Working with Files

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Working with Files

Selecting Files
Copying Files
Moving Files
Deleting Files
Undeleting Files or Folders
Finding Files and Folders
Creating a Shortcut to a File or Folder

Selecting Files

Selecting a Single File

When you want to work on files (copy, move, print, delete, and so on), you start by selecting the files you want. Selecting a single file is simple.

Tip
To deselect a file, click outside the selected file list.

Click the file you want to work with.
That file is selected.

Selecting Multiple Files That Are Next to Each Other

Windows 98 enables you to easily select multiple files that are grouped together in the folder.

Click the first file of the group that you want to select, and then hold down the Shift key.
Click the last file in the group that you want to select; the first and last files, as well as all the files in between, are selected.

Selecting Multiple Files That Are Not Next to Each Other

Even if the files you want to select are not grouped together, you can still select them using Windows 98.

Click the first file that you want to select, and hold down the Ctrl key.
While holding down the Ctrl key, click each file that you want to select. Each file you click remains selected.

Selecting All Files

Windows 98 enables you to easily select all the files in a window.

Click Edit, and then click the Select All command.
All files are selected.

Copying Files

Copying a File to Another Folder

Windows makes it easy to copy files from one folder to another and from one disk to another. You might copy files in order to create a backup copy or to revise one copy while keeping the original file intact.

Tip
To use drag-and-drop editing to copy files, open both the window that contains the file (source) and the window for the folder or drive to which you want to copy the file (destination). Hold the Ctrl key and drag the file to its destination.

Tip
Alternatively, you can click the Copy button or right-click and select Copy from the shortcut menu.

Select the file(s) you want to copy.
Click Edit, and then select the Copy command.
Open the folder to which you want to paste the copied file(s), click Edit, and then select the Paste command.
Windows copies the file(s) to the new location.

Copying a File to a Floppy Disk

You might want to copy a file to a floppy disk to take the file with you or to make up a backup copy. Windows provides a shortcut (the Send To command) for copying a file to a floppy disk.

Tip
If the disk is full, you see an error message. Insert a different disk and click the Retry button.

After you've inserted a disk into your floppy disk drive, select the file(s) you want to copy to the disk.
Right-click the selected file(s), select the Send To command from the shortcut menu, and choose the appropriate floppy drive.
The file is copied to that disk.

Moving Files

You might need to move files from one folder or drive to another (for example, in order to reorganize folders by putting similar files together in the same folder). You might also move a file that you accidentally saved in the wrong folder.

Tip
If you make a mistake, you can undo the move by selecting the Undo command from the Edit menu.

Tip
You can also drag a file to a different folder. Open both the window that contains the file and the window for the folder or drive to which you want to move the file. If you are moving from one folder to another, simply drag the file(s) from one window to the other. If you are moving from one drive to another, hold down the Shift key and drag.

Select the file(s) you want to move, click Edit, and then select the Cut command.
Open the folder or drive to which you want to paste the file(s), click Edit, and then select the Paste command.
Windows moves the file to the new location.

Deleting Files

Eventually, your computer will become full of files, and you'll have a hard time organizing and storing them all. You can copy necessary files to floppy disks, tapes, and so on, and then delete the files from your hard drive to make room for new files. In addition, you will sometimes want to delete files you no longer need.

Tip
You can undo a deletion by selecting the Undo command from the Edit menu. Alternatively, you can retrieve the deleted item from the Recycle Bin, as covered in the next task.

Tip
Other alternatives for deleting files and folders include clicking the Delete button, right-clicking the folder or file and choosing Delete from the shortcut menu, and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.

Select the file(s) you want to delete.
Click File, and then select the Delete command.
Click Yes to delete the file(s).
Windows removes the file(s), placing it in the Recycle Bin.

Undeleting Files or Folders

Sometimes you will delete a file or folder by mistake. You can retrieve the file or folder from the Recycle Bin (as long as the Recycle Bin has not been emptied) and return it to its original location.

Tip
If you want to be permanently rid of the files in the Recycle Bin, you can empty it. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon and make sure that it doesn't contain anything you need to save. Then choose the Empty Recycle Bin command from the File menu. Windows displays the Confirm Multiple File Delete dialog box; click Yes to empty the Recycle Bin.

Double-click the Recycle Bin icon.
In the Recycle Bin window, you see the contents of all the files, programs, and folders you have deleted.
Select and then right-click the file(s) or folder(s) you want to undelete, and then select the Restore command from the shortcut menu. The file(s) or folder(s) is moved from the Recycle Bin to its original location.

Finding Files and Folders

After you've worked for months with your applications, your computer will become filled with various folders and files, which can make it nearly impossible for you to know where everything is. Luckily, Windows includes a command that helps you locate specific files or folders by name, file type, location, and so on.

Tip
You can use the characters * and ? (known as wildcards) in the search. For example, to find all files ending with the extension .doc, you could type *.doc. Similarly, you could type chap??.* to find all files beginning with chap, followed by any two characters, and ending in any extension.

Tip
If you do not know the name of the file but you know what type of file it is, click the Advanced tab in the Find dialog box. From the Of type list box, choose the type of file you're searching for (such as Application, Configuration, Help, Microsoft Word Document, or Text Document). Click the Find Now button, and Windows performs the search.

Click the Start button, select the Find command, and then choose Files or Folders.
Enter the name of the file you want to search for.
To change the drive on which Windows will conduct the search, display the Look In list box and choose the floppy or CD-ROM drive from the drop-down list.
Click the Find Now button.
Windows searches the hard drive by default and displays a list of found files at the bottom of the dialog box. You can double-click any of the listed files or folders to go to that file or folder.

Creating a Shortcut to a
File or Folder

If you often use the same file or folder, you might want fast access to it. If so, you can create a shortcut icon for the file or folder on the desktop. Double-clicking a shortcut icon to a file opens the file in the program you used to create the file. Double-clicking a folder displays the contents of the folder in a window.

Tip
Be sure to drag with the right mouse button. If you drag with the left, you move the file or folder.

Tip
To delete the shortcut icon, right-click it and then choose Delete or drag the icon to the Recycle Bin.

Tip
To rename the shortcut icon, right-click it and then choose Rename. Type a new name and press Enter.

After you open the folder or drive containing the file for which you want to create a shortcut icon, press the right mouse button and drag the folder or file icon to your desktop.
Right click the icon on the desktop and select the Create Shortcut(s) Here command.
Windows adds a shortcut icon to your desktop. (You can close the other windows to better see the shortcut icon, as I've done here)