Files and File Management

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Files and File Management
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Why is knowledge of computer files important?

• So one can be more proficient in using computers.
• To save disk space
• To prevent the introduction of viruses
• To help troubleshoot file problems
• Critical in web page development
• To pass this course

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What is the name of this program?

• My Computer
• Windows Explorer
• File Viewer
• Microsoft Word
• Adobe Acrobat

78 of the class got this wrong!
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A couple of programs are useful for file
management

• Windows Explorer
• Start
• Programs
• Accessories
• Windows Explorer
• My Computer
• Start
• My Computer

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File Extensions

• All files have an extension.
• Typically consists of 3-4 letters
• Follows the file name and period.
• AEE 226 Syllabus.doc
• AEE 226 Roster.xls
• index.html

The Extension
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Microsoft hides file extensions!!

• Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, has hidden
  the file extensions.
• So, in Windows Explorer or My Computers, you have
  to turn this option back on. Go to
• Tools
• Folder Options
• View
• And uncheck hide file extensions of known types

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File Extensions

• Having an understanding of file extensions is one
  indicator of the difference between a power
  computer user and a piddle computer user.

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More pretest results

• ____ 4. Which file would be the first file one
  would logically expect to view when visiting the
  web site for this course on the Internet? 94
  incorrect
• ____ 5. If you wanted to add sound to a
  PowerPoint presentation, which file would you
  select? 72 incorrect
• ____ 6. Which file is a PowerPoint Template? 61
  incorrect

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More pretest results

• ____ 7. Which file is most likely to be a drawing
  or a cartoon type image that can be viewed on the
  web? 67
• ____ 8. Which file is a PowerPoint presentation?
  20
• ____ 9. Which file is most likely to be an actual
  picture that could be used in a web page? 50

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More pretest questions

• ____ 10. Which file is a video/movie clip file?
  83
• ____ 11. Which file is compressed? 56
• ____ 12. Which file is a program file (you can
  install it and run it)? 56
• ____ 13. Which file was created in Microsoft
  Word? 0
• ____ 14. Which file most likely has a bunch of
  numbers in it? 30
• ____ 15. Which file is the smallest in size? 6

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Word Processing File Extensions

• .doc Microsoft Word Document
• .wpd Wordperfect Document
• .wps Microsoft Works Word Processing Document
• .txt a plain jane file stripped of most
  formatting
• .rtf another text file but some formatting
  remains
• .dot A Microsoft Word template

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PowerPoint File Extensions

• .ppt an editable PowerPoint presentation
• .pps a PowerPoint self running show
• .pot a PowerPoint template (predesigned master
  slides for a presentation)

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Video/Movie File Extensions

• .avi audio video interleave
• .wmv Windows Media Video
• .rm real media

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Image File Extensions

• .jpg (can also be jpeg) typically a photograph,
  an actual image (JPEG stands for Joint
  Photographic experts Group)
• .gif an image that is often a drawing or clip
  art instead of an actual picture (but it can be a
  picture)
• Animated graphics on the web are gif files
• GIF stands for Graphical Interchange Format

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More Image Extensions

• .wmf Windows Meta File, a vector based image,
  typically drawings or clip art
• .psd a file created in Photoshop

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Sound Files

• .wav a popular sound file format, works well
  with PowerPoint
• .ra real audio, a streaming audio file format
• .Mp3 works only with PowerPoint 2003
• .mid a really old sound format

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Other File Extensions

• .xls A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
• .mdb A Microsoft Access database file
• .pdf An Adobe Acrobat file that can be read on
  any computer (PDF stands for Portable Document
  Format)

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Miscellaneous

• .bak backup, some programs and people rename a
  file with a .bak extension prior to them working
  on it.
• .exe an executable file, this is what installs
  programs on your computer
• .zip a file that has been compressed. It must
  be decompressed in order to be used.

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Lets use these two programs!

• Windows Explorer
• Start
• Programs
• Accessories
• Windows Explorer
• My Computer
• Start
• My Computer

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In Windows Explorer

• How does one view files most efficiently?
• Create new folders?
• Move files around?
• Determine how much space is left on the C or
  other drives

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In My Computer

• Determine the type of CPU you have
• Identify the hardware

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Creating a www folder

• In this class you will save your work to your k
  drive in the www directory
• Go to the WWW Setup Tool Web site
  (https//sysnews.ncsu.edu/tools-bin/www-setup).
• Type your Unity password in the space provided.
• Continued on next slide

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Setting up the web space

• Click the Set up my web space button.
• You will see a window that shows your Web address
  and the path to your www directory, where all
  your assignments must be stored. PLEASE WRITE
  THIS DOWN as I will need to know this in order to
  find your assignments.

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How do you move files from your computer to the
server space?

• Use a FTP program (File Transfer Protocol)
• SmartFTP is on the CALS desktop
• Filezilla is on the CHASS desktop
• WinSCP is what the university recommends

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What is a Zip file?

• A file that has been mathematically compacted
  (like taking the air out of a beach ball).
• Programs such as winzip are used to zip and unzip
  files.
• www.winzip.com

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Practice Safe Computing

• An antivirus program is free for NCSU students.
• http//www.ncsu.edu/it/antivirus/