Lesson 5 Explorer & Finder
Home Computing Lesson 5 Windows Explorer (and Finder)
As we continue our home
computing overview and practical approach, I ask myself how I should address
instructing students further?
That might seem somewhat
puzzling since I create the topics and the lessons?
Receiving no feedback and not
being a regular tutor, I recognise there are many routes to individual
destinations and there have been so many books written on the subject of IT,
Information Technology and computing that we all have some knowledge and
experience since we have grown with computers from the early days of
calculators, progressing to simple bat-and-ball video games, through Commodore
VIC 20 - from Sir Clive Sinclair and IBM in the 70’s and 80’s.
I can hardly think of anything
we do today not having a computer somewhere in its application and though we
may not have been directly involved, it HAS affecter our lives.
My problem is where are you in
your personal journey, where do you want to go and how long will it take? Of
course, the last question is to gauge the length of a piece of string.
When we open a word processing
program, I can make assumptions, ask questions but I can easily err in their
answers.
In Lesson 3, I advised you to
play with MS Word and see what you could achieve.
I demonstrated how to save a
program and where it could be located – somewhat.
I am tempted to teach all about
menus, toolbars, constructing and inserting tables, what all the different
buttons do, how to undo an action and re-do the same action. How to insert a
text box, a photograph, a picture or shape and delve into publication
productions but I want to focus on the technological side of computing and the
extremes or word processing are quite a separate topic.
How do we store information? We
have talked about compression for media and the same applies to text and other
information but that does not answer the question.
Every computer has an electronic
processor. Every computer also has a hard-drive, sometimes shown as HDD within
it’s physical enclosure. The processor and hard drive work together. The hard
drive contains data and important information. The processor needs this
information to actually work, to start up. Once started, the resultant
information from processing and from other sources or inputs, is returned to
the hard drive which stores it for future use.
The size of the hard drive is
denoted in GB - gigabytes, packets of digital information. This storage is a
measure in metric units though insignificant to our knowledge requirements at
this stage.
The hard drive can be divided
digitally into sections so that each section can operate separately within
itself or, in conjunction with the other section/s.
In the past, information was
input using a device called a ‘floppy’ disk. This was descriptive to a point
and typically could hold 700Kb kilobytes, of information.
The disk capacity was increased
over time to 1.44Mb megabytes or twice as much as the original 700Kb and
despite being invented during the 60’s, became ubiquitous in the 80’s.
Long since superseded, external
disk drives can be found and information can still be accessed if there is a
reason?
The physical drive for floppy
disks was denoted by the letter A//: and, before hard drives were used, this
A//: drive was the method of input to start the computers processor’s actions.
In efforts to speed up computing,
high end and professional machines added another floppy disk drive to work
separately or in tandem – this was similarly denoted as the B//: drive.
Returning to modern hard drives,
our first drive available seems to be denoted by the letter C//: and this still
remains the main drive of our Windows based computer.
When we divide out hard drive
into sections, it follows that our next available drive will be called D, E, F,
G, H and so forth.
Defining a drive is possibly not
as easy as one might imagine but, it is, easy that is.
Every device we plug into our
computers - be they on-board or external, becomes a drive. Therefore, an SD
Card is a drive, a flash-drive is a drive, a dongle is a drive and an external
hard drive is a drive – even a CD or DVD device will show-up as a drive. More
on these later.
As has been explained, our main
drive had been denoted, C, C//:
Remembering back to Saving As, from
our drop-down menu on our MS Word document, we were taken to a box, a dialogue
box which contained options that we didn’t understand? We were given choices.
Whenever we either don’t
understand the choices or can’t choose the best option which could be unknown
to us at any stage, there is a ‘default’ location allocated to the user. In the
case of a Windows computer, known as a PC – a Personal Computer, ‘My Documents’
is the default location for this ‘Save As’ option.
My Documents IS located on the
C//: drive.
Also located on the C//: drive,
is the actual operating system! This can be seen as Program Files and Windows
and really shouldn’t be altered unless you have sufficient knowledge and
expertise.
These ‘programs’ and storage
places are known as Folders and New Folders can be created very simply and
added to the C//: drive.
These additional Folders can be
at the discretion of the User – for example, I can create a Folder and I can
name it, ‘Terry March 2016.’
If I now go back to my MS Word
application, when I press the menu key for File > Save As, I will get the
same dialogue box open as I did before but now I will ALSO see the Folder –
Terry March 2016.
IF I highlight or choose this
Folder/location and Save As ‘Job Application – Science’ it will simply be
stored in the new folder C//: Terry March 2016.
When I next need to access this
file to alter it, use it for another job application or add to it in any way, I
will ALWAYS find it located here until I change or move it.
If you remember our lesson regarding
the Windows logo button, pressing Windows + E, will automatically open the
Windows Explorer function and take us to all the drives and storage information
on our computer at any given time.
This is as I indicated, a view
into our brain or the storage and reference library of our computer.
Apple’s Mac does exactly the
same thing but it does it differently. I believe the illustration in Windows is
far more helpful and will aid our understanding better before looking into how
Apple does things. Picturing a Library is so familiar to us that little
imagination is required to see into the process; with Apple, that is to some
extent, illusive but, opinions differ. Purist Apple dedicated users will argue,
no doubt, but since I am the author of these lessons, I am at liberty to choose
my own approach. If you as the student prefer to look elsewhere, I am sure you
will not be alone - you will have many colleagues on your path to confer with –
if I were to hazard a guess and state your life will be Apple or Windows, I
would simply be, foolish.
Your future, your job, your life
will depend to some extent on knowing the basics of both operating systems and
your true versatility will be realised as a result – you will of course HAVE to
add Android, Windows for Mobile Devices and Apple IOS to your repertoire as
soon as you are able. Simply put, if you are less than 95 years of age, there
is, NO escape!
Information About This Mac can
be found under the Apple Logo in the top LHS of the screen and you will find
exactly what you would expect there/here.
In the Dock, Apples’ equivalent
to the Taskbar in Windows, both of which can be located at the bottom of the
screen but can be moved to the top or either side, we see a blue and white,
split, smiley face. This is Apple’s Finder or, explorer equivalent. Next to
this we find Launchpad and Settings and from Launchpad, certain programs can be
accessed and opened as the name suggests.
Items or programs can be added
to or removed from the Dock as the User decides and the Dock can be hidden too.
A quick reference back to the
Mouse: by default, the main, LHS button we depress or, click, is the button to
open or select our options. For some reason, possibly to avoid accidental
openings, MS decided to initiate programs by double-clicking this LHS button.
In our choices, we can elect to use
a single-click to perform the same function – in Windows. Apple, unfortunately
stands by second clicking (to my knowledge) but, with the development and
emergence of quite ‘intelligent’ touch pads on laptops, sensitivity has
improved terrifically and one-touch (click), on the touchpad will usually
suffice.
In Windows and Finder, we can
control our libraries and another image I find useful, is that of a filing
cabinet where drawers represent Folders and ‘Hanging Files’ represent, Files.
Our filing system on both
formats is virtually the same. The files and folders can be easily renamed to
improve our filing system and my advice would be to keep things extremely
simple, almost phonetic and think, “How will I return to this File or Folder in
two weeks time? How will I remember where it is located?”
Looking back for ease into
Windows Explorer, we have two viewing panes in front of us. On the left hand
side, we can see an array of Drives, Folders and other depictions including the
default folder, My Documents.
Alongside the Folders, we find
an small arrow IF, the Folder contains more than one File. Clicking on the
Folder arrow will produce a drop-down list of Files contained within that
Folder. If there is another arrow by the side of the File, then similarly,
there is more than one item involved. Clicking on these arrows simply performs
two actions: a drop-down box or, sub-menu is created at the Folder or File
position on the screen and an action takes place on the RHS of the viewing pane
– the contents contained in the Folder or File are clearly listed.
These lists can be viewed
differently as a List, an Image (sometimes), with all the recorded Details or
as an Icon – go to the top of the screen/page and select View; options are
present to change how you indeed view the file or folder contents.
Note: Using the
RHS button of the mouse when highlighting or moving the cursor over a file or
folder contents will open the Context Menu when clicked. Options for certain
actions will now appear and we can change certain things relating to the file
or folder (it usually has to be closed rather than, open). Renaming a F or F; Copying
the contents; Printing the contents, Deleting the F or F are all possible so
again, experience your options here. If you delete an F or F, it can usually be
recovered from the Recycle Bin or the Trash but read the screen, some actions
cannot be reversed.
The size of the viewing panes
can be altered to suit the User and the information available that relates to
the file on the RHS of the Viewing Pane, VP, can be selected. If you want to
know what type of file it is, the size, when it was created - these details are
hidden by default but are optionally available. There is always a lot to learn
but trying to accomplish everything to begin with would be impractical and to
focus on the basics or essentials is the most efficient use of our time. You
will undoubtedly make mistakes – ‘nothing is irreversible’ would not be a true
statement but most actions can be reversed and computer crashes are really
quite rare and we will address this later in Windows and though, even rarer on
a Mac, there is a procedure for dealing with freezes and such (Force Quit).
One of the best features of
Windows Explorer is the ability to control the folders and files and this we do
in three ways: on the LHS of the VP; on the RHS of the VP and across the VP
centre line.
We can move, duplicate, rename,
copy and paste just by clicking (or double-clicking) with our LHS button or by
way of our Context Menu (RHS button) on the mouse.
If we click on the My Documents
Folder on the LHS of the VP, the contents are displayed on the RHS of the VP.
Because this is the default
location where we saved our files, you may find some files that had seemingly
disappeared into thin air and it is always a good place to look periodically
for peace-of-mind.
Accessing Windows Explorer is
possible by other actions apart from Windows + E. Right clicking on Windows in
the bottom LH corner of the screen will reveal an Explore command; selecting
this will take you to Explorer. There are other channels of access too and a
quick look on any browser search box will reveal all the numerous answers and
possibilities.
On the LHS of the VP, you will
also see such items as Computer and Drives.
When we click on these items,
sub-menus appear and we have actually ‘expanded the tree.’ Re-clicking will
‘compact the tree’ and these actions are continuous throughout Windows and our
Apple, platforms.
The Mac Finder system works
similarly and it’s first primary offering is All My Files which, can be harder
to arrange the longer the task is left undone and as the User, it is advisable
to devise a system with which you are happy and works for you – Explorer is a
great educator for this task.
You will also see Applications,
Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Movies and other folders that have been
created by the User and some Software applications that may have been
downloaded like Skype for instance. Here you can start to sort and move your
files around to suit your filing system, you can also create new folders and
place relevant files into their correct places though they will also remain as
duplicates in the All My Files list.
Reverting back to Windows
Explorer, under Computer, the Drives are listed. Obviously we will no longer
see A//: or B//: but we will definitely see, C//: since our operating system
works from here and all our basic storage is also located on the C//: drive.
Next up, where one is present,
we usually find the CD or DVD drive or, drives. Sequentially named D//: drive
(and possibly E//: drive) any other on-board active drives will appear as F//:,
G//: and H//: etc..
When we plug a USB Flash-drive
into our computer, connect a camera or camera card (SD Card) to our computer,
the computer will sense the connection and automatically name the drive in
order.
Windows ‘tells us’ that it is a
plug-and-play device which, essentially it is. This means that at our
discretion we can plug a drive or attachment, a printer in when we choose and
remove is also when we choose.
Going back to our earlier lesson
when I gave the analogy of a Librarian’s chaos in placing each book back into
its correct placement before the library re-opened (switch off – switch on the
computer), Windows professes, plug-and-play but doesn’t always like it!
In the bottom RHS of the
computer (Windows), access is possible to a small icon that looks like a small
drawer with a green arrow. This is the ‘Remove Hardware Safely,’ command and
should be exercised when disconnecting external physical drives of any
description. If you forget, all may be well but if you remember, it will be
well!
Ejecting this external drive
allows windows to know that there is a vacancy now for that drive name and
inserting another device means that drive name can be allocated accordingly
though it, Windows, may simply allocate the next drive ‘up’ the alphabet.
A the end of the session, Remove
Hardware Safely can be exercised on all active external drives although,
turning off the computer will effect the same outcome.
Apple has a CD drive type icon
that has to be ejected in the Finder section under Devices.
If the Printer is detected and
shows up in the Remove Hardware Safely window, ignore it and switch off the PC in the normal way.
As with many of us, moving around
globally is more a way-of-life than ever before; for work for pleasure for
vacations. Carrying our ‘home-on-our-back’ like a tortoise is not very
practical; neither is taking our home/desktop computer. Obviously, taking a
laptop is better but even its size is a hindrance sometimes and its capacity is
limited as is the power availability.
To get around this problem,
using a cross platform (Windows and Apple OSX) device would be a good solution.
Most solutions require some compromise and PSUs have been limiting factors in
the past. Progress has improved storage device capacity, access speeds,
write-to speeds and reducing the size has remained one of the biggest problems.
Enter the External Hard Disk
Drive (HDD)!
Operating on any computer’s
5Volt electrical Bus (supply provision), be it laptop or desktop, the hard
drive can be attached to any set-up, anywhere in the world, in minutes!
Having these drives formatted to
work on Apple or Windows requires some separation UNLESS, the file extension
(type of document or application) is the same. Bearing in mind the compression
factor we spoke of earlier, taking photographs as our example, a JPEG photo is a
JPEG photo on a Mac or a Windows computer. A MS Word document is exactly that
on either platform so can be opened on either machine.
Observing these rules gives rise
to possibilities and answers to true portability as these drives measure
approximately four inches square, are lightweight and literally, fit in the
pocket.
There are other ways we can use
these external HDDs with both formats but it is unnecessary to explain this now
but dual formatting on one HDD is possible and there is a format converter that
allows both Windows and Apple files to be view, used and stored.
Operating systems can also be
installed on these drives and effectively, ‘boot-up’ or start a computer into
action. The other major advantage of external HDDs is security and storage
space.
Virtually every electrical
action on a computer takes power and the processing slows down - a small
amount. With very thin laptops, the on-board HDD is often small in its storage
capacity and acts often as a ‘quick’ drive or ‘flash-drive.’
As heat is another problem,
keepings devices small but cool is our aim and electrical processing produces,
heat. If we use an external storage and operating device such as an external
HDD whose capacity has increased to an admirable 2TB recently (if not more?)
without requiring a separate PSU, we can securely take our information and data
with us, on-the-go, and simply plug it into a device at our destination be it
our laptop or a family machine or an Internet café or someone’s desktop – the
possibilities are almost endless.
Of course, for data, information
and media storage, we now have the CLOUD!
Companies such as Google,
Amazon, Apple, Dropbox and many others, offer ‘cloud’ storage. The idea is the
server, the ISP or these other Parties, store your data online, in cyberspace..
All your photos, videos, files and music can be uploaded by the subscriber to a
‘data-bank-in-the-sky.’
This ‘cloud’ storage is
accessible anywhere in the world with an Internet connection on any of the
subscriber’s devices so you could upload a music file from your home computer
and play it on your phone in a different location or country so long as you can
connect to the Internet.
Of course, there has to be a
disadvantage and, there is – depending upon your perspective? The cloud
providers allocate free storage space to a certain level; this is not always well
disclosed or clear but, once that allocation is used, a subscription service
follows and you will have to pay for further data storage or, find another
cloud provider and start again though having different providers for different
media, could work.
Businesses usually have to
purchase multi-user accounts and pay an annual fee from the beginning but worldwide
sharing of information securely and with access so easily available, is an important
solution to numerous practical problems and cloud suppliers usually add in
another level/s of security.
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