Computing Fundamentals ModuleLesson 9 — Using Windows Explorer

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Objectives

Define uses for Windows Explorer. Identify the parts of the Explorer window and

the icons used to represent drives, disks, files, and folders.

Use Explorer to view the contents of a drive or folder.

Expand and collapse the folder list.

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Objectives (cont.)

Change the view in the Explorer contents pane.

Sort the information in the contents pane by criteria in the Details view.

Display information about a file or folder in the Properties dialog box.

Search for files or folders.

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Vocabulary

Contents pane Folders bar Search Sorting

Tree pane Wildcard characters Windows Explorer

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Introducing Windows Explorer

Explorer is a Windows program that gives you control over the organization and management of files and folders.

In earlier versions of Windows, My Computer and Explorer were separate programs, but they have been combined in Windows XP .

Explorer provides additional features to make management tasks easier and faster.

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Starting Windows Explorer

There are three ways to start Explorer: Click Start, point to All Programs, point to

Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer. Right-click over the Start button and then select

Explore from the shortcut menu. Click Start, click My Computer, and then click

the Folders button on the toolbar.

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Comparing My Computer and Windows Explorer

The primary difference between My Computer and Explorer is the use of the left pane:

My Computer’s left pane contains a resource bar with links to system resources.

Explorer’s left pane contains the folders bar (also called the tree pane), which shows the structure of your file folders.

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Comparing My Computer and Windows Explorer (cont.)

My Computer window Explorer window

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The Explorer Window

The Explorer window consists of two panes: The Folders bar or tree pane on the left includes

a hierarchical display of all objects on the desktop.

The Contents Pane at right shows the contents of the object (folder, disk, drive, or computer) you have selected in the left pane.

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The Explorer Window’s Panes

Folders bar

Contents pane

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Icons in the Explorer Window

The Desktop icon is the main “root” of the upside-down tree. It is the top-level folder in the tree pane, with folders and subfolders branching off below it.

All other icons stem from the Desktop icon and are subordinate folders, including– My Documents– My Computer– My Network Places

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Icons in the Explorer Window (cont.)

Top-level folder

Subordinate folders

Plus sign indicates subfolders are not displayed

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Subordinate Folders

Each subordinate folder may have its own subordinate folders.

Subordinate folders are shown beneath and indented from the parent-level folder.

A folder with a plus sign by its icon has subordinate folders that are not currently displayed.

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Expanding and Collapsing the Tree

To display subfolders, you must expand the folder list by clicking on the plus sign in the box to the left of the folder.

Clicking the minus sign next to a folder will collapse the folder list, making it possible to view more objects in the tree.

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Changing the View in Explorer

Explorer’s View menu is similar to all View menus:

You can choose to view the Standard toolbar buttons, the status bar, and the Explorer bar.

You can change the view in the contents pane to Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List, or Details.

If a folder contains all graphic files, you can use the Filmstrip option on the View menu.

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Details View

Note the additional information provided in Details view for each file: size, type, and date modified.

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Sorting Files and Folders

To easily locate files and folders, you can sort the items displayed in a window.

Sorting is the process of creating a list organized on a specific criterion.

You can sort files by any details listed in Details view such as name, size, and type.

To sort by any option, just click the column name in Details view.

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The Toolbar

Explorer’s toolbar is similar to My Computer’s toolbar.

It contains Back, Forward, and Up navigation buttons.

The Views button provides the same options as the View menu to change the contents pane view.

The Search button opens the Search Companion to help you find files or folders.

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Viewing the Contents of a Drive or Folder

You select a drive or folder to view by clicking the appropriate object in the Folders pane.

Or you can select the object in the Address Bar drop-down list.

The contents of the selected drive or folder will display in the Contents pane.

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Viewing the Contents of a Folder

The select-ed folder, system, is highlighted in the tree pane and displayed in the title bar and the Address Bar.

Contents of the selected system folder are displayed in the contents pane.