking
its icon. A selected file (or directory) is highlighted. To deselect a file,
click in the empty space on your screen.


TO SELECT MULTIPLE FILES:

To select several files, hold down control and click each file icon.

To select many files in a row, click the first file, hold down shift, then
click the last file. An alternate method is to click to the right of the first
file name, and drag to create a selection box around your files.

To select all files, choose edit, select all, or press control A.

HINT: To select most but not all files in a window, choose the files that
you want to select, then choose edit, invert selection. Or select all,
hold control, and click a file to deselect it.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
Practice all the above selection techniques!
1. In your Windows directory, select all the .txt files.
2. Select all the files beginning with the letter m.
3. Select all files created in 1996.
4. Select all files smaller than 5kb.
5. Select all files, then deselect all files.

NEXT:  Using Explorer, Copying Files      continue