File management

File management

Each saved program or set of data, whether it is something that you have created yourself or imported from another source, is a file. There may be many thousands or even millions of users files stored on one or more hard disk drives and they need organizing so that they can be easily located.

            We use a folder to organize files on backing storage in a structured way. We can think of a folder as a virtual container provided by the operating system’s file manager. It appears as a window in which the user can see a list of the related files or even other related folders stored within it. A folder within another folder is called sub-folder and can contain its own related files and sub-sub-folders.

            The operating system stores an index of the contents of each storage drive, known as the drive’s root directory. As well as listing any files contained at the root of the drive, this directory includes references to folders within drive. Each of these folders has its own file directory, which in turn refers to any sub-folders within it. Each sub-folder has its own sub-directory. Since a directory is so closely identified with the folder whose contents it lists, the two terms tend to be used interchangeably.

            An operating system with a GUI often includes a navigational file manager. This typically displays the hierarchial ‘tree’ structure of the file system in the left pane and the current directory in the right pane (Figure 4.12).

            It is Important for users to be able to manage the files that they own. The operating system normally provides facilities for this as part of the file manager, although ‘utility’ programs are also available. Facilities include:

٠ List – Opening a storage drive or folder lists the files and sub-folders it contains. It can display the name, size, type, date created and modified, and other details. The user can sort the list by any of the fields displays. The user can re-name a life or sub-folder, create new file or folder and search by file name and content.

٠ Move – If a user has stored a file or folder in the wrong place pr wants to reorganize the folders, the user can use cut-and-paste commands to move them. The user can also drag files between two folders within the same drive.

٠ Copy – The user can copy files or folders from one place to another. This is a very useful for making a backup copy of a file in case the original gets damaged or accidentally deleted. The user can use copy-and-paste commands or may be able to drag contents between different drives.

٠ Print – Printing a file opens a print dialogue within an appropriate application.